TERRE HAUTE —
A new collision repair shop, one that will use what are called lean manufacturing methods, is slated to open in Terre Haute by November.
Ted D. McClintic and Benedict “Dick” Cobb Jr., with a combined 50 years of experience in auto collision repair in the Indianapolis market, joined forces to create MC2 Collision. The new business will construct a new 14,000-square-foot facility near the intersection of First Street and Springhill Avenue.
The two-acre property was sold in April by Dorsett LLC for $300,000 to Cobb and McClintic, county property records show. Construction of the new business is slated to start this week.
“We thought that this corridor along U.S. 41 is a crossroads of western Indiana. We think it has a lot to offer, with a reach of six to nine counties,” McClintic said Monday during an announcement of the business on the property site.
The new business will employ 15 workers, McClintic said, and expects to repair 50 to 60 vehicles a month.
Cobb sold his shares in Collision Solutions, which has five Indianapolis locations.
“I didn’t leap into this. I started doing market research and did an analysis on the market. Terre Haute city has about 65,000 people. ... But the retail trade zone of this area, which takes in 14 counties in Indiana and Illinois, is almost 600,000 people who regularly come here to work, shop and dine,” Cobb said.
Cobb said the new business will use lean manufacturing methods to more quickly repair cars. “Short of a total aluminum vehicle, we will be equipped to fix anything,” Cobb said.
Wikipedia offers this explanation of lean manufacturing: “Essentially, lean is centered on preserving value with less work. Lean manufacturing is a management philosophy derived mostly from the Toyota Production System (TPS) ... and identified as “Lean” only in the 1990s. ... TPS is renowned for its focus on reduction of the original Toyota seven wastes to improve overall customer value. ... (For Wikipedia’s full entry on the topic, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_manufacturing.
“The average repair here is twice as long as in Indianapolis and it is not because they don’t do good work,” Cobb said. “They [other collision repair shops] are busy and also are still doing things the old way.
“Lean manufacturing, those same principles, can apply to our industry. It takes a lot of training, but when you successfully convert your business to that, you cut repair time in half,” Cobb said.
Cobb and McClintic said they will be a referral for Dorsett LLC, which sells Mitsubishi, Kia and Nissan. Cobb said he also plans to approach Mace Ford about working with that dealership.
“The trend is for dealerships to get out of the collision repair business, which is not their core business,” Cobb said.
Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.
News
New body shop offers new ‘lean’ approach
- News
-
-
Relic from another age: Massive find
A mastodon that lived in the Wabash Valley thousands of years ago is making big news today.
-
Game Over: Financial tightening causes VCSC to drop St. Patrick’s from athletic schedule
St. Patrick’s School athletic teams will not have an opportunity to compete against their Vigo County School Corp. middle school counterparts next year.
-
Katelyn Newell finally at home
After nearly five months, 8-year-old Katelyn Newell finally returned home Thursday evening — with a new heart.
-
Indiana State U. Police officer honored with Artz Award
Thursday was a special day for Indiana State University Police Officer Christopher Heleine in multiple ways.
-
City Council considering three for consultant
Three different tax professionals vied Thursday for a chance to become a “financial consultant” to the Terre Haute City Council.
-
Clay County sheriff warns of bank card scam
The Clay County Sheriff’s Department has received information regarding a scam targeting residents, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.
-
State Police seek help with Sullivan County homicide
Indiana State Police detectives from the Putnamville Post are seeking help from the public with the nearly six-month investigation into the death of 85-year-old Lowell R. Badger, a rural Sullivan County farmer.
-
Man who attacked Vigo deputy arrested
A Terre Haute man accused of attacking a Vigo County sheriff’s deputy earlier this week is facing felony charges in the Vigo County jail.
-
INDOT to bid final 641 phase
The final construction phase of the 641 bypass is scheduled to let for bids on Dec. 11, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.
-
District office moves north
The Southwest District office of the Purdue Extension service has been moved north from Vincennes to Terre Haute.
-
Day is done…
The sun sets Thursday evening as seen from south of Terre Haute.
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
- More News Headlines
-





