THE BIG, BAD WORLD OF CAREERS: It isn’t as scary as you may think
By Allison Rogers For most, school is a daily ritual in the early years of our lives. Six hours in a classroom, five days a week, absorbing every little bit of information like a sponge—or, at least, that’s the idea. The average person lives that routine year after year and, for those who pursue further […]
MEETING YOUR MATCH: The latest in colour-matching tools and techniques
When it comes to colour matching, there are several methods you can employ to meet your perfect match. Colour matching tools can help technicians identify the best blendable colour match in minutes—and accuracy is important to the quality of the repair, as well as the productivity and profitability of the body shop. Proper maintenance of […]
SYNCHRONIZED WITH THE SEAL: I-CAR Canada and Saskatchewan Polytechnic team up on recognition of new apprenticeship curriculum
One of Canada’s biggest assets in repair technician training is the Auto Body and Collision Technician apprenticeship program with its Red Seal pan- Canadian harmonization. In 2011, I-CAR Canada recognized that a good part of the I-CAR program was being covered under the apprenticeship curriculum and exempted license holders from almost 150 hours of I-CAR […]
THE GREAT DEBATE: Has the pandemic proven photo-estimation’s worth?
Photo-based estimating involves taking pictures of a damaged vehicle and submitting them for a virtual repair quote. The consensus on the issue seems to be that body shops are against photo estimating, while insurance agencies are for it. Here’s why: PROS POST-PANDEMIC PEACE OF MIND Help ease the customer’s mind by continuing to comply with […]
ALIVE WITH IDEAS: New approaches to industry challenges at IBIS Connect Africa
By Allison Rogers For decades, key members of the collision industry have developed solutions to shared industry challenges at industry conferences. Perhaps the highest-profile of these conferences have been at the International Bodyshop Industry Symposium events, which attract industry legends from across different continents. In 2020, however, the coronavirus pandemic put a wrench in the […]
THE POST COVID-19 CLASSROOM: What to expect from post-secondary education
THE DAYS OF COMING TO SCHOOL OR WORK WHEN YOU’RE A LITTLE BIT SICK—BUT TOO STUBBORN TO STAY HOME—ARE GONE. GESTURES AND BEHAVIORS THAT WERE ONCE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE, SUCH AS A HANDSHAKE MAY BECOME TABOO. By Ben Hart As I sit here and write this, I long for the days of normality; in fact, I […]
THE VOLUME VICE: Improved KPIs means investing in front-end processes
By Kelly Roberts Handling high volumes of business can be a bit like lifting heavyweights. A significant amount of volume is good— if you have the bulk to handle it. In fact, it is a clear sign that your business is doing something right. It feels amazing! And just like weightlifters, businesses that receive too […]
TODAY’S TRAINING: What will I-CAR training look like in our new normal?
I-CAR has had to take on an all-new approach to delivering its training courses amid the pandemic. On March 15, “pretty well all colleges across the country closed down their campuses,” Andrew Shepard, senior director of Industry Programs and executive director of I-CAR Canada told Collision Repair. However, I-CAR Canada quickly reacted to the closures […]
UNDERSTANDING THE INDUSTRY: Is it better to work for a chain or an independent facility?
By Gideon Scanlon If you are looking to start a career in the collision repair sector, you might want to think about whether you want to work for a business that has only one location, or for one that is part of a chain. Before making a decision, it is important to understand the basics […]
TEN STEPS TO TOP PERFORMANCE: AkzoNobel’s approach to Process Centred Environments
“IF WE LOOK AT A TWO-HOUR BOOTH CYCLE AS THE DRUMBEAT OF THE SHOP, WE SHOULD AIM TO SEE VEHICLES MOVING FROM STAGE TO STAGE ACCORDING TO THE DRUMBEAT. IT’S ABOUT PULLING THE VEHICLES THROUGH THE PROCESS AT A STEADY PACE RATHER THAN FORCING THEM THROUGH.” – PAT RYAN, AKZONOBEL Pat Ryan, an experienced service […]
