The Keys to Successful Staffing
Seven tips to secure top talent By Maddy Kylie Welcome to the Canadian aftermarket, where the average age of the collision repair technician is 49, and the average age of the apprentice is 29. In other words, the nation’s skills shortage has situated the industry in desperate times. Pile on a pandemic and the conundrum […]
The 411 on 410N
SATA Canada’s new apprenticeship course offering Do you have a trusted, skilled painter on your staff roster? If not, you better get to brushing up. It’s a secret to none that Canada’s automotive aftermarket is in the drawls of a skills shortage—and painters are no exception. In a July survey issued by Collision Repair magazine, […]
Fix Network stays on course
Post-COVID-19, virtual learning has taken centerstage as the aftermarket industry redefines operations to keep technicians on top of industry trends. Despite the challenges, Sophie Pepin of Fix Network believes learning should never stop. “For quite some time now, the phrase ‘new normal’ has become commonplace. It’s a new term which perfectly encapsulates how our lives […]
A FALL FROM PACE
Train now—the world won’t wait for you to catch up By Darryl Simmons When was the last time you learned something at work? If your answer isn’t today, something is wrong. Ask anyone that’s spent a day working in the automotive aftermarket and they’ll tell you that this industry holds a pace akin to the […]
Free Service Technician Webinar from ASE: Diagnostic Alignment Angles Explained
Leesburg, Virginia – Nov. 5, 2020 – The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is hosting a free webinar for service technicians on Friday, Nov. 6 at 4:00 p.m. ET entitled “Diagnostic Alignment Angles Explained.” If the vehicle you are servicing is still pulling after an alignment, diagnostic alignment angles will help reduce comebacks. […]
Red Seal Ready: APPRENTICESHIPS FROM COAST TO COAST
Established in 1966, the Red Seal program was formed to make it easier for skilled tradespeople to find jobs in Canada. Once apprentices have completed their training, they, along with certified journeypersons, can take an interprovincial standards examination to obtain a Red Seal endorsement on their certificates of qualifications. Having the Red Seal qualification allows […]
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 […]