GO FOR GOLD ALL ONLINE ALL ONLINE plus: Insurance updates, What you need to know before you buy a new shop. > RUB IT THE RIGHT WAY: THE 2009 ABRASIVES GUIDE! Devon DeBoer will represent Canada at WorldSkills 2009. Mitchell Information Center speeds up information retrieval. industry events, and much, much more! Serving the Business of the Industry Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632 86 John St. Thornhill ON L3T 1Y2
ALL ONLINE Mitchell Information Center speeds up information retrieval. GO FOR GOLD Devon DeBoer will represent Canada at WorldSkills 2009. Serving the Business of the Industry > RUB IT THE RIGHT WAY: THE 2009 ABRASIVES GUIDE! Vol.8 No.2 I $4.95 Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632 86 John St. Thornhill ON L3T 1Y2 plus : Insurance updates, industry events, and much, much more! EXPANDED HORIZONS What you need to know before you buy a new shop. Derrick Ryan of Garland Auto Body in St. John’s, Newfoundland gives students the straight goods on collision repair. ROCK STAR!
Transcript
ALL ONLINEMitchell Information
Center speeds up information retrieval.
GO FOR GOLDDevon DeBoer will
represent Canada at WorldSkills 2009.
Serving the Business of the Industry
> RUB IT THE RIGHT WAY: THE 2009 ABRASIVES GUIDE!
COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM Vol.8 No.2 I $4.95Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632 86 John St. Thornhill ON L3T 1Y2
plus: Insurance updates,industry events,
and much, much more!
ALL ONLINE
EXPANDED HORIZONSWhat you need to
know before you buy a new shop.
Derrick Ryan of GarlandAuto Body in St. John’s, Newfoundland givesstudents the straight goods on collision repair.
Offering a complete line of product solutions to support your waterborne conversions. 3M’s Clean Sanding discs greatly reduce sanding dust meaning less chance for paint defects.
Contact your 3M Representative at 1-800-364-3577.
Meeting your needs – yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Boyd Communications BASF Automotive Refinish “Chip Foose Waterborne” Refinish Ad Collision Repair InDesign CS3 January, 2009Writer: Sue Salter Art Director: Pam Moran Contact: Kathy Boyd 248-539-7861 Ad Size (TRIM): 8.125” x 10.875”
42 RECYCLINGThe electric professional.by David Gold
15 HEALTH & SAFETYVital inspection.by Larry Crangle
40 WHO’S DRIVINGimprove today!by Jay Perry
HAVE YOUR SAY We welcome your comments on anything you see in Collision Repair magazine. Send your feedback to [email protected] by mail (7725 Yonge St. Thornhill ON L3T 2C4). Please note that letters to the editor may be published and edited for clarity and length.
Issue 8 No. 2, May 2009
COVER PHOTOGRAPHYBY GERRY BOLAND
REAL DEALDerrick Ryan of
Garland Auto Body in St. John’s,
Newfoundland gives back to
his industry.
DEPARTMENTSKIM ROBERTS BRINGS SUPERIORMARKETING KNOWLEDGE TO FIX AUTO BARRIE NORTH.
REPAIRERS GATHER IN PHOENIX FOR THE FIRST STEP ON THE LEAN JOURNEY WITH PPG’S MVP CONFERENCE.
pg.22
FEATURES
44 GREENING THE INDUSTRYRepairers, recyclers, and insurers are coming together to promote the use of recycled parts.
24 FASTER INFORMATIONMitchell’s Information Center puts all available repair data at your � ngetips.
17 WORLD CLASSDevon DeBoer will represent Canada at WorldSkills 2009.
33 BUY LOW, SELL HIGHBuying a shop, selling a shop, or making sure you stay a� oat, this article is a must-read.
54 THE LAST WORDCoatings next big leap is almost ready to arrive.
Special Feature
FEATURES
27 TRUE GRITThe 2009 abrasives product guide is here!
We’re well and truly in- to spring now, even though it seemed for a long time that win-ter just wasn’t going
to give up the fight.I’ve always thought that spring was the
best time of year to start something new. Maybe it’s a Canadian thing.
The season offers collision repair facili-ties the opportunity to do some spring cleaning. A literal spring cleaning is prob-ably in order, but the season also gives us
a great chance to clear out our minds and the minds of our staff.
Now is the time to go Lean if you haven’t already. Grab any one of a hun-dred books and start reading.
Online book sellers often have reviews, which can be very helpful in finding the book that’s right for you.
Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation (the classic text) and Creating a Lean Culture: Tools to Sustain Lean Conversions are both great. The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook: A Quick Reference Guide to 100 Tools for
Improving Quality and Speed can also give you some ideas. There’s also Lean for Dummies. I haven’t read it, but the entire purpose of that series is to ex-plain things step-by-step with lots of charts and examples.
More importantly, though, the right time for coming up with new ideas is always Now. Try something new. It can either be an original idea of your own or one tested by someone else.With that said, I can think of at least one thing you probably shouldn’t try.
Many businesspeople in the grip of re-cession give in to the temptation to lower prices. It’s a trap you must be wary of. You can’t “make it up in volume” if the busi-ness isn’t there to begin with. You’re better off trying to attract more customers than lowering prices.
Even though my emphasis has been on the new, we can’t ever forget the old. There are some things, like customer ser-vice and safe, high-quality repairs, that will never go out of style.
The season also gives us a gReaTchance to cleaR out ouR minds.
SUBSCRIPTIONone-year $24.95 / Two-year $35.95collision Repair ™ magazine is published bi-monthly, andis dedicated to serving the business interests of the collisionrepair industry. it is published by media matters inc.material in collision Repair magazine may not be reproducedin any form with out written consent from thepublisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse anyadvertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims orstatements made by its advertisers or independentcolumnists. all facts, opinions, statements appearing inthis publication are those of the writers and editors themselves,and are in no way to be construed as statements,positions or endorsements by the publisher.
PRINTED IN CANADA ISSN 1707-6072CANADA POST CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAILSALES PRODUCT AGREEMENTNo. 40841632RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED
send change of address notices and undeliverablecopies to: 86 John street Thornhill, on l3T 1Y2
PubPage.indd 1 4/15/09 1:28:00 PM
Speed up your operations and increase productivity with DuPont™ Cromax® Pro waterborne basecoat. With 1.5 coat coverage, wet-on-wet application and no flash time between coats, it’s easy to see why leading shops are making the switch to DuPont™ Cromax® Pro. And for even faster results, DuPont™ ColorNet® Color Proofing can give you great color matches before a single drop of paint is mixed.
Just a few of the ways that DuPont Refinish can help you reach your operational goals today—while getting ahead of tomorrow’s environmental regulations.
To learn more about increasing your productivity visit www.cromaxpro.dupont.com or speak with a DuPont Refinish waterborne conversion specialist at 1.800.668.6945, prompt 5.
piché new sikkens consultant for east canada akzonobel has announced the appointment of patrick piché as services consultant for eastern canada. piche will be responsible for the areas of Quebec, ontario and the atlantic provinces. He will work in a business advisory capacity with collision repair centres that are members of the canadian sikkens acoat selected network. prior to joining akzonobel, piché was general manager for ssrnet consultants, a continuous improve-ment implementation and training enterprise, mandated to work on supply chain opera-tions for canadian Tire. He brings with him a strong focus in lean production.
“in today’s volatile economy the words faster, cheaper and better are definitely more than just words,” notes roland Taube, market manager for the akzonobel canadi-an market. Taube went on to say, “akzono-bel is making huge strides in an area we refer to as process centered environments. This unique set of business tools takes the generic principles that are taught in pro-grams that deal with lean philosophies and provides real and practical practices for the collision repair industry. We are pleased to be able to have someone with the business background and talents that patrick offers to assist us in bringing these new concepts to the canadian market.”
Uni-select hires Brent Windom as the Vice president of mar-keting and product Development, north america.
Bringing nearly 30 years of experience in the auto aftermar- ket, Windom will oversee all market- ing and product man-agement efforts for Uni-select. in addi-tion, he will also be
responsible for customer related training, corporate store inventory management and the company’s web-based initiatives.
Windom has been part of three major acquisitions, in each case joining the team of the acquiring company. He served as Vice president of marketing and merchan-dising for maWDi from 1994 to 2004, when it was sold to Uni-select. prior to that, he was executive Vice president at ai automo-tive for nine years, until its sale to maWDi. He began his career overseeing sales with Downey automotive, which was sold to ai automotive in 1985.
patrick piché has been named sikkens services consultant for eastern canada.
Windom Joins Uni-select as Vp of Marketing
Brent Windom
collision solutions network has announced the addition of Jay Hayward to the corpo-rate team as manager of operations and network performance. Hayward encompass-es a diverse background in the collision repair industry in his previous roles; experienced in both network operational support and sales.
in Hayward’s new role, he will focus on all operational issues, network compliancy, per-formance, profitability, and training. He will also provide support to csn’s marketing and business development initiatives.
csn is also pleased to announce the pro-motion of larry French to the role of national Director of sales. French will continue to assist with the execution of csn’s strategic sales and growth plans across canada, as well as being a key contact in the network’s ongoing insurance relations portfolio.
Flavio Battilana, chief operating officer of csn says, “i’m very excited that in a time that so many companies are discussing cost cuts, csn is investing. The addition of Jay and the promotion of larry will continue to deliver value and position the csn network for the future growth, performance and profitability.”
csn Hires Manager of operations
above: Jay Hayward. above right: larry French.
News pg 08.indd 2 4/15/09 1:49:56 PM
Celette has announced that Gary McGone-gal is Celette USA’s new Sales Manager for North America. One of McGonegal’s prima-ry responsibilities will be to look after the development of the company’s products distribution networks in both Canada and the United States.
Timothy Morgan has also joined the com-pany in the role of Technical and Training
Manager for Celette USA. Morgan brings with him extensive experience in vehicle structural repair, as well as a background in training. He has written numerous industry articles for publications in both Canada and the United States.
Both McGonegal and Morgan will report to Bernard Cribier, president of Celette USA, and general manager Sylvain Julien. For more information on Celette, please visit celette-na.com.
Gary McGonegal and Tim Morgan join Celette USA
APPOINTMENTS
MAy 2009 ColliSion RepAiR 09
Gary McGonegal
Mirka Abrasives Canada is pleased to an- nounce the addition of Johnny Girard to their professional sales team. In this role, Girard
will be responsible for the territory of east-ern Quebec and Northern New Brunswick. Girard brings with him an extensive back-ground in industrial shop management and abrasives sales.
“Johnny is very service oriented and will be pleased to offer his assistance for all your surface finishing needs,” says John Booth of Mirka Abrasives Canada.
Johnny Girard can be reached at 418-956-0615 or 1-800-843-3904 for any questions related to Mirka’s line of prod-ucts. you can also find more information on Mirka at mirka.com.
Johnny Girard Joins Mirka Abrasives Canada
Left: Johnny Girard
i-CAR offers Volunteer TrainingI-CAR is now offering a series of training modules designed specifically for new volunteers or those interested in becom-ing a volunteer.
According to I-CAR, these modules/train-ing sessions are also valuable to veteran I-CAR volunteers who would like a brush-up on I-CAR and to learn the reestablished role and structure of committees.
Volunteers continue to play a vital role in the success of the I-CAR organization. The training organization says the purpose of the volunteer orientation program is to improve the volunteer experience.
For more information and to register, please contact I-CAR Field Support Man-ager Mike Miller. He can be reached at [email protected].
Tim Morgan
Join the Collision Repair magazine facebook group today! Visitfacebook.com formore information.
News pg 09.indd 2 4/7/09 3:53:08 PM
NEWS
10 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM
Canadian Women Learn, Live & Lead at WIN Conference
Once again, women from all across the colli-sion repair industry have gathered together at the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) conference. The 2009 event was held in Dallas, Texas. The theme for this year’s con-ference, Live, Learn, Lead, challenged the 125 attendees to explore opportunities to expand their horizons while encouraging and teaching others.
Keynote speakers included Marjorie Brody, an executive coach and well-known speaker who encouraged the group to market their magic and learn to self promote. Other key-note speakers included John Edelen, President and CEO of I-CAR who gave an update on the status of the collision industry and Stacy Bartnik, Assistant Vice President and Direc-tor of Financial Services for Carstar’s U.S.
organization, who spoke on the various organizations within the collision industry structure and how your involvement within these organizations can bene� t both your company and the industry. The conference also featured various breakout sessions including a session on Recruiting Women facilitated by Nancy Ng of PPG Canada.
WIN is a not-for-pro� t organization dedi-cated to encouraging, developing and cultivating opportunities to attract women to collision repair while recognizing excel-lence, promoting leadership, and fostering a network among the women who are shaping the industry. To learn more about WIN or to be a member of WIN, please visit womensindustrynetwork.com or via email to [email protected].
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NEWS pg 10 WIN story.indd 2 4/7/09 2:25:22 PM
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happyFaceAd.indd 1 12/1/08 5:48:35 PM
As time goes on vehicle damage is getting harder and harder to repair. This is at the same time as profits are going down. Costs such
as taxes, fuel, heat and hydro, paint and paint materials, are continuously going up. But our labour rates are not moving.
As an industry, we must continue to invest in new tools and equipment to con-tinue to do safe and effective repairs. We also need continuous training, which is also becoming more costly. Again, this has resulted in large increases in operat-ing expenses, but no similar increase in labour rates. It seems that insurers have no idea on how much it takes to maintain and operate a collision facility today.
There has been no money to raise em-ployees’ wages at most of our shops, and yet they also have bills to pay, in a world where the cost of living is always going up. They too have to eat and families to feed. We wonder why we can’t get individuals
to enter our poor-paying trade, but when very experienced techs can’t make ends meet, and are also expected to keep learn-ing about new technology, new tools, etc. then we shouldn’t be surprised to find that they are losing interest in the collision industry.
Technicians today need to make a bet-ter living for what they do. I predict that many good and experienced technicians will be leaving the trade in the next few years. Who will fix our cars? Some days I just want to shout, “Hello! Wake up Mr. Insurer!” Cars today are more complex. It’s obvious that this means the vehicles are going to need more attention than ever to be repaired safely.
The new steels, such as boron steel and TRIP, need new welders to be repaired properly. These welders can
cost $25,000 or more. New frame and measuring equipment also costs thou-sands of dollars. New paint technology, such as water base, costs to paint the cars, and yet there have been no increases.
Do people have to die, or at least get seriously hurt before it is understood that cars must be - not should be, but MUST be - repaired right the first time?
In their defense, some insurers get it. These are the companies that have pro-grams in which they reimburse shops for training and equipment. But you and I both know that there are others who only look at the bottom line. This does not help overhead and employee wage increases, and these insurers don’t get it!
Let’s hope they wake up before it’s too late! To repair cars today back to their new standards and make them safe, we must buy tools and equipment, we must train on welding, plastics, air bags and modules, aluminium, suspension and alignments. That’s just a start.
We must fully understand the repair procedures and follow them through. This means no shortcuts of any kind, ever. The truth is that if you don’t have the money to move forward and get up to date, you’re falling behind.
You can’t fix cars right or make them safe to drive and withstand another ac-cident if you don’t invest in tools and equipment. If you can’t, get out of the business before you get sued.
As an insurance shop or DRP, invest in new equipment and training, pay your people and keep telling insurers that you cannot fix cars for peanuts. CRM
POINT BLANK WITH PIERCEY
We Must fully undeRstand the repair procedures and follow them.
4899 DistList_1/3_CR_2.25x10.5.indd 1 4/14/08 11:32:01 AM
sam piercey is the co-owner of Budds' Collision services in oakville, on. sam is a long-time coyote member and sits on many boards and committees. he can be reached at [email protected].
Point Blank CRM AprMay 2009_MD-1.indd 1 4/14/09 5:29:20 PM
NEW QUICK42 by CAR-O-LINER
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Untitled-1 1 3/20/09 11:39:17 AM
In the war on workplace accidents and injuries, employers must avail themselves of every tool and technique at their disposal. A key weapon in your arsenal is the
monthly workplace inspection. Used properly, this tool will identify substan-dard conditions and practices, persons responsible for correcting these sub-standard activities. Just as important, it will help you determine whether or not previous corrections are being followed.
Regardless of the varying provincial legal requirements, best practice would dictate that workplace inspections be done on a monthly basis by a worker and possibly a supervisor.
Rotating this responsibility among several different people will help to min-imize the effect known as “the blindness of familiarity.” Sometimes simply having a fresh set of eyes to look things over can reveal issues that were hidden from others. Including a person with supervisory du-ties is extremely important. It’s necessary for the organization to maintain its duty of due diligence.
Now that we have decided on who shall do the inspection and when, we must consider what tools will be required to make sure it’s done right.
Paper, pen and clip-board are obviously a good start. But how about a digital cam-era (or phone camera) to clearly identify problem areas? After all, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Also, a review of previous inspections will alert the inspecting party of previous problems and be a guide as to whether or not the problem is an ongoing one.
A workplace inspection must include all areas of the workplace and anywhere else employees might regularly go. This would include the employee parking lot, outside and indoor storage areas, furnace rooms, lunch rooms as well as offices and customer reception areas. That’s the bare minimum. Your particular facility may have other areas that also need inspection for safety and due diligence.
Your inspection must also look at equipment. This can’t be stressed enough. Ladders, hoists and jacks, hand tools, paint storage racks, mixing machines and dispensing equipment have to be inspected for damage on a regular basis.
Speaking of equipment, it must also be inspected to ensure compliance with inspection requirements and electri-cal safety standards.
The inspection must consider house-keeping issues like the amount of debris on the shop floor and trip hazards caused by improperly stored items and the suf-ficiency of lighting.
The goal of any workplace should be to have a place for all objects and all objects to be in their place. Anything else in-creases the likelihood of accidents.
A workplace inspection should also include observing workers. Inspectors should take a close look at the actual prac-tices as they relate to following specific company safe operating procedures. This
must include making sure that all staff are using the proper personal protective equipment. This really is vital. It’s the due diligence factor operating again.
Also, the inspectors should be diligent in looking for evidence of work tech-niques that might lead to ergonomic injuries. It’s worth it. Over time, a minor annoyance can develop into a debilitat-ing injury for the technician and loss of productivity for you.
Excessive force and awkward body postures are two key factors that often lead to muscle strains and pain. A veteran worker repeating such movements over many years is susceptible to the kind of repetitive strain injury that can result in long term compensation claims. In turn, these can seriously affect an organization’s experience rating record.
An inspection is an ideal time to assess the way a task is performed and to pro-vide workers the opportunity to suggest alternative techniques or assistive equip-ment that could be used.
Hazardous conditions found must be marked down on an inspection form. Ide-ally the form will identify the hazard, its location, whether or not it has occurred before, who will be responsible for cor-recting it and when it will be corrected.
A checklist for commonly found items can be helpful, but be careful not to be-come so focused on the inspection sheet that the inspecting party misses items that are not on the sheet. Now we are ready to describe our findings in a report.
The workplace inspection report will describe your findings and possibly point out issues that need further discussion or investigation. This duty would typically fall to the safety committee, who would make recommendations about how unsafe con-ditions or practices might be addressed.
An employer that encourages and follows through with this process and attempts to rectify identified issues is sending out a very clear signal to workers.
It is a message that says this organiza-tion is one that believes in a safe work environment, an environment where work-ers are valued and all efforts will be directed toward the prevention of accidents and injuries. An organization that can dem-onstrate that kind of dedication is an organization that is being duly diligent and well on its way to winning the war on workplace accidents and injuries. CRM
InspectionTimeby
May 2009 collision RepaiR 15
InspeCTIon Is an Ideal TIMe To assess the way a task is peRfoRmed.
HEALTH & SAFETY
eagle eyes protect profitability.
Larry Crangle
larry Crangle is a former collision repair facility owner now working as a health and safety trainer for the occupation safety Group. He can be reached via email at [email protected].
DeBoer DebutsDevon DeBoer will represent Canada at his � rst WorldSkills competition
By Kruno Bradasevic
WORLD SKILLS 2009
Representing Canada in an international competition is no easy task. Devon DeBoer is one of 38 young Canadians who make up Team Canada at the upcom-ing WorldSkills 2009 competition. From across the planet, people will compete in many skills categories
ranging from carpentry to cooking. � is year, Devon DeBoer will be competing in auto body repair.
WorldSkills is almost like the Olympics of the skilled trades community. Competitors go through extensive training and prac-tice to � ne tune their skills. Some of the steps Devon DeBoer has taken to prepare for the event include spending extra hours at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) shop where his trainer Derek Topolnisky works closely with him to ensure he’s ready for September’s competition.
“I’ve always known that Devon is a natural,” said trainer Derek Topolnisky, one of the instructors at SAIT. “He has the right ‘work hard, get down and dirty’ attitude. Devon doesn’t get � ustered and loves a challenge. He works like a machine.”
Training for the event is challenging. � ere are many practice jobs given to DeBoer so that when he’s given a job at the competi-tion, he’ll have enough experience to execute it well. He may be given a B-pillar splice, which he’ll dissect and practice welding and measuring on. Essentially, the trainers will smash cars and Devon will fix them. The trainers consult world competition expert Lawrence Danylchuk on a regular basis.
DeBoer has the full support of his family, who is very proud of his success. He has a reputation at SAIT as being a pleasure to work with. His father taught him that success is derived from tenacity and determination; DeBoer’s success is derived from a good work ethic and con� dence in his abilities.
“If you’re going to be successful, you have to believe in yourself,” he says. “But it goes beyond that. You have to know you’re good enough, and learn to appreciate the fact that you’re talented.”
Looking forward to future success in his trade, Devon DeBoer credits winning a silver medal at a national skills competition as a boost to his con� dence and reputation in the � eld. � e second-place win also scored him the opportunity to represent Canada at WorldSkills 2009 in his hometown of Calgary, Alberta.
“I’m very proud to be representing Canada,” says DeBoer. “� is is a great opportunity to show the world that Canada has great talent in skills. I know we have vast potential.”
Devon DeBoer is currently further developing his skills as an apprentice at Power Chief Auto Body in Calgary. He is a � rm be-liever that a career should be something both enjoyable and fun. � e skilled trades have brought out the best in DeBoer, inspiring him to be a better person both personally and professionally. CRM
“If you’re going to be successful, you have to believe in yourself. But it goes beyond that. You have to know you’re good enough, and learn to appreciate the fact that you’re talented.” - Devon DeBoer
Phot
ogra
phy
by T
rudi
e Le
e
SAIT_Devon_Feature_KB.indd 1 4/15/09 2:03:30 PM
ABOVE LEFT: Greg and Karen Mario of RAB.ABOVE RIGHT: Bill and Ron Thomson of Boyd Autobody & Glass.LEFT: Don and Cathy Strong of Concordia CARSTAR.BELOW: Robert Minotti of Grand Touring Collision Services ~ CSN listening intently
to a presentation.
INDUSTRY EVENTS
PPG MPV conference focused on tools for increased e� ciency and economic viability.
By Darryl Simmons
18 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM
INDUSTRY EVENTS
TOP: Mike Gunnels and Ken Friesen during “Creating a Winning Culture.“ RIGHT: NormAngrove of PPG during one of the discussion groups.
The economy may be heading for a “perfect storm,” but collision repair centre owners and managers who attended PPG’s MVP Business Solutions conference in Phoenix, Arizona have learned some techniques to
navigate it. PPG’s MVP program is open to any repairers using PPG Re� nish products.
� e conference took place March 9 to 11 at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort. Acres of Sonoran Desert pro-vided a scenic background to the three day event focused on improving shop performance and competitiveness.
“The new game is quality, speed and cost. The PPG MVP program has the means to help our collision cen-tre owners come out of this stronger, better positioned and set for genuine success,” said Norm Angrove, Sen-ior Manager, MVP Business Solutions Conference Promotion, Exhibitors.
Keynote speakers included Michael Martyn, founder of SISU Consulting Service; and John Foppe, veteran author, trainer and executive advisor. Martyn spoke on “Turning the Perfect Storm into a World of Opportunity.” � e presentation was very well received, and focused on how to dramatically increase the speed and e� ectiveness of process improvement e� orts. � e central idea is to bal-ance the desire for radical bottom-line results, with the development of people-centric process improvements.
People were also the focus of the second keynote speak-er, John Foppe. Foppe was born without arms, and once led a life of dependency. He shared how he created his visibility through exasperated perceptions, reactions andpractices. Foppe also shared proven techniques for taking organizations that are just “getting it done” to whole new level, where the team is really “making it happen.”
to a presentation.
ABOVE: Mike Srigley of Sunshine Collision Services. RIGHT: Tom Bissonette of Parr Auto Body in conversation with Frank Lefebvre of PPG.
Photo by Collision Repair magazine.
FROM LEFT: Charlie Bathurst, Frank Lefebvre and Stan Siemes of PPG (in blue shirts), Dan Cli� ord of High River, Tom Bissonnette of Parr Auto Body, Ken Friesen of Concours Collision Centres, and Greg Mario of Regina Auto Body. FRONT ROW: Ron Thompson of Boyd Autobody and Norm Angrove of PPG.
All other photos by www.pressandco.com.
PPG_Conference-1 MD with captions-2.indd 2 4/15/09 11:18:05 AM
MAY 2009 COLLISION REPAIR 19
INDUSTRY EVENTS
A full slate of seminars provided attendees with techniques to put into practice in their own shops. One highlight of the seminars was 5S Workplace Or-ganization and Point of Use Tools.
“It was my � rst MVP conference, and I can say it wasn’t like any other conference,” says Rob Minotti of Grand Touring Collision in North York. “It was fo-cused on how to put lean practices into your shop.”
Other seminar highlights included Practical Appli-cation of Lean Six Sigma, Building a Winning Team, the
Art of E� ective Execution, Developing Self-Managed Workgroups, Problem Solving and Process Improvement through E� ective Facili-tation, and Creating a Winning Culture, presented by Ken Friesen, owner of Concours Collision Centres in Calgary, Alberta.
“Mike Martyn, the opening speaker, helped to open minds to the lean journey,” says Friesen. “I think everyone took something home to improve their business. � e closing speaker, John Foppe, was inspirational and helped people realize that they can accomplish almost anything they want with the right thinking process.”
Discussion groups also played a key role in the conference, al-lowing repairers to engage in peer-to-peer exchange with fellow professionals. For Bill � omson of Boyd Autobody & Glass in PortCoquitlam, British Columbia, the discussion on Repair Planning Best Practices, facilitated by Bruce Young, was of the greatest interest.
“I picked up some new ideas, and that’s always good,” says � om-son. “We also got into the journey to learn.”
Other topics included Throughput Performance Solutions, Dealership Collision Centre Management, Finding, Keeping and Developing Top Performers, and Marketing Best Practices.
“My favourite way to learn is by talking to other shop owners who share the same concerns I do,” said Tom Bissonette, owner of Parr Auto Body in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
“A number of factors are combining to bring about a sort of ‘per-fect storm,’ and it’s making its presence felt in our industry right now,” says Randy Dewing, Senior Manager, MVP Business Solutions Con-ference Team Leader for PPG Automotive Re� nish. “A struggling economy and increased insurer in� uence are changing the way busi-ness is done. Our goal through the MVP program is to make sure our customers can treat this as an opportunity to better their business.”
For more information on PPG’s performance MVP program, please visit mvpperformance.com. CRM
Norm Angrove, John Outcalt, and Jim Berkey. The conference provided an oppor-tunity to make new contacts and renew old ones.
To locate Green Parts for any vehicle contact your local member of OARA or go to www.GoGreenParts.ca
Good for the Earth...
Good for your Customers...
Good for Business...
PPG_Conference-1 MD with captions-2.indd 3 4/15/09 11:18:19 AM
“I hope to be able to grow the business even more by � nding our competitive differences and making sure the community knows what we have to o� er,” Roberts says. She is a � rm believer that suc-cess relies on marketing your company and what it stands for.
With current economic situations it is no surprise that the auto industry is facing tough obstacles, but Roberts remains optimistic. She believes that this is a great opportunity for the industry to grow. Gaining the consumers trust and loyalty are Roberts’ tactics towards weathering the economic slump. She says that as long as there is proper restructuring, “� e sky will be the limit.”
According to Fix Auto’s Web-CMS technology, Fix Auto Barrie North’s current Customer Service Index is 100 per cent and has been holding there for over four months.
Fix Auto Barrie North converted to AkzoNobel Sikkens water-borne in August of 2007. In the last year the facility has taken the initiative to start marketing this conversion. From giving away t-shirts that say, “we’ve gone green”, to participating in a radio campaign for local radio station Rock 95, Roberts says, “By doing those things we’ve gotten a lot of recognition.” Most recently, Fix Auto Barrie North was also one of the � nalists for Bell Canada’s Business Awards for the Green Project Award.
Roberts has always believed that giving back to the community was an important thing to do. Over the past year the business
became involved with various charity works. They have worked with Gilda’s Club, Grieving Children at Season’s Centre, and the Grove Park Retirement Home. � e company is also involved with many professional associations; Collision Industry Information Assistance (CIIA), Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Association (OYAP) as members for the city of Barrie advisory board, and Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF), just to name a few.
Roberts suggests that keeping your mind open and sticking with your values and beliefs is the best way to overcome any challenges that might come your way. As for her words of advice for those women who would like to get into the industry? Simple. “Absolutely go for it. Jump right in with both feet. Don’t be afraid to enter into an industry that has been predominantly male oriented.” CRM
MAY 2009 COLLISION REPAIR 21
WOMEN OF THE INDUSTRY
Women’s Industry Network (WIN) is dedicated to encouraging, cultivating opportunities toattract women to collision repair while recognizing excellence, promoting leadership, and fostering a network among women shaping the industry.Collision Repair magazine is pleased to announce that Kim Roberts, and every woman pro� led in our Women of the Industry section, will receive a membership to WIN. For more information, please visit womensindustrynetwork.com.
Kim_Roberts_WOTI_v2.indd 3 4/14/09 5:33:29 PM
PROFILES OF SUCCESS
22 collision RepaiR collisionrepairmag.com
Derrick ryan of garland autoBody is on a mission to give kids the straight scoop.
By Mike Davey
Derrick ryan at historic cabot tower.
There’s an old saying that the fortune of a man who sits, also sits. In other words, you’ve got to keep mov-ing if you want to get anywhere. Derrick Ryan lives this philosophy every day of his life. Derrick is the owner/operator of Garland Autobody in St. John’s,
Newfoundland. He started in the collision repair business in the summer of 1974, beginning his career at a local GM dealership, just a few short days after leaving high school.
Derrick started as an apprentice in the paint and prep depart-ment, and prepped and painted vehicles for the next four years.
“Back then, the way the apprentice system worked, once you became skilled, you were often laid off and they would hire new apprentices,” says Derrick. Since he has never been one to wait for something to happen, he made something happen for himself.
“In the fall of 1978 I started my first shop at the ripe old age of 21. I worked this shop for one year and then an opportunity arose for a job with the Ministry of Transportation in Goose Bay, Lab-rador.” Derrick’s workplace employed 30 technicians, 29 of which were mechanics. As the only body and paint tech, he had a lot on his plate. But he still found time to dream of a different future.
“I had the itch to be self-employed and it would not go away,” says Derrick. “I knew I needed to be my own boss.“
In 1980, he returned to St. John’s and married his wife, Kathy. Within the next three years they had two girls, April and Julie. With a growing family to support, the entrepreneurial spirit that led Derrick Ryan to open his first shop had to be put on the back burner. He spent the next few years working at a Nissan dealership and later a Chrysler dealership.
In 1987, Derrick Ryan started working at Garland AutoBody in St. John’s, Newfoundland. At that time the facility was owned and operated by Alex Garland.
“I enjoyed working there, but the itch to be self-employed was too much for me,” says Derrick. “In 1989 I left to pursue my dream of owning a collision repair shop. I spent the next few months looking for a good place for a facility.”
He found a building that was suitable, and approached the bank for a loan. However, even with $50,000 for a down payment, the bank said Derrick needed more equity. At this point, Alex Garland reentered the picture. He had been thinking about starting a weld-ing facility, and shutting down Garland AutoBody.
“I looked at this as an opportunity,” says Derrick. “I approached Alex and we made a deal for 50/50 ownership. We figured that if we could bring together his existing customers and name, and my $50,000, the bank might go for it.”
Th at was back in January of 1990, and this year Garland Auto-Body celebrates its 25th anniversary. Derrick worked closely with both Alex and Sylvia Garland for the next seven years, and in 1997 he acquired full ownership of Garland AutoBody.
“Th e next three years were the most challenging of my life,” says Derrick. “Th e transition from being a body tech to a business own-er was tough, but I love challenges, big or small.”
It’s a good thing that Derrick Ryan likes challenges. He’s well aware that the collision repair industry has some big ones ahead. In his opinion, the single biggest challenge today is making sure there are technicians working today and into the future. It’s something he believes in passionately. He also gives of his time to try to make sure that it happens.
“Four years ago we started looking at scholarship programs and we found that they were almost all geared to university stu-dents,” says Derrick. “We started a scholarship program dedicated to those going into skilled trades.” It’s an idea that took off , to the point where Derrick has noticed that a few others are now off ering similar scholarships for the skilled trades. Th at’s something that benefi ts not only individuals, but all of the people of Canada.
“I believe in putting eff ort back into the industry,” says Derrick. “Every year I go to the local trade school and give a presentation on the real story of what students can expect when they start working in the collision repair business.”
Derrick has also recently joined the apprenticeship committee at the College of the North Atlantic. Autobody Instructor Gary Hickey is quick to point out Derrick’s extraordinarily high level of commitment to the students and the college.
“For at least the last fi ve years, Derrick has made time to come in and talk to our students about what they’re going to fi nd when they enter the industry,” says Hickey. “He’s also been very active in our job observation program, where our students get to go out and observe and assist working techs. It helps the students fi nd out what it’s really like, and gives employers the opportunity to get to know future employees.”
In 2001, Garland Autobody joined forces with PPG’s Certifi ed-First network. Today Derrick Ryan sits on the advisory council for Certifi edFirst. He also takes advantage of PPG’s MVP program.
“It’s allowed us to work with some of the top players in the North American industry,” says Derrick. “We meet three times a year in MVP Roundtable meetings to discuss the changes that are con-stantly taking place in our industry.”
One of the biggest changes to come out of this relationship has been Green Belt Training and an introduction to lean processes.
“Derrick is a great example of how to make the most of our CertifiedFirst and MVP Programs,” says Norm Angrove, Senior Manager of Value Added Programs for PPG. He has used the knowledge of MVP and Green Belt to create a truly lean shop.”
Th e facility was also the fi rst in Newfoundland to convert to PPG’s Nexa Autocolour waterborne formulation. Derrick Ryan believes that doing these things is not only necessary to thrive in today’s market, but to survive at all.
“Th e number of shops is declining. Two years ago there were 8800 shops. Predictions say that there will only be about 5000 shops left in Canada by the 2011,” says Derrick. “My suggestion to shops out there is to get lean and mean as fast as you can.” crm
“It’s a good thing that Derrick Ryan likes challenges. He’s well aware that the collision repair industry has some big ones ahead. In his opinion, the single biggest challenge today is making sure there are technicians working today and into the future. It’s something he believes in passionately.”
mitchell is putting repair data at the technicians’ fingertips.
Faster InformatIonBy Mike Davey
Having the right information is always valuable, and the sooner you can get it, the better. The explosive growth of online technology has made accessing the information you need easier and faster than ever before. It’s not nice, it’s necessary. Staying up
to the minute is no longer enough. To survive in today’s economic climate, a collision repair facility has to stay up to the second.
Mitchell International has recently launched a new online appli-cation called Mitchell Information Center, providing a central location for OEM technical information. It can be accessed online at www.mitchellinformationcenter.com. A free demo of the soft-ware is currently available, and a full-featured demonstration copy is available on request via email.
“Hands-on repair information was a niche that wasn’t being ad-dressed, and the Mitchell Information is very positioned to leverage Mitchell’s 60 years of collision repair expertise,” says Mike Jerry, Vice President and General Manager of Mitchell Canada. “This isn’t estimate writing software. It’s a one-stop solution that will allow technicians to quickly and easily access the repair information they need.”
Over 20 years of comprehensive model coverage and repair articles have been put together in a single source to make Mitchell Information Center a reality.
“This system is really useful,” says Kevin Kababdjian of Bayview & Steeles Auto Collision. “We used it on the CDs before, but it’s better online. The graphics are better, it’s updated faster, and it’s a lot easier to find the information you need.”
Mitchell Information Center shows vehicle dimensions in high resolution vector graphics for readability. Upperbody and under-body dimensions are provided in both millimetres and inches. According to Mitchell, the customizable vehicle dimensions data can be used with almost any frame equipment. Actual digital photographs (not illustrations) show measuring points.
Comprehensive information on restraint systems (air bags and seat belts) is provided, as are comprehensive wiring diagrams, allowing technicians to troubleshoot electrical problems and repair electrical components. In the area of brakes, steering, and suspension, the system provides “How-to” chassis repair infor-mation, along with information on ABS and other brake system and suspension specifc data. Also provided are torque specifi-cations and wheel alignment data.
“We’ve been using it mainly for air bag matrices and wiring dia-grams, and so far it’s been very easy to use,” says Aaron Parry, an estimator with Don Butt Autobody in Oshawa, Ontario. “The online format makes it a bit faster and easier to stay up to date.”
Also featured is a complete library of OEM technical bulletins and recall information. The data is stored for easy retrieval. Not only can technical bulletins be searched by year, make, and model, but all of the information is indexed by system type and symptom.
aaron parry of Don Butt autobody in oshawa references module removal instructions. all procedures are presented with illustrations and step-by-step instructions.
The main screen allows users to search by Vin or by year, make, and model. once an input is entered, articles appear, sorted into precise categories. Users can navigate via the menu tabs on the left, choosing between History, Jobs, and Favourites. Breaking news and bulletins appear on the left hand side as well.
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David Heacock of Bayview & steeles auto collision reading an article on mitchell information center. one of his favourite features is how the system presents step-by-step instructions for module removal.
Currently the system holds over 100,000 different technical service bulletins, and more will be added as they become available.
Once a model is selected, available articles automatically appear. A tabbed interface allows technicians to easily access and keep track of multiple vehicles at once. A section on electrical systems
and components was created to help technicians locate hard-to-find electrical components.
“I use it to get air bag specifications, refrigerants, A/C, things like that,” says David Heacock, a technician at Bayview and Steeles Autobody. “One of the best things about it is that it outlines the procedures for you. If you’ve got to get a module out, it walks you through the process with pictures. You don’t have to take the car half apart just to get that one module.”
Mitchell Information Center also allows technicians to select “fa-vourites,” for cars they see often. This would be extremely useful in a dealership setting, but other technicians have found it beneficial.
“We produced this after extensive consultation with professional repairers in Canada and the United States,” states Jerry. “The core concept was to develop an online resource that would amalgamate our existing CD products into an easily accessed form that could be instantly updated. The benefits in time saved using the new system will really start to add up for shops that use it. ”
A section on Repair Standards is slated for development, and will eventually be added to Mitchell Information Center. The idea behind the Repair Standards section is to help technicans become confident with the very latest in OEM techniques and principles.
This includes section and replacement, removal and installation procedures, and information on materials and components.
For more information on Mitchell Information Center, please visit mitchellinformationcenter.com. crm
Wh y b e a n o n y m o u s w h e n yo u c a n b e v i s i b l e ?
f i x a u t o . c o m
TO JOIN THE NETWORK CALL TODD NOBLE 416-857-7580 THE BODY SHOP
NETWORK
ABRASIVES SPOTLIGHT
maY 2009 collision RepaiR 27
abrasives can make or break a refinish job.
True GritBy Mike Davey
It’s so commonplace that we rarely think of it. But a solid understanding of abrasives can mean the difference be-tween success and failure in the refinish setting. Although sandpaper has been around a very long time (records show that it was in use in China more than 800 years ago!) it’s
undergone considerable technical advancement in that time.The first major innovation took place in 1916, and can be credited
to 3M. The company was the first to develop a type of sandpaper with a waterproof backing. This allowed the paper to be used with water as a lubricant, which could carry away particles that would otherwise clog the finest grades. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that the very first application of this new invention was for auto refinishing.
Sandpaper comes in almost countless variations, once variations in the backing, grit material, grit size and the bond are taken into account. Backings alone can be confusing for anyone who doesn’t know the system. The weight of the backing is usually designat-ed by a letter. For paper backings, weight ratings range from A (lightest) to F (heaviest). Simple enough, but the system typically used for cloth backings runs like this: J, X, Y, T, and M, from lightest to heaviest.
There are a wide variety of materials used for grit in sandpaper. Oddly enough, actual sand (silicon dioxide) was rarely used, even historically. Finely ground glass was considerably more common, and today the most common materials used include aluminium oxide, silicon carbide, and ceramic aluminum oxide.
Sandpaper may also be stearated. This means a dry lubricant is added to the abrasive during manufacture. This prevents clogging and has proven to be very useful in refinish applications.
Even with something as deceptively simple as abrasives, innovation never stops. Turn the page to see some of the latest innovations from today’s top abrasives manufacturers.
A casual inspection of Purple Clean Sanding Discs from 3M will reveal one obvious departure from traditional sanding discs. Rather than utiliz-ing one of the traditional no-hole, 5-hole, or 6-hole designs, the Purple Clean Sanding Disc features a logarithmic spiral of literally hundreds of small holes. 3M says that this unique multi-hole disc pattern will allow for quicker changes, as no hole alignment is required. In addi-tion, the company says the logarithmic, spiral-patterned disc design gives dust a better escape route, moving more dust away from your � nishing surface without loading the disc. Purple Clean Sanding Discs utilize the 3M Hookit Attachment System and come in 3”, 5”, and 6” sizes. Grades run from P80 to P500.
Manufacturer: SIA Abrasifs JJSWeb: www.3M.com/AutomotivePhone: 1-800-337-1325
The grit for 1950 siaspeed siafast is a mix of semi-friable aluminum oxideand regular aluminium oxide. The grit ranges from 040-600 and the backing is paper. Sia abrasifs JJS says that grit ranges of 800-1500 will be available soon and will feature a � lm backing. According to the company, the stearate coating greatly reduces jamming and clogging of the abrasive surface, with a net result of a far longer service life. The company also says that 1950 siaspeed siafast can be used with great success on primed, � lled, painted and lacquered surfaces. The product has been trialled in sia abrasifs JJS’ test centres to ensure that it is e� ective on any challenging surface in manual and manual/machine sanding operations.
Manufacturer: CarborundumPhone: 1-800-268-2262
Carborundum says the company’s Medalist Film Finishing Discs are engineered to removeimperfections quickly and without loading the disc. The company says the product usesa superior grain on asuper smooth film backing, which provides an incredibly fast cut with no “pigtails”. The grit material is Aluminium Oxide and comes in a number of grades (P1500, P1200, and P1000). The discs are manufactured with a glue bond and a smooth � lm backing. Included in the stearate is an anti-loading agent, which is designed to ensure long disc life and consistent � nish. Carborundum says that using long lasting Medalist Film Finishing Discs provides a consistent � nish that bu� s out very fast with Carbo Finish Extra-Cut.
Manufacturer: GemtexPhone: 416-245-5605 ext. 224
Gemtex Resin Fibre Discs (RFDs) are covered with mineral abrasive grain for-mulated for toughness and sharpness. The RFDs come in a number of di� erent grades: A (Premium Aluminum Oxide), S (Sili-con Carbide), X (Ceramic), PMD (Premium Metal), and SMD (Soft Metal). Accord-ing to Gemtex, the company’s Resin Fibre Discs excel in a wide variety of applications. The discs are manufactured using a multi-layer, heavy duty vulcanized � bre as back-ing material. The backing material is then covered with a resin bond coat that Gemtex says is specially designed to resist loading, glazing and grain stripping. The discs come in a number of standard sizes, including 4”, 4.5”, 5”, 7”, and 9”. Special sizes are also available from Gemtex.
3M Canada
1-800-268-2262
Carborundum says the company’s Medalist Film Finishing Discs are
backing, which provides an incredibly fast cut with no
1500 will be available soon and will feature a � lm backing. According to the company, the stearate coating greatly reduces jamming and clogging of the abrasive surface,
Product_Spotlight 28 and 29_MD.indd 2 4/14/09 4:25:04 PM
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: ABRASIVES
MAY 2009 COLLISION REPAIR 29
▲
DYNABRADE ABRASIVE BELTS
www.dynabrade.com
▲
Manufacturer: DynabradePhone: 1-800-828-7333
Dynabrade has long been known for its abrasive power tool technology. The company now also carries a complete line of abrasive products as part of their new “Abra-sivEdge” program. Included are narrow Abrasive Belts, available in both Coated Abrasive and Non-Woven Nylon to suit a wide variety of industrial applications. Belts are o� ered in lengths from 7-3/8” (187 mm) to 20-1/2” (521 mm), and widths from 1/8” (3 mm) to 7” (178 mm). Range of abrasive grits runs from 40 to 320. Choice of three brands includes 3M, Norton and Dynabrade’s own “DynaCut” series (shown here). Typical belt applications are light and heavy-duty grinding, denibbing, blending, � nishing, polishing and graining. Most abrasive products are in stock and available for shipment.
How much dust do you breathe every day?
Maybe it’s time to consider the alternative.
With vacuum e�ciency approaching 95% Autonet allows you to collect
and dispose of potentially dangerous sanding dust, providing
According to Mirka Abrasives Canada, Mirka Autonet is a fast, e� cient and cost e� ective abrasive technol-ogy that revolutionises the sanding process. Mirka Autonet has been specially developed to satisfy the unique demands of the automo-tive re� nish industry. Mirka Autonet takes its name from the patented construction that consists of a dense network of polyamide fabric threads onto which the abrasive grit is bonded. This open weave net structure means that no dust particle can possibly be more than 0.5mm from a dust extraction hole. According to the company, this design provides for virtually dust free sanding. Net sanding is already a proven technology in Mirka’s Abranet range of products, and is now avail-able for automotive re� nishing.
According to Mirka Abrasives
unique demands of the automo-tive re� nish industry. Mirka Autonet
ABRASIVES FACTS - Sandpaper was � rst used in 13th century China. Crushed shells and sand were bonded to parchment. - Shark skin has also been used as a sandpaper. - Sandpaper was originally known as glass paper, as it used particles of glass, which do not wear downas fast as sand particles. - A process for making sandpaper was � rst patented in the United States on June 14, 1834.
Let us know! Please contact
Mike Davey via e-mail at
editor@collisionrepairmag.
com with your
suggestions.
IS THERE A GROUP OF PRODUCTS OR EQUIPM
ENT
YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SEE FEATURED IN
COLLISION REPAIR
MAGAZINE?
- Sandpaper was � rst used in 13th century
- Shark skin has also been used as a sandpaper.
as it used particles of glass, which do not wear down
Product_Spotlight 28 and 29_MD.indd 3 4/14/09 4:25:07 PM
According to KarebacAbrasives, the company’s Quality DA Sanding discs have very high water resistance and dura-bility. These qualities are enhanced by a stronger paper backing with a resin bond to make for long-lasting performance. In addition, the company says that special coatings used in the manufacturing process help to reduce heat build-up. P-Graded aluminum oxide granules are used to help provide for faster cutting. Quality DA Sanding Discs are available either packed � at with liner or on a roll (shown here). The easily separated discs come in rolls of 100 or 25, with 10 rolls per box. According to Karebac Abrasives, the company’s Quality DA Sanding Discs are ideal when used with orbital sanders.
According to Eagle Abrasives, Super Assilexis the perfect sanding medium when speed, uniform coverage and extremely shallow sand-ing pattern are needed. These situations can include waterborne paint, bumper repairs or blending. Eagle Abrasives says it prevents irregular scratches that can be caused by non-woven products or the risk of over-sand-ing caused by standard abrasive sheets. The company also says that no scuffing compound is needed, and there will be no colour residues to clean-up. Super Assilex is Hook and Loop ready and comes in both cut sheets and 6 inches discs. Grit sizes include P500 (Sky), P800 (Lemon), and P1500 (Lemon). The backing for all Super Assilex is a polyurethane film.
stronger paper backing
Product_Spotlight 30 and 31.indd 2 4/14/09 5:18:08 PM
According to Norton, the Multi-Air system is de-signed to eliminate dust and increase the surface cutting area to improve productivity. The company says that A275 “Original Performance” on hook and loop NorGrip discs o� er one of the longest lives and fastest cuts for any sanding job in the automotive re� nish setting. The grit material is aluminum oxide. A variety of grit sizes are available, ranging from P80B to P800B. The discs are constructed of a glue bond and B-weight latex � bre reinforced paper backing. Norton says that the A275 Multi-Air Discs o� er a 35 per cent productivity gain over traditional vacuum sanding, and a 60 per cent productivity gain over traditional non-vacuum sanding. The product also includes a back-up pad for maximum dust extraction.
Manufacturer: United AbrasivesPhone: 1-800-345-7248
According to United Abrasives, the 4S/4V Premium StearatedAluminum Oxide Hook & Loop Paper Discs excel on painted and primed surfaces. It is the company’s best perform-ing and longest lasting paper disc, and the company says the discs o� er long lasting performance and fast removal rates for � ne � nishing of auto body, wood, metal, and marine applications. The discs feature a premium aluminum oxide grain (for dry use only) and a premium stearate coating and open coat structure that is designed to lubricate and prevent loading. United Abrasives says that the discs are for use in a number of applications, including body � ller, paint, primers, plastics, wood and � berglass, ferrous and/or non-ferrous metals.
United Abrasives
company’s best perform-ing and longest lasting paper disc, and the company says the
IBIS 09 half type area.indd 1 11/11/2008 15:21:21
Product_Spotlight 30 and 31.indd 3 4/14/09 5:18:10 PM
Envirobase is the OEM original fi nish on many of today’s high-performance, exotic sports cars
Color matching today’s sophisticated OEM colors is easier than ever, once you’ve made the move to Envirobase High Performance. The Envirobase system of advanced non-stir, high opacity toners is well-proven to offer true matches to even the most diffi cult colors—a defi nite breakthrough in color-matching accuracy.
Experience color matching with the industry’s most advanced waterborne basecoat.
• Unparalleled color match
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TMI-827801/03/09PPG Canada EHP Blue Ad8278_BlueAd_ENG_1_1Kathryn Knight
In its history the collision repair industry has gone through long periods of evolution, followed by relatively shortperiods of revolution, or rapid change. With the recent technological advancements in car manufacturing - the introduction of advanced high strength steels is one
example - DRPs and now low-VOC legislation, I would like to suggest the collision repair industry is going through and will continue to go through another period of rapid change.
In any industry it is in times such as these that business owners take a look at where they are and where they want to be in the fu-ture, with their business being a big factor in these contemplations.
We have seen and heard about consolidation in the collision repair industry for the past number of years. I believe that in the next few years we will see much more activity in the buying and selling of body shops. Some owners with a long term vision will decide they want to grow their collision repair businesses and others will decide it is time to cash out and/or retire.
Th e United Kingdom has population of 60 million people.Th ere were over 20,000 collision shops in the late seventies, now there are just over 5,000. When I speak to industry observers in that market, I am told two of the main market drivers for this rationalization of the industry were DRPs and low-VOC legislation.
So what are you thinking? Do you have the vision to see yourself and your business in this industry for the long-term? Do you want to move on to something else, or retire?
aCTiOn iTEMSWith these thoughts in mind, there are many items to consider when you decide to buy or sell a business.
When it comes to selling a business, this oft en is one of the
most important fi nancial decisions an owner will ever make. For many owners, selling the business they’ve spent years building can be emotionally very diffi cult, and unless they have sold another business previously, they will have no past experience to draw on.
Ideally, they want to sell “at the right time, to the right buyer, for the right price.” However, this takes a lot more than just luck and coincidence. Th e key is careful planning and preparation.
Oft en the best time to sell is when you don’t have to. When the busi-ness shows sustainable growth and earnings it will fetch a better price. Also added to this fact is the danger that taking a business to market at the wrong time can result in a signifi cantly lower selling price.
Recent profit history, general economic conditions, market demand, barriers to entry, future earnings, growth potential and competition are all factors that have to be considered.
On a more personal level, one has to consider the following questions. Do you have the stamina and fi nancial resources to get through the challenges ahead of you and your collision repair facility? Do you know all of your options and are you prepared for them? If you are not fully prepared, you can expect that outside forces will limit your options and determine the value of the busi-ness, which may or may not be optimum.
STaRTing pOinTSIs your business ready and at optimum value?•How will you evaluate your business, and establish a valuation? •Who will prepare a detailed selling memorandum for •your business?Who will identify qualifi ed, potential buyers confi dentially? •And who will best confidentially market the business to these buyers?
Will you buy, sell, or just stay afloat?
By Christopher Juras
STRATEGY & TACTICS
Will you buy, sell, or just stay afloat?
By Christopher Juras
MaY 2009 collision RepaiR 33
Buy or sell CRM FEBMAR feb 6.indd 1 4/14/09 5:40:29 PM
Who will negotiate with, and receive offers from, interested •buyers and maximize your return?How do you plan on conducting detailed due diligence on the •buyers? Who is a time waster and who is a competitor trying to get an inside advantage? And how will you fair up during the legitimate buyers’ due diligence process? How will you run and manage the business while this is going on?•What about structuring and completing the documentation?•
“Starting Points“ above lists some of the questions you must ask to detemine your future. Some of these you can do yourself. For some, outside help and professional advice would certainly be useful. It will help to protect that which you have worked so long and hard for. A good adviser can help you decide whether your company should remain independent, be merged, or liquidated. That, in turn, will dic-tate to whom you sell - insiders, another company, investors, or the public. That in turn also will have an affect on the price and value.
In addition to guiding you, a professional adviser can help negoti-ate the deal - a task most entrepreneurs aren’t trained to do. People think they can negotiate alone, but it can be hard. It’s often a costly mistake, as evidenced by the staggering mortality of deals rate of about 80 per cent. The type of adviser you hire depends on the size and nature of your business. First, make sure the adviser you hire is reputable, professional and knowledgeable, and secondly, that they have done transactions in your field and your size. When you’ve made your choice, be prepared for a thorough interrogation.
The adviser will assess what the company is realistically worth. After the valuation comes preliminary due diligence. This is followed by an intensive marketing period which includes the
BEFORE YOU SELL...
• Clean up your books.• Invest in taxes.• Make your business presentable.• Ensure your business is sustainable. • Have procedures and manuals in place. • Increase earnings. • Get rid of inefficiencies. • Ensure continued growth. • Streamline. • Get commitments from key people that they will stay with the business without disclosing your intent.• Keep it confidential.
BEFORE YOU BUY...
• What’s the future of the product or service? Are sales expanding?• What about the location? Are there zoning changes planned?• Is there an established market with a good repeat customer base?• What about the labour situation? Are there key personnel who contribute significantly to the success of the business? Can you keep them? Must staff salaries be adjusted soon? Is the seller’s personal role critical to success?• What about warranties for work completed? Are you assuming any risk of liability for the seller’s actions? Will customers expect you to make refunds or honour warranties or risk losing goodwill even though you are not legally obliged to do so? • What about the seller? Will he/she agree not to set up in competition for an agreed time? Will the seller train and assist you after the purchase?• What kind of return is reasonable?• How would you value the business?• What about leverage consideration?• Is working capital include in the purchase price or will you have to come up with more money?
Christopher Juras is a Certified Business Intermediary based in Vancouver. He is involved in all aspects of business purchases and sales, in valuations, negotia-tions and mergers. He has over 25 years of experience in international business working with a wide variety of organizations, individuals and markets. Originally from England he moved to Vancouver in 1987.
STRATEGY & TACTICS
creation of a Confidential Business Profile. This will give interested parties the ability to review and consider your opportunity in great detail. Not that anyone reviewing this should sign a confi-dentiality agreement. In the case of potentially competing buyers, a non-interference agreement should also be signed. Thereafter, not only will a potential buyer want to know more about your company, but you will need to be prepared for negotiations, offers and due diligence. Managing the due diligence and bringing the transaction to a successful close will then be key.
It’s a lot to think about. Having an advisor to source likely targets, to value those targets, to negotiate the terms of the acquisition and to arrange financing can be very important. A professional broker will match your criteria with the target business.
This article just touches on the subject, but today there is a huge, burgeoning market in businesses that will be sold over the next 10 years. A 2005 survey suggests that 71 per cent of entrepreneurs plan on selling their businesses over the next five to 10 years. This means nearly 300,000 companies worth more than $1 trillion could wind up on the market.
In general, only one third (35 per cent) of SME (Small Medium Enterprises) owners are planning for their future sale. Only 10 per cent have a plan. However, among those who have a plan, the majority are informal and unwritten and what’s more is that 41 per cent of SMEs indicate their intentions to exit their businesses within five years as they age and want to retire. It looks like there are going to be a lot of unprepared people heading for the door at the same time. The risks of not realizing the proper value of a business are undeniable. Are you ready for change? CRM
34 collision RepaiR COLLiSiOnREpaiRMag.COM
Buy or sell CRM FEBMAR feb 6.indd 2 4/14/09 5:40:29 PM
Untitled-1 1 3/3/09 8:37:54 AM
Increasing value to customers is a goal of most businesses and one Manitoba Public Insurance shares. There is a natural tendency for peo-ple to equate value with the price
of something, but the quality of service they receive is also important.
We’re extremely proud of our Physical Damage Centre, located on about 70 acres of land in north Winnipeg. It’s a hub of activity that ultimately increases value to customers by providing the best service possible to owners whose vehicles have been written off.
How do we do that? Concentrating ser-vices into a centralized campus has proven to be one of the most effective ways.
When a total loss vehicle gets towed into our compound, it means customers only have to visit one location while set-tling their claim, rather than visiting multiple locations for different functions. And those claims are generally settled more quickly than they would be otherwise.
For staff, it means minimizing how often total loss vehicles are handled on their way to the auction floor. This leads to greater efficiency.
Our Total Loss Expeditor Unit, which is the only unit of its type in the province, has posted some impressive numbers.
On average, the Total Loss Expeditor Unit settles claims in 5.2 days from the date of assignment, with 50 per cent be-ing settled in two days or less. And that’s with a high volume of work: in the last full year, the 13 adjustors on staff in the To-tal Loss Expeditor Unit each averaged 4.7 settlements per day.
Prior to the introduction of the Total Loss Expeditor Unit, a written-off vehicle would have gone to our Holding Com-pound and Salvage area.
The customer, meanwhile, would have gone to another location to settle the claim and, once that was finalized, they would have had to visit the salvage area to retrieve personal belongings.
Resolution of disputes over vehicle equipment or condition was delayed. Cus-tomer service suffered and cycle times – the time from assignment to settlement – averaged around nine or 10 days.
Now, all the total losses are handled where the vehicle is located. Specializa-tion has streamlined the process, im-proved customer service and freed up claims centre staff around Winnipeg.
Before we introduced the Total Loss Expeditor Unit many adjusters weren’t comfortable dealing with total losses. They didn’t feel they had the right skills to do the job the way it needed to be done. They also disliked how negotiations often felt adversarial, rather than cooperative.
Three adjustors took part in a successful pilot program in the late 1990s and then,
a few years ago, we expanded the program to create the current complement of total loss specialists.
They have a variety of tools at their disposal. Rather than limiting research to one valuation service, Manitoba Public Insurance uses three: the Black Book from Ward Publishing, ValueMate from Mitch-ell International, and Audatex.
Adjustors can also do their own research via the internet and tailor their settlement offers based on the vehicle specifics. This helps to make the entire system more flex-ible and responsive to the true needs of our customers.
The advantages to the current sys-tem are clear and numerous. Simply by having one group of dedicated experts specializing in total loss, there’s a greater
consistency from one claim to the next, which has enhanced cost containment. Cost containment leads to better future forecasting and planning, which benefits everyone involved in the auto claims econ-omy in the province of Manitoba.
Negotiators work hard at establishing rapport and exceeding expectations. As a consequence, customers are often amazed at how quick and smooth the process is. In most cases they only need to visit the Physical Damage Centre once to claim plates and personal belongings.
When Manitoba Public Insurance ini-tially went to the specialized expeditor concept, the objectives of the program were to enhance customer service and satisfaction, adjuster competency, con-sistency, cost containment and efficiency of work flow. All of these objectives have now been met.
But that’s only part of the story of what happens at the Physical Damage Centre. Our compound has a capacity of 2,400 vehicles and in the last year we received roughly 32,000 vehicles (both repairable and total loss).
In the last fiscal year our Salvage De-partment sold a total of 22,646 vehicles, thereby recovering $23.2 million. Our weekly Wednesday auctions move close to an average of 400 vehicles a week out of our very own auction hall.
The Physical Damage Centre is also home to Vehicle Standards and Inspec-tions, Glass Claims Audit Unit, Vehicle Research and Training and our Special Investigations Unit burn garage, where suspicious burn cases are examined.
All told, the work of our Total Loss Expe-ditor team, as well as the other associated units at the Physical Damage Centre, help make service an essential part of the value equation. And that’s worth a lot. crm
MANITOBA MATTERS
negotIators work HarD atestablishing RappoRt.
specialization helps streamline total losses.Wilf Bedard
streamlinedby
36 collision RepaiR coLLIsIonrepaIrmag.com
wilf Bedard is the Vice-president, claims opera-tions and service Delivery, for manitoba public Insurance (mpI). For more inforation, please visit mpi.mb.ca.
Manitoba Matters-1.indd 2 4/14/09 5:49:07 PM
Untitled-1 1 3/30/09 9:22:33 AM
by
Insert Bio from Library
PRAIRIE VIEW
and no work for free.Tom Bissonette
moneyforSomethingby
38 collision RepaiR cOLLISIOnrEpaIrmaG.cOm
”“TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL IN TODAY’S INDUSTRY
Cares Assured Automotive
NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO, BECAUSE WE WANT TO.
“TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL “TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL “TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL
ASSURED
HONORED Assured Automotive is pleased to announce the addition of Laura Pennings to the Assured Marketing Team. Laura has been appointed Manager, Agent and Broker Relations for Assured Automotive. Laura is responsible for managing Assured’s Agent and Broker relationships, as well as, forming an integral part of the Assured Marketing and Business Development Team. Laura brings with her years of experience in the Insurance and Agency Business along with a comprehensive understanding of the needs and requirements of Agents, Brokers and their respective Customer Service Representatives. At Assured we believe that our staff is the key to our success, to this end we would like to once again welcome Laura Pennings to the family at Assured Automotive.
In current economic conditions, it is more critical than ever to make sure you get paid for all the things you do to restore your customer’s vehicle to pre-accident condition.
Now, there may be some insurance companies who don’t like to pay you for all the things you do. It’s important to remember that their responsibility is to put their customer’s vehicle back to pre-accident condition. If they tell you to do otherwise they may be putting themselves into a situation where they could be hit with a diminished value lawsuit.
If you fi x the vehicle properly and don’t charge them for doing so, then you are enabling them to take advantage not only of you, but of the entire industry. A good
example of this might be a situation where the insurance company refuses to pay R&I of trim to facilitate refi nishing.
Insurers will pay for necessary proce-dures on their customer’s vehicles. It’s as simple as that. Th at doesn’t mean they will necessarily tell you. If you don’t know to ask for pay, you won’t get it. Ultimately it is up to each shop owner’s appraiser to educate themselves on all estimating pro-cedures and guidelines to do a safe and profitable repair.
Understanding your estimating sys-tem’s procedure pages is the first place you should start. They change as much as every three months. Are you using all of these procedure pages? Here are two examples of procedures oft en missed:
Th e fi rst is masking for overspray. Any-thing beyond 36” of the painted panels needs to be masked and all inside edges are not included in the refi nish time. Th is is potentially another half-hour or more. Total Mask for Overspray time averages close to one hour.
Feather Prime & Blocks completes bodywork repair from 150 grit smooth-ness to the condition of a new undamaged panel, and the point at which refinish labour time begins. Estimating Guide Refi nish times are only for “new undam-aged panels” so the gap between bodyrepair and refi nish is “extra.”
How much time does it take to feath-er the body work, mask for primer overspray, mix and spray etch primer,
Prairie ViewDL mar 6.indd 2 4/14/09 5:56:49 PM
PRAIRIE VIEW
may 2009 collision RepaiR 39
Don’t Forget!Tom Bissonette has put together a pdf workbook detailing his list of “forgetables,“ items that should be billed for but often aren’t. One good example that’s very common is fasteners. Just about every component has a replacable fastener, plastic or otherwise. The dollar value ranges, but to give a quick example, a ‘99 Honda accord has approximately $240 of fasteners used on fenders, hood and bumper. That’s just one vehicle. you can see how it could build up fast. The workbook is available for download from collisionrepairmag.com. It details over 250 “forgetables“ in eight categories.
Tom Bissonnette is the owner/operator of parr auto Body, a collision repair facility located in Saskatoon, SK. He can be reached at [email protected].
clean that spray gun, mix and spray filler primer (three coats), clean the gun, let it
dry inside or heat lamp the car, unmask and block the primed area? Is one hour enough? I know that very few collision
repair facilities are actually getting paid for performing these procedures. Why not?
If you as a shop owner accept a lousy
estimate from an insurance company or appraiser then you have no one but yourself to blame. If you just didn’t know any better, then get educated. The first step is to talk to your suppliers and find out if they offer estimating classes. From my own experience, I know that PPG’s MVP training has an awesome advanced estimating class where the included work-book and CD Toolbox are worth the price of the class alone. Talk to other shop owners
and find out what you are missing. We all have to keep learning if we want to keep up. If we want to get ahead we’ll have to learn at least twice as much.
A great estimator has PIKC (pro-nounced “pixie“). That stands for Passion (a genuine feeling for what you do), Information (about customers, vehicle
and situation), Knowledge (about estimate guides and insurance), and Confidence (because you know what you say is accu-rate!). Most important, stand up for fairness to your business. If we don’t demand what we deserve, we won’t get it. crm
If yOu DOn’T KnOw TO aSK fOr pay, you won’t get it.
Prairie ViewDL mar 6.indd 3 4/14/09 5:56:51 PM
At the very base of lean is the concept of waste reduction. Waste is described by way of eight types; Overpro-duction, Transportation,
Waiting Time, Over Processing, Inven-tory, Rework, Motion and Unexploited Knowledge. Each of these have common-alities, and at the very centre resides the customer. Each can be identified as something the customer would not will-ingly pay for.
Let’s start by illustrating the concept of Value Stream Mapping (VSM) with one of the above mentioned wastes, Over Pro-cessing. In our industry, what this really means is that you have put more into the repair than what the customer wants or needs. For example, perhaps a customer has an older vehicle that is used just for basic transportation. If that customer just wants it to look respectable, then he or she would not appreciate a one-size-fits-all approach to R&I operations.
We may - for the sake of our internal procedures - want to R&I all the door handles, moldings and attachments to the outer door panel. If these operations add more costs (which they will), it may ex-ceed the amount the customer is willing to pay for a basic repair.
You can see how a very rigid sys-tem might be counter-productive to the flexibility needed to produce product in alignment with what the customer is willing to pay. So in the VSM approach, the operation would be ignored as it brings no value to the customer.
You have all had this experience already, so I know that the illustration rings true. You can also see that this lean stuff isn’t really so hard to get started on.
You’ve probably already hit upon a few
things over time that you realize have been waste and removed those items from the way you do business. Continue! Eliminate waste and what’s left will be stronger and more productive.
However, this doesn’t meant that you never add operations. Something custom-ers want and realize they have to pay for is a clean shop. Many collision repair fa-cilities have the policy (with which I agree and fully support) that a work-stall is to be cleaned at the conclusion of a job. I think that a customer expects that their property be respected to the degree that the environment we provide for their property is clean and well organized.
As it is commonly recognized that a well organized environment produces higher efficiencies, the customer willingly pays a premium for that level of service because they value efficiency.
So when you look at the total stream of tasks from a keys-to-keys approach you will measure each task against that
standard of what brings a value to the customer that they will part with their coins to secure. The process of VSM can be tedious. It usually includes listing all the tasks that occur from the moment the customer sets foot inside your office to get an estimate until they drive off your prop-erty with their reconditioned vehicle.
You will find that hundreds of things are done on average. The vast majority of them will fall off a VSM as they hold no added value to the customer.
I would challenge each of you to look at a few things to get started on this progres-sive journey. I think it becomes daunting. My consulting experience has shown that almost no one can do a successful conver-sion in a radical fashion. Ours has been an approach of steady pacing of smaller
changes carefully measured for sustain-ability. That is what I recommend for you too. I definitely want you to start but do not bite off more than you can chew.
Perhaps the smart way to go in a VSM exercise is to break the customer’s expe-rience down to departments. Within the department, try listing 10 things that happen under your current system.
You will find that many small things can make big reductions to your total of wasted time. An example could be where you have located you estimating depart-ment and its proximity to the parking places provided for customers.
Something as deceptively simple as bet-ter or more prominent signage can solve the problem of wasted movement by your estimators, just by having customers park closer to where the estimating work sta-tions are located.
Is the office clearly marked as the “Cus-tomer Service Entrance?” Do you have all the forms that are needed to set up the customer for processing in organized fashion that is easily accessed? Is there a comfortable area that allows customers to relax with your people so they are not distracted while the processes are being explained? Just as important, are they greeted in an appropriate fashion and rap-idly directed to a helpful member of your staff? Is it easy for your customers to make calls to their insurance companies with accessible phone equipment and prepared listings of frequently dialed numbers or do you have to look it up each time?
These are small examples that can start you down the path of examination that in turn can reduce waste which in turn is costing you money. Only by staying on the path of continuous improvement can you refine your offering and make sure you stay the one who’s driving! CRM
A veRy Rigid systeM Might becounter-productive.
by
40 collision repair CollisionRepAiRMAg.CoM
Jay Perry
identify inefficiency...and destroy it!
WHO’S DRIVING?
Wastenot
Jay perry is the founder and owner of Automotive business Consultants (AbC), a performance coach-ing company specializing in the automotive service industry. he can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
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Untitled-2 1 3/13/09 8:45:41 AM
Today’s marketplace of vehicles is comprised of an eclectic ar-ray of makes and models from various beleaguered manu-facturers around the world.
No matter where or how they are construct-ed, these vehicles will eventually reach the end of their useful lives.
The way in which professional automo-tive recyclers have processed these vehicles in the past differs very widely from how we process them now. There’s already writing on the wall indicating that how we process them in the future will differ just as much, possibly even more.
With good reason, the future of auto motive recycling will be painted with a green brush. What may be surprising to some is that professional automotive re-cyclers and dismantlers, like those that belong to our local and national trade associations, welcome this responsi-bility with open arms.
The trick in the future to further advance the “green” way in which vehicles are pro-cessed may indeed have more to do with the technological advancements of the automobile than with any other single factor. However, these technological ad-vancements will further escalate the need for the professional recycler.
This is especially true when it comes to hybrids and electric vehicles, and the multitude of battery components that are associated with each and every one of these increasingly popular vehicles.
It’s a sad fact that as of today, the vehicle disposal landscape still includes anyone and everyone, whether licensed or not, utilizing a plot of land that may or may not be legally zoned for auto recycling.
The illegal auto recycler (“outsider”) is only interested in making a quick buck at the expense of harming the environment.
The illegal operator’s goal probably isn’t doing massive ecological damage, but it’s the end result of these shady operations. Hybrids and plug-in electrics will only make the damage worse.
Speaking generally about the newer models, it is fair to say that the vehicles on our roads will continue to become much more technical. Safely recycling these vehicles will require a level of sophistica-tion consistent with a business model that is willing to develop, nurture and train talented people to properly process them.
What I like about these newer, fuel ef-ficient, environmentally friendly techno-
vehicles is that perhaps for the first time automotive recyclers may get the support we need from the public at large with respect to how and where these vehicles should be processed.
Today it is widely recognized that 95 per cent of the vehicles on the roads will be sent for to a processor for dismantling. It’s also a matter of record that an average of 84 per cent of a vehicle is recyclable.
What is far too often not reported is ex-actly who these vehicle processors are and what their level of commitment is to the eco-friendly vehicle disposal movement.
The truth of the matter is that only the professional automotive recycler will have the necessary equipment and infrastruc-ture to dispose of a vehicle properly and safely in accordance with specific automo-tive recycling industry standards. That’s actually pretty much how you tell the difference between a legitimate recycling professional and a scrapyard operator who simply doesn’t care.
When you look at how traditional scrap metal processors handle and pro-cess end-of-life vehicles you see very little care taken to safely remove all hazardous fluids including mercury switches.
It must be acknowledged, however, that automotive recyclers are only part of the overall solution as to what happens to the end-of-life vehicle.
Auto manufacturers play a vital role in the process because of how computer-ized and complex modern day vehicles have become. It is imperative that all auto manufacturers provide recyclers with the relevant information to help us properly process and dismantle each vehicle.
A primary goal should be to reduce the amount of automotive shredder residue (ASR) going to land fills after a vehicle has gone through an automotive shredder.
To accomplish this goal, professional recyclers will have to invest in a lot of costly equipment to help reduce even more waste. Governments need to appreciate and ac-knowledge this investment.
There are also wide selections of new materials that will be used in hybrids and electric vehicles that are being planned for the future and as always professional automotive recyclers and dismantlers are willing and able to do our part to help re-cycle and reuse these materials.
If the vehicles that will inhabit our roads in the future are built with care and consideration for seamless and efficient recycling, then less ecological harm will result to the environment.
Auto recyclers are big believers of this philosophy and support the need to pro-duce better vehicles, not only for business reasons but for our own genuine concern for the environment, and we are willing to participate in any way possible.
Help us contribute to a better planet, and give your support to one of the most beneficial ways to dispose of products of all kinds with special attention to what can be reused in the process! crm
RECYCLING
THe fuTure of auTo recycLIng wILL Be painted with a gReen bRush.
a look at the future of auto recycling.David Gold
greenDisposalby
42 collision RepaiR coLLIsIonrepaIrmag.com
David gold is the co-owner of standard auto wreckers, an auto recycling facility with locations in Toronto, ontario and niagara falls, new york. He can be reached by telephone at 416-286-8686 or via e-mail at [email protected].
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Untitled-1 1 4/8/09 8:41:42 AM
44 collision RepaiR COLLISIONREPaIRmaG.COm
oaRa conference leads to Multi-industry committee to Better Market Recycled parts
Ontario recyclers gained momentum for their initiatives with the creation of a multi-industry panel including collision repairersand insurers at the recent Ontario auto Recycling association (OaRa) convention in Toronto. The committee was born from a panel discussion on “How to increase the use of recycled parts,” a key event at the two-day conference bringing together more than 150 recyclers and suppliers.
Sam Piercey, co-owner and manager of Budds’ Collision Services in Oakville, struck the motion after members of the three sec-tors agreed that using recycled parts in the repair process was a means to improving profi tability and productivity.
Initial priorities of the ad hoc committee are to work together on collateral marketing material that will make it easier for repair-ers to “sell” their customers on the value of Green Parts.
RECYCLING NEWS RECYCLING NEWS
Dean Hellyer of Dave’s Truck & auto Parts and mary Poirier of Valley automotive.
Roger Fugere of Lecavalier auto Parts.
Jeff mcLean of Jeff ’s auto Recycle and Donald mcGuire.
Right: Denis Desjardins and Daniel Laniel of Sonshine auto Parts.
above: Ron Sturgeon delivered the keynote address.
members of the panel that led to the formation of the new committee. From left: industry consultant Dominic maurini; Keith Hudd of Economical Insurance Group; David Gold of Standard auto Wreckers; Don Fraser of aadco auto Parts; Dom Vetere of Dom’s auto Parts; Steve Fletcher, Executive Director of OaRa; Gary mcknight of The Co-operators; Darryl Simmons, Publisher of Collision Repair magazine and the leader of the panel; Sam Piercey of Budds’ Collision Services; and Tony Canade of assured automotive.
OARA_Conf MD.indd 2 4/14/09 6:10:46 PM
maY 2009 collision RepaiR 45
“I know the recycling community has put a lot of effort into marketing materials, but we as repairers need to help shape the mes-saging and marketing collateral to help us convince our customers,” said Sam Piercey.
Keith Hudd of Economical Insurance Group (EIG) said insurers are looking at ways to increase recycled parts usage and indicated EIG has increased the mark-up on recycled parts to 32 per cent and the in-creased labour by 2.2 hours to encourage the use of recycled parts.
The panel, hosted by Darryl Simmons (publisher of Collision Repair magazine and Canadian Auto Recycler magazine) consisted of key industry leaders: Keith Hudd - Economical Insurance Group, Sam Piercey - Budds’ Collision Services, Tony Canade - assured automotive, David Gold - Standard auto Wreckers, Dom Vetere – Dom’s auto Parts, Don Fraser – aadco auto Parts, Gary mcKnight – Co-Operators and Dominic mau-rini, industry consultant.
“There has been a lot of education and a general mind shift in the collision repair industry. The time is right for the entire industry to be held more accountable,” said Tony Canade of assured automotive.
Recycled parts are known to have a num-ber of environmental benefits.
“No other product on earth is recycled more than an automobile,” said Steve Fletcher, Ex-ecutive Director of OaRa. “By increasing the use of Green Parts we will greatly reduce the industry’s environmental impact.”
The 2009 OaRa conference was held on march 26-28 in Toronto. The conference was a huge success and it was standing room only for the keynote address by Ron Sturgeon on “The Future of auto Recycling.” Sturgeon, author of several books including Salvaging Millions, discussed the past, present and fu-ture of the auto recycling industry.
“People who pay attention and make re-quired course corrections will do well,” said Sturgeon. “The future of recycling will see pressures on margins, the need for better quality and increased service demands.”
The OaRa conference included several other presentations. Cara Sweeny of the Clean air Foundation presented Canada’s New Vehicle Recycling Program called Retire Your Ride. michael Hlacar, Director of Fer-rous Trading discussed how global demand of raw steel will stay at the current level for some time. Warren Barnard from the Used Car Dealer association discussed the new mVDa Regulations and items that need to be disclosed when buying and selling vehicles. For more info, visit oara.com.
RECYCLING NEWS
OARA_Conf MD.indd 3 4/14/09 6:10:53 PM
NEWS
46 collision RepaiR collisionrepairmag.com
cars auto collision ~ csn acquires second location
nick Diluca, president of cars auto collision ~ csn in Burlington, ontario has acquired city automotive ~ csn, also in Burlington
randy pickard, founder of city automotive ~ csn states, “nick Diluca is the best fit for city automotive. not only does he operate a successful existing repair facility in Burl-ington but he also shares similar business practices and the same belief in customer service as i and the staff at city automotive
have embraced over the last 35 years. i know nick will carry on the city automotive name with great pride as he has done with cars auto collision ~ csn.”
city automotive is an 11,000 square foot facility located on the west side of Burling-ton. randy pickard founded city automotive ~ csn in 1974, the same year that Burlington became a city (which is where the name came from). a solid reputation and strong
customer base has allowed city automotive to grow and evolve over time.
nick Diluca, founder and owner of cars auto collision ~ csn says, “Bringing the two facilities together seemed like a natural fit. i have known randy pickard for many years and truly respect the business he built. We have worked together on a number of joint initiatives including our involvement within collision solutions network (csn). i always viewed randy and city automotive as a business partner rather than a competitor which is why i encouraged him to be part of the csn team from the beginning. i am honoured to carry on the city automotive name and tradition.”
cars auto collision & city automotive are part of collision solutions network (csn). csn is a network of over 60 co-branded col-lision repair facilities located throughout ontario and atlantic canada. For more in-formation on csn, please visit csninc.ca or email [email protected].
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nova scotia may see compulsory certifica-tion for the body repair trade in 2009. after passing through apprenticeship and other committees for approval, minister of labour and Workforce Development mark parent will present the application and regulations to cabinet for final approval.
“The apprenticeship department has been very busy searching out technicians who have been working in the collision industry for many years without certification,” said lindsay gates of the collision repair associa-tion of nova scotia (crans).
refresher sessions have been developed that will be offered to technicians in order to prepare them for writing the exam.
The main focus of these sessions is to help technicians read and understand the termi-nology used in the testing. Three sessions have already been held last year, taking place in the Halifax-Dartmouth area, sydney and new glasgow respectively.
Techs who wish to write the exam are encouraged to contact apprenticeship and skills Development 800-494-5651.
“i believe we will be very close to meeting the goal and the cut off date of two years set by the Director of apprenticeship and skill Development,” said gates. “Thank you to all the hard working folks who are keeping this project moving forward.”
compulsory certification for nova scotia’s Techs?
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creo
Talent
48 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM
REAL PEOPLE. REAL TALENT.
TalentS E A R C HS E A R C H
Clockwise from top: Larry Jeff eries of CARSTAR Auto-motive Canada entertains at the Royal York in Toronto, Ont. during the big blackout of 2002. Dan Bradimore of the band Hello Beautiful. Terry Hill of Coachworks Ltd. was the lead singer of The Suedes in 1963. Kruno Bradasevic, Public Relations Coordinator at Collision Repair magazine writes and sings music.
There are many musicians working in collision repair shops across the country, but you don’t have to be a musician to win prizes. We want everyone to have fun � lming any talents, including dancing, telling jokes, even dressing up in a costume and parading down the street. One of the main prizes up for grabs is a Fender Classic Series ’65 Mustang guitar.
“The Collision Repair Talent Search is a platform that will demon-strate the sense of fun the collision repair industry has,” said Darryl Simmons, publisher of Collision Repair magazine. “We want the country to see that the workers
of the industry have talents spanning farther than the Trans-Canada highway, while attracting the attention of Canadian youth.”
All videos have a chance to be included on the upcoming DVD The Biggest Hits of Collision Repair available exclusively through Collision Repair magazine. This DVD will be a compilation video of some of the greatest talents the collision repair industry work-ers possess. The DVD is also a means of raising money for Skills Canada, the not-for-pro� t organization aimed at promoting skilled trades and technology careers among Canadian youth.
Once your video is ready, upload it to YouTube (or any other video hosting web site) and send an e-mail with “Video Submission” to [email protected]. Be sure toinclude your name, age, address, telephone number, e-mail address, video title and video URL. All submissions must have a copy of Collision Repair magazine visible during in the video.
Head over to our web site collisionrepairmag.com/talentshow and check us out on MySpace at myspace.com/collisionrepairtalent.
Collision Repair magazine has launched a NATIONAL TALENT SEARCH for people in the industry. Prizes will be awarded for demonstrations of great talent.
Showcase YOUR Talent in the
SEARCH
CRM_TalentSearch_Apr09.indd 1 4/14/09 6:15:52 PM
MAY 2009 COLLISION REPAIR 49
NEWS
Following an extensive development cycle AkzoNobel has revealed the availability of the Sikkens Process Centered Environments (PCE) program. This is a set of business man-agement tools designed to go beyond Lean theories and bring practical, de� nable and measurable processes to improve e� ciencies in collision repair centres.
“Everybody is talking about Lean prac-tices today. Many have been talking for years and for the most that is just what it is; a lot of talk,” observed Tim Loden Director of Market-ing for AkzoNobel Car Re� nishes Americas.
Loden continues, “We could have rushed to be one of manyon a bandwagon touting theword Lean. However, Akzo-Nobel studied and assesseddozens of application strat-egies using Lean principles, refined them into useable processes and then moni-tored those processes in real world applications to ensure
that what we were delivering actually worked.”AkzoNobel has a strategic partnership with DCR, a company that markets a patented production system that de� nes repeatable processes or creating maximum e� ciencies in a collision repair centre.
In commenting on the announcement from AkzoNobel, Michael Giarrizzo President and CEO of DCR said, “Knowing about Lean can only take you so far. Businesses today understand that they need a real world road-map. Process Centered Environments make the journey possible. ”
AkzoNobel Reveals New “Process Centered Environments” Program
SAAR Secures Higher Door Rate from SGI
Collision repair facilities in Saskatchewan are getting a boost in door rates from Saskatch-ewan General Insurance (SGI).
As part of the agreement between the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Re-pairers (SAAR) and SGI, shops are now entitled Tim Loden
to a door rate of $67 an hour—up as much as ten dollars from the previous rate. The agree-ment comes after intense negotiations.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” says SAAR’s Executive director Bill Ziebart. “But it’s far short of where we need to be,” he quickly adds. SAAR thinks that shops should be com-pensated at a comparable door rate o� ered to other four-year journeymen—which is anywhere between $85 to $125 an hour.
The increased $67 dollar rate may only be a short term solution. “It’s been and contin-ues to be an ongoing � ght to get reasonable compensation,” says Ziebart. The real conten-tion is the vast di� erence between rates in auto body compared to other trades. When young workers enter a trade program, they’re likely to choose the one with the best wages.
By the start of next year SAAR hopes that the two parties can come to a fair agreement. But more importantly, SAAR hopes that rela-tions between the two parties will improve. “We’re asking for fair compensation,” says Ziebart. “We also need to be treated as partners. They don’t acknowledge us as a partner right now.”
News page 49.indd 2 4/14/09 11:25:31 AM
NEWS
50 collision RepaiR collisionrepairmag.com
celeste scarpelli: 1968-2009
celesTina scarpelli (nee Bonaccorso) peacefully surrounded by family on april 12, 2009. Beloved wife to sam for 21 years. Devoted and loving mom to mario and marco. cherished daughter of Francesco and pina Bonaccorso.
Forever missed by John (anna), Tino (lorraine) and Fabio (peggy). loving aunt to Francesco, sophia and ava. Beloved daughter-in-law to mario and elisa scarpelli.
loving sister-in-law to Frank (lina), roberto (nadina), and mary (gino). loving aunt to lucas, erica and Josh.
celeste will be dearly remembered by many family and friends. an integral com-ponent of exclusive collision in north York, ontario, celeste always skillfully balanced her office work with raising her children.
a Funeral mass took place on Thursday, april 16, 2009 at immaculate conception
celeste scarpelli of exclusive collision will be greatly missed.
Danforth Hosts low-Voc seminar
Danforth collegiate in Toronto, ontario played host recently to the one installment in a series of workshops highlighting new loc-Voc paints. The evening event featured collision repair shop speakers, grants and incentives updates as well as health and safety assistance with simplified environ-mental compliance help.
collision repair shops in ontario are switching to lower-emission paints, while facing an uncertain marketplace and chal-lenging personnel needs. in order to assist repair facilities to sustain improved environ-mental operations and profit from grants and incentives offered, including appren-ticeship hiring credits and significant tax reduction rebates on booths and other equipment, the province of ontario and the collision repair trade associations presented the series of eight workshops/seminars with guest speakers across the province.
Joseph Jagielnic of the centennial college school of Transportation at the Danforth collegiate event.
church in Woodbridge, ontario.Donations made to the mario and marco
scarpelli education Fund will be greatly appreciated by the family.
new page 50.indd 2 4/15/09 12:56:46 PM
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NEWS
52 collision RepaiR collisionrepairmag.com
acWl Holds annual conference
across canada Warehouses ltd. (acWl) held its annual meeting and conference re-cently at the Toronto Hilton. The event drew together stakeholders from 31 acWl mem-bers and 21 major suppliers for three days of meetings, speakers, and networking.
“it’s a chance for members and suppliers to reconnect and discuss how we can best serve our customers, the professional re-pairers,” said paul reichert of acWl.
The conference officially got underway on sunday with the directors’ meetings for acWl and crsi. The annual general meet-
ing for both organizations followed on monday, after which approximately 100 people attended the evening social event at the academy of spherical arts, featuring a “poker pool” tournament.
Tuesday’s event included guest speaker Dawn Frail, who presented a number of in-triguing ideas on the best ways to inspire leaders, build trust, and leadership for teams to increase productivity.
The bulk of Tuesday’s session consisted of members renewing contacts with man-
ufacturers and suppliers to assess what new offerings are available. This continued through Wednesday, which ended with an awards ceremony recognizing growth and achievements among across canada Ware-houses limited members.
For more infomration on across canada Warehouses limited, please visit acwl.ca.
paul reichert of acWl at the “poker pool“ tournament held at the academy of spherical arts.
left: The evening event also featured a demonstration of trick shots.
caRsTaR expands in ste. sophie
carsTar automotive canada is pleased to announce the opening of a new location in ste-sophie, Quebec. carsTar –s. Quirion et filles is the most recent addition to carsTar’s network of over 130 locations across the country.
carsTar – s. Quirion et filles is owned and operated by sylvain Quirion, who pos-sesses 33 years of experience as a licensed painter and bodyman. carsTar automo-tive canada would like to welcome sylvain, manager liza-marie Quirion as well as the entire carsTar –s. Quirion et filles team to the carsTar network.
carsTar –s. Quirion et filles.
Boyd Group Year-end Results
Boyd group income Fund released its year-end financial results on march 26. man-agement held a conference call that morning to review the financial results. a live audio webcast of the conference call is available through boydgroup.com. an archive of the webcast will be available for 90 days.
8 and 9_DL March 23.indd 2 4/15/09 12:52:03 PM
a saTa information seminar hosted by co-auto co-operative has proved so suc-cessful that the organization has elected to expand the seminars to a number of other dates and locations in ontario. The seminar was held to demonstrate some of the lat-est products saTa has developed in its new guns. The new spray guns are specifi cally geared toward Waterborne application.
The seminar took place at Budds’ col-lision services in oakville, ontario. more than 50 collision repair stakeholders at-tended the seminar and took a tour of the collision repair facility. also demon-strated during the evening event were
other pieces of equipment from steck, H&s auto shot and Drester gun washers.
“The seminar drew a good crowd, and they seemed pretty pleased with the information they took away,” says Don Teevens of co-auto co-operative. “That has encouraged us to expand the semi-nar program. if there are specifi c products repairers are interested in, it may be pos-sible to add them to the seminars.”
Future seminars are planned for lon-don, Kitchener, Toronto, and ottawa. Those interested in attending may con-tact Don Teevens via email at [email protected].
co-auto co-operative to Hold equipment seminars
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NEWS
maY 2009 collision RepaiR 53
canada’s two largest private automobile insurers could be considering a merger.
ing canada, which was recently spun off by its cash-starved Dutch parent company, is reportedly weighing a bid for the cana-dian operations of aviva plc, the troubled British insurer, according to a story pub-lished in the national post newspaper.
ing canada became an independent public company in February of 2009, when its Dutch parent company sold its 70 per cent stake to canadian investors in a $2.2-billion deal.
if ing canada buys aviva canada, the merged company would create a single group with a roughly 20 per cent market share in canada’s private insurance prov-inces. offi cials at ing canada and aviva’s canadian arm have declined to comment.
Watch collisionrepairmag.com for up-dates on this story as it develops.
inG and aviva May Merge
Zachary Tyler King of co-autoco-operative with some of the equipment featured in the seminars.
Bob Derby of co-auto co-operative, Tony ionno of BasF examine saTa’s new spraygun, being shown by larry King of co-auto co-operative.
performance World Rolls into Toronto
performance World took place in Toronto in march at the international centre. The three day event featured some of the coolest cars on earth, as well as numerous celebrity appearances and a large trade show. shown manning the meguiar’s booth are Tyler Hughes, Joel prior, and Bill prior.
8 and 9_DL March 23.indd 3 4/15/09 12:52:09 PM
Let’s all take a moment and reflect on how incredible modern chemistry really is. Chemists take basic elements, put them together in novel
ways, and produce new products. This is only really impressive when
you consider that a lot of those new products depend on what amounts to engineering on a molecular level. To-day’s chemists routinely pull tricks that are the equivalent of putting a bunch of parts in a bag, shaking it, and producing a fully-functioning car stereo system.
A good example of this hit the news recently. Scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi have developed a self-healing coating material, accord-ing to a paper published recently in the journal Science.
The material was developed by Biswa-jit Ghosh and Marek Urban. Dr. Urban has publicly stated that the compound needs more testing before it can be used commercially. There is no doubt in my mind that it’s going to be available sooner rather than later.
There already are a number of self-healing products available, but they typically work by having a number of tiny tunnels filled with gunk. The surface is scratched, the gunk bleeds out and fills the scratch. Neat, huh?
Impressive stuff, but there’s a big down-side. Most of these materials are complex and expensive to produce, meaning they’re generally restricted in use.
The new material invented by Ghost and Urban isn’t like that There are no tunnels and no gunk.
Basically the new coating is a polyure-thane that contains chitosan (a chemical found in certain crustacean shells) and organic compounds called oxetanes arranged in rings.
When the coating is scratched, the rings of oxetane are broken to expose chemically reactive sites. Ultraviolet light from the sun splits open the chitosan mol-ecules. The oxetane and chitosan attract
THE LAST WORD
The future just showed up.Mike Daveyby
54 collision RepaiR collisionrepairmag.com
HealThyself
scratches cause damage to the oxetane rings. This exposes reactive sites in their molecular structure. Ultraviolet from the sun breaks open the chitosan.
The chitosan and the remains of the oxetane rings are attracted to each other and bond. This bond forms a new molecule that causes the scratch to “heal.”
mike Davey is the editor of collision repair magazine. He can be reached at 905-528-8377 or via email at [email protected].
OXETANE
CHITOSAN
Sun
Scratch
each other, bond and close the scratches. However, if it gets another scratch in the same place, you’re out of luck. The stuff only works once.
In places that get lots of sun this process could take as little as thirty min-utes. We Canadians will probably have to wait quite a bit longer for our magic paint to work as advertised. crm
The Last Word_MD.indd 2 3/19/09 8:46:24 AM
Untitled-1 1Untitled-1 1 12/4/2008 9:19:33 AM12/4/2008 9:19:33 AM
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