I-CAR REACHES OUT TO ETI
Improved OEM–Aftermarket relationships deliver better education and training
Contributed by Bob Chabot

While new automobiles will need periodic mechanical maintenance, most of it is done at dealership facilities, especially during warranty periods. In contrast, new vehicles are also in accidents from the day they are introduced, which require proper collision repair sooner than later. In the case of collisions, most repairs are made by independent body shops, not dealers. Consequently, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the aftermarket have in many ways cooperated more readily and fully to facilitate full and complete collision repair.

In large part, this spirit of cooperation is due to the ETI efforts to liaise and work with leading industry educators, such as the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR). During the 2012 Equipment and Tool Institute Summer Tech Week, the Collision Repair Group (CRG) met at length with I-CAR representatives to be apprised of where collision education is at today, where it is headed tomorrow and how tool and equipment firms can both help and benefit. Think of it as a compass for ETI members.

Prepare Today For What is Necessary Tomorrow
The collision industry has repeatedly demonstrated that providing current and relevant education is a viable pathway to keep pace with inbound complexity in vehicle construction and post-sale repair. Emerging materials are continually being introduced into the modern vehicle mix, which often requires that new collision repair information, equipment and tools, material-specific repair procedures, etc. be readily available to the collision facility that motorists choose.

Staying current is as essential for ETI members as it is for body shops and collision repair technicians. “You can have the best information and training, but if you don’t have the right equipment and tools, a safe, complete repair can not be performed,” stated Tim Morgan, CRG Vertical Chair. “Like every other segment of the collision industry, equipment and tool manufacturers have a responsibility to stay abreast of what educators are providing their charges, especially when it comes to emerging automotive technologies, handling new materials or employing new repair procedures.”

“We get a lot of information from OEMs, but not all of them provide their own collision repair training, so maintaining a solid relationship with organizations such as I-CAR is crucial,” Morgan continued. “It isn’t just about understanding inbound trends, emerging technologies or new required skills from an educational perspective either. At meetings like this one with I-CAR, ETI members can also recognize and leverage inherent business opportunities to build the products necessary to enable new, or improve upon revised, collision repair procedures and techniques.”

Leveraging Industry Feedback to Improve Education and Training

Widespread feedback from the collision industry advised I-CAR, where possible, to enhance classroom-taught knowledge with "hands-on" practical training that demonstrates knowledge being applied. This also provides equipment and tool manufacturers an opportunity to be involved and make crucial first impressions on attendees. Click on images for a larger view. (All Images undefined I-CAR)

“The I-CAR vision is that every person in the collision industry, current and future, has the necessary knowledge and skills relevant to their position to achieve a complete and safe repair,” explained Jason Bartanen, I-CAR technical director. “To do this, collision professionals must be aware of and be able to properly identify and repair new emerging innovative materials,” He noted that ETI members are essential to this process: “Collision technicians must have access to and understand how to properly use the necessary tools and equipment, many of which are built by ETI members.”

Some automakers, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, provide all of their own training in-house, but make it available to both dealer-owned and certified aftermarket body shops. Other automakers, such as Honda/Acura and Nissan/Infiniti, require their body shops to earn the I-CAR Gold Class Professionals business designation to be part of their certified body shop network. The remaining automakers require a blend of specified I-CAR training and OEM-provided training.

“The OEMs and I-CAR meet regularly to update service information and other resources so that I-CAR training can evolve and keep pace with emerging change,” said Bartanen. “Regardless of how each automaker provides collision training, I-CAR works with all of them. This cooperation provides I-CAR with genuine OE information and other resources that help our training enhance the repair-readiness of attendees. Together with industry partners such as ETI, we can build meaningful bridges between OEMs and collision repairers.”

The Recipe: Make Automaker-Aftermarket Collaboration Work
“I-CAR recognizes the importance of education within the collision repair industry,” shared Bill Stage, senior director of Segment Development for I-CAR. “Without proper training, we run the risk of improperly repairing vehicles, which can impact the driver’s safety.”

“Generally speaking, 80 percent of our course attendees work in the independent aftermarket and 20 percent work for dealer-owned facilities,” he added. “Consequently, it is in the OEMs’ best interest to work with I-CAR to ensure that training is authentic and incorporates the latest information and other resources.”

“For example, OEMs will often approach I-CAR to develop a specific course, such as when a new model, innovative materials or related repair procedures are about to be introduced,” Stage explained. “Designing, developing and producing a ready-to-teach new course for an OEM can take I-CAR up to a year to complete. Like with other mainstream I-CAR courses, OEMs are very forthcoming with the necessary information needed to achieve this, as well as providing updates as they arise.”

So here’s something for ETI members to consider: If building training courses cooperatively with I-CAR works for automakers that want collision facilities and technicians to be both competent and current in repairing their vehicles, then perhaps that model could also serve ETI member companies who have a vested interest in collision professionals being able to correctly and fully use tools and equipment. Many members have their own training, but would co-opting directly with I-CAR provide another channel worth pursuing?

	Is I-CAR Training a Business Opportunity for You?

With the support from tool and equipment manufacturers, I-CAR is introducing focused, hands-on skills development into several of its new collision courses. Some ETI member companies have realized sales at these events.

Changing Mindsets … Earlier
Sometimes you need a shotgun; sometimes you need a rifle. Knowledge is important and will continue to be part of education and training. But as specific skills for collision repair become more essential, education and training is also becoming more focused.

“It’s critical that we help existing aftermarket technicians, as well as schools producing entry-level technicians, with the necessary knowledge, tools, equipment and skills needed to work productively to perform complete and safe repairs,” Stage said. “Our relationship with ETI and other like-minded organizations is essential to making this happen.”

“At events that I-CAR hosts or attends, body shop owners frequently tell us that graduates aren't always proficient in some of the entry-level tasks that they are being hired for, Bartanen added. “I-CAR needed to address this.”

As a result, I-CAR has undertaken an extensive and aggressive approach to educating and communication with both aspiring and existing technicians. Bartanen and Bob Jansen, a senior curriculum developer for I-CAR, described several initiatives I-CAR is implementing during 2012, which coincidently may provide an opportunity for ETI members.

Professional Development Program  (Education Edition)

The I-CAR Professional Development Program undefined Education Edition provides bona fide industry-recognized collision training for aspiring technicians enrolled at career and technical schools. Click on the image to view a PDF describing the new program.

Intro to Collision Repair Program
Many high school curriculums focus primarily on mechanical repair, with little, if any, focus on collision repair. For high schools with no formal collision education programs or for those seeking to provide a basic collision repair overview, I-CAR launched this program in April 2012.

It’s a high-level overview that consists of 14 one-hour online modules that provide basic understanding of the collision repair processes, but not any formal training in actual collision repair. To successfully pass each program course, students have to take an online post-test, for each of the 14 courses. Please note that this program does not provide any credit towards the I-CAR Professional Development Program.

“Hands-On, In-Shop” Practical Training
While traditional live I-CAR classes are taught in a classroom setting without access to vehicles, tools, or equipment, several new 2012 course launches undefinedEstimating Process Through Blueprinting, Spot Welding, and Aluminum-Intensive Vehicle Repair undefined offer both a classroom session and an in-shop session with demonstrations on actual vehicles, with actual equipment and tools.

“In the Spot Welding course, for example, host shops must provide a proper power supply and required equipment and tools,” Jansen explained. “Attendees first receive knowledge in the classroom, then participate inside an actual shop to learn procedures and techniques to successfully demonstrate 10 different weld techniques needed for collision repair today. Of note, some of the tool and equipment companies that have supported the host shops have already realized sales by being involved.”

Professional Development Program undefined Education Edition
This brand-new collision role-based program was introduced to educators in 2011 and will be launched on July 16, 2012. “This program will help aspiring collision technicians focus on the collision job responsibilities that a newly-hired graduate needs to know how to do first,” Bartanen shared. “The training that these students receive is the same training and recognition earned by collision industry professionals who are already on the job taking I-CAR training.

“Students will be able to take courses in Estimator ProLevel 1, Nonstructural ProLevel 1, 2 and 3; Refinishing ProLevel 1, 2 and 3; Structural ProLevel 1, and Mechanical/Electrical ProLevel 1. The performance requirements for these I-CAR knowledge courses have been strengthened so that instructors are more easily able to discern what students know and can do from what needs to be reviewed and redone. Upon successful completion, students receive the same PDP credit that existing collision technicians get.”

Professional Development Program (PDP) Update
To assist current collision professionals and body shops in gaining access to training in order to reach compliance with 2012 requirements, I-CAR is converting some of its current live courses to online classes. To keep PDP training authentic, the organization is canvassing attendees and others who rely on the training to garner and incorporate feedback into current courses. “The current seven key collision roles in the program will be maintained until 2014; thereafter, new roles will be added to reflect emerging market realities based on industry input,” Bartanen advised.

“For example, we've gotten feedback that a supervisor/manager role may be something that we should take a look at.” In discussion with CRG members at the meeting, several envisioned “carbon fiber repair as a possible emergent role; others suggested a diagnostician role (for those collision facilities seeking to be in direct control of diagnosing, including the ability to reflash, reprogram or reinitialize electronic modules in-house.

Improved Outreach and Communication
For the 200,000 collision technicians, 4,000 Gold Class professional shops and 20,000 Platinum Individuals that I-CAR reaches, proactive video and other communication messages are being employed to provide a clear understanding of the PDP and other programs I-CAR offers. Examples include outreach to help collision professionals set up personal and shop training plans, aggressive course scheduling, online training conversion and the I-CAR virtual classroom. In addition, I-CAR is conducting feasibility study looking at a new “learning content management system (LCMS),” which could replace the existing older architecture, for instance, as HTML5 is introduced. If adopted, the LCMS would enable quicker course development, more efficient updates and delivery to a wider range of mobile devices.

I-CAR Industry Training Alliance Changes
The Alliance (to which some ETI members belong) is considering changes that will help ensure that collision training courses provided by ETI members and other industry organizations is properly vetted to ensure they meet the criteria the Alliance uses to qualify such training for collision industry recognized credit.

“The Alliance wants to set the bar high enough so that collision professionals know that before they take an Alliance member’s course, it is going to be relevant to what they do and also provide meaningful education credit,” Bartanen noted.

Partnering For Progress
“Providing PDP courses to students and improving delivery and access to courses by existing professionals will help kick-start careers, improve competencies and address important feedback from the industry’s employers,” Bartanen stated. “For example, students could build an I-CAR portfolio for resume purposes and be able to share documented accomplishments with prospective employers, that will demonstrate that they have performed one- and two-sided bumper repair, masking, priming, sanding, headlamp replacement and other basic entry-level tasks.”

“We are trying to change the mindset of the industry undefined students, educators, manufacturers and employers,” concluded Bartanen. “To help achieve this, I-CAR wants to continue to develop and strengthen its relationship with tool and equipment segment.”

For ETI members, this is real change on a horizon that we draw customers and employees from. It’s also an opportunity to get involved early to make positive first and lasting impressions.