Iantorno

All CIECA standards are set by committee. Iantorno seeks representation from all industry segments to create a balance on these committees. "These people all volunteer their time to do this job. They may be working on a Saturday and Sunday because they worked on CEICA Tuesday and Wednesday," continued Iantorno. "The committees are made up of half technical and half business representatives. We have to solve the business problem before we can fix it."

The list of existing CEICA standards developed by this volunteer force is long. Some of the developed standards are Car Rental Status, Salvage Assignment Service and Paintless Dent Repair (PDR). PDR standards are included in Estimate Services Standards.

Developing standards

The Parts Procurement Committee is an example of how CEICA is developing electronic standards. Researching the parts industry, CEICA found that the national average of returned parts is 14%. Including OEMs, after market and recycled parts. The Procurement Committee is represented by all segments of the industry and spends at least 1-2 hours a week on a conference call.

This committee is looking for processes to improve the accuracy of parts procurement - not to facilitate buying agreements. The committee develops the business side of the equation by defining the parts procurement workflow - using input from all sectors of the process: OEMs, repairers, insurers and parts and software providers.

The starting question - how do we order parts and how could electronic standards improve the process? The long term result of this electronic standard for parts procurement is a win-win-win. Repairers will increase efficiency, parts providers will have less returns, and insurance companies will get improved cycle time. Through CIECA standards all applications will work together.

CIECA board member and RAP participant Paul Krauss, Craftsman Auto Body and Everest Partners, Virginia, sees the outcome of the CIECA Committees as good for business. "What CIECA is doing today impacts my operations on a daily basis," Kraus explained. "My participation in CIECA gives me the opportunity to represent the collision repair industry and I have input on the outcome of decisions being made that affect my business. I don't want more applications on my desktop."

Eye is on the future

At CIECA, they are running ahead of the curve and developing XML Technology Based Standards. XML is internet technology. In the past, two sets of standards needed to be established. One for the large mainframe servers and the second for PC to PC. The same standard, EDI and EMS, would not apply to both. XML will apply the same standard for both systems.

If CIECA's eyes were not on the technological future, who knows what would be in store for the collision repair industry. Gary Wano, Jr., G.W. and Sons, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is also a RAP member. "When you come right down to it,' he declared, "many repairers, including myself, don't understand the technology running their businesses. However we do know that CIECA has and is creating standards that make our jobs easier every day.

"I am involved in CIECA to learn more about this technology and participate in the decisions being made that will shape the future of my industry. Collision repairers need to be involved in CIECA - it is their future."

The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standard lets the consumer know they are buying the right light bulb. Not unlike UL, CIECA has become the recognized standard of technology solutions in the collision industry. Not many people were involved in the UL approval of the light bulb - however collision repairers have the rare opportunity to make a difference. Which brings us back to the question, "Is this product CIECA approved?"

Janet Chaney has been in many facets of the collision industry. She is serving the best interest of her clients through Cave Creek Business Development. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it