After a lifetime in the auto collision industry you might think I would know it all, yet I'm amazed at how much I still don't know. Attending this year's NACE demonstrated that I still have much to learn to repair some of today's vehicles properly. If we are going to stay up with these new technologically-advanced automobiles, a substantial investment in equipment and training will need to be made.

Amaradio

Many things will have to change about our approach to collision repair. We can no longer afford to concede to a repair method for the sake of a relationship with a particular insurance company. The liability becomes far too great and we are the ones that will get stuck holding the bag for a substandard repair.

Any type of repair procedure that is against the manufacturer's recommended repair method I would consider substandard. The old days are gone and shops that don't step up and learn to repair state-of-the-art vehicles to manufacturer's specifications will soon be gone also.

Five different OEM representatives at NACE said they were in the process of developing required certification for collision repairs to their vehicles. Many have had them in place for quite some time. Mercedes, BMW, and Volvo link their warranty to properly certified collision repair. Be careful repairing any of these vehicles unless you are properly certified to do so.

This is brand-specific training by the OEMs. I-CAR is presently creating some programs working directly with manufacturers to create brand-specific training. But for some vehicles like Mercedes and BMW, only the manufacturer's training and certification is accepted.

Simply because you are allowed to purchase the parts does not mean you are properly trained to install them in certain vehicles. Many of these vehicles have five different types of metal and cannot be welded. Some are not welded together at all. Unless we want work on "older" vehicles while they slowly disappear, we need to change the way we think.

I-CAR booth at NACE lacked participants.

During NACE, I attended a free I-CAR training session on aluminum structure. It was awesome. The presenters really knew what they were teaching, and the display was outstanding. This great class should have been standing room only, but it wasn't even close to full. I was amazed at this, but it demonstrated to me that a lot of techs will only go to training if forced to.

As shop owners, we need to take charge of the training in our shops and stay on top of the changes to vehicles that may become a liability by repairing them improperly - without all of the details. We need to protect our customers and assume the responsibly for their trust. Just because we will make more money repairing a frame rail doesn't mean it should be repaired rather than replaced. Many new vehicles require that everything be replaced - with repair becoming less and less of an option.

We must educate ourselves or get left behind. Someone said to me that I shouldn't worry about the shops that try to cut corners and work cheaper because the vehicles themselves will eliminate those shops soon enough by the type of training and equipment required to repair them. This is actually becoming a reality today; it's time to step up or step out.