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With the elimination of the traditional I-CAR Collision
Repair 2000 class, many insurance companies called me(I'm the Los
Angles I-CAR chairman) to ask what I-CAR was replacing it with. I
explained that the starting in January 2002, the new class was going to
be called CR 3000 and this would be an enhanced delivery class with a
test at the end of the class. To my surprise, no one knew what I was
talking about - I guess they don't read these collision newspapers.
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Chess
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I thought of putting on an I-CAR
demo class for them, but I realized it would not draw too many people.
What I needed was a real event! I decided instead on a day
long hands-on training symposium. It had to be a hands-on event because
most people from the insurance industry do not get the opportunity to
work in a shop and I felt certain they would develop a new respect for
the work done in a modern body shop.
Hamid
Hojati, owner of Insurance Collision Centers in Los Angeles, graciously
allowed me to use his facility. I figured his Marina Del Rey Facility,
at over 25000 sq feet under roof, should be big enough. When I
contacted vendors and industry-related groups and asked them if they
would put like to participate, the response was overwhelming: Akzo
Nobel-Sikens, PPG, 3M, Kent Industries, Car-O-Liner, Chief Automotive,
AutoChex,Meguiars, Mothers Detail Products, Dominon Sure Seal, Hunter
Alignments, Cerritios College, SRS Air Bags,Toyota Motor Sales-USA,
Honda Motor Cars, BMW,California Bureau of Automotive Repair, Bay
Cities Radiator, Fusor, Prospot, Sata and I-CAR. Whew!
Over
200 insurance adjusters, managers and supervisors from 17 insurance
companies came for the day (we consumed a lot of burgers and fries from
In-N-Out Burgers).
PPG and Sikens reps
demonstrated the differences between prepping used parts, new parts and
repaired parts. They also demonstrated panel blending and three stage
painting. For many of the claims people, this was the first time they
had seen the work they write estimates for actually being performed and
many said they gained new respect for the art of refinishing. A
highlight of the day was having the insurance people put on the
painting gear, go in the booth and lay down some color.
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| Robert Hornedo of Pacific Collision demonstrates a Car-O-Liner electronic measuring system to insurance training class. |
Chief
Automotive set up hands-on measuring exercises and Car-O-Liner allowed
the insurance guys (and girls!) to actually measure, pull and remeasure
a damaged frame.
A welding instructor from
Cerritos College showed what was necessary to pass the I-CAR Welding
exam and then had the "students" welding coupons on ProSpot equipment.
Other students were repairing plastic bumpers, detailing vehicles,
apply corrosion protection and setting up an alignment machine.
All
attendees took part in several 45 minute "short versions" of I-CAR
Enhanced Delivery Classes. While I taught the frame repair class, Doug
Moore of the Automobile Club ran the Restraints class and Auto Club's
Eric Stretion ran the class on Damage Analysis. At the end of each
class sample test questions were distributed so that everyone could see
the depth of knowledge that would be required to pass the actual I-CAR
class. Everyone agreed that it was particularly helpful to have the
material taught in the classes demonstrated for them that same day.
We're certain to be doing this again, and if you'd like some tips on putting it together in your area, feel free to e-mail me.
Toys for tots drive
Incidentally,
December was a busy month. Aside from the insurance training day, the
collision and auto insurance industries got together in a toy drive and
collected nearly 600 toys for a Homeless shelter in central Los
Angeles. Taking the lead in the toy drive were Shan Haider, head of
Farmers Insurance Major Operations Unit, and Frank Shiro, San Fernando
I-CAR Chairman. Sixteen Los Angeles area I-CAR Gold Class Shops
collected the toys. What a great feeling to see the joy that we brought
to these kids. Next year will be bigger.
Toby
Chess has spent a lifetime in collision repair. A frequent contributor
to Autobody News, he is presently employed by an insurance company
("seeing life from the other side") and is chairman of I-CAR in Los
Angeles.
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