CCIF Meeting P3

11:00 - Just after getting back to our seats from the first morning coffee break – they introduced Michel Guerette (Akzo Noble) to the podium. His topic Process & Innovation (How to recognize change and take advantage of it.)

Teams in Collision Repair
Lets move away from a static working environment that is predictable and implement a team system that rewards growth.

Collision repair is a traditional business:

Body
Prep
Paint
Detail

With traditional compensation

Flat Rate
Commission
Hourly
Salary

and predictable Profits, Hours and Sales.

This is an alternative lets change the Game

Vehicles are built by teams - Ford, Toyota, Mercedes Benz etc. In a team, only those committed to excellent are hired and remain part of the team.

Meaning Of Team

“A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance, goal and approach for which they are mutually accountable” by (Katzanbach and Smith)

In Teams individuals don’t work alone

Obstacles to Production Teams

· Misunderstanding
· Fear of change
· Loss of income
· Attitude
· Not a team player

The Success of a Production Team depends on COMMUNICATION!

Synergy
“The working together of two or more parties when the result is greater than the sum of their individual efforts or capabilities”.

The Benefits of a Production Team is: an increase in Productivity, Sales and Profits.

A panel of three repairers… I can’t quite remember the panelist names that went on the podium but I do remember one gentleman by the name of Tom Bissonnette (Per Auto Body –Saskatoon) very flamboyant and cheerful individual from what I could see, he actually sat in front of my row of tables. If I wasn’t so intimidated by being at CCIF I probably would of said hi. Bissonnette has an interesting article – Technicians need more than recognition in the January 2008 Collision Repair Magazine (Issue 6 No. 6). The panelists talked about their experience when implementing production teams into their companies, all three panelists had different experiences but the final result was ideal.

This presentation to the introduction of Production Teams by (Michel Guerette) has got too be the most practicable and workable solution addressing repairs overall business goal (Profit) that I have heard since the twenty five years I have be in the auto collision industry.

The inability for repairs to recognize the fortitude of production teams will come at the cost of their profitability. I have been playing sports all my life and completely understand the philosophy behind a team administration and production repair environment. I also have a strong belief that all collision industry participants should adopt this TEAM philosophy to capture market opportunities not yet ventured.

11:30 Rocco Niglia (The Economical Insurance Group) took the podium speaking about – Leadership…or lack of it in a Multi-Generational Workforce. His presentation touched on the differences between yesterdays and today’s generation. The kids of today are more informative, smarter and multitasking they want things done now not tomorrow and if you can’t address their needs they are not wasting their time and moving on.

In order for repairs to survive in the long run they must forget about how you used to do things back in the day “leave that for dinner conversation or stories for the grandchildren” repairers have to adopt new ways on attracting apprentices and retaining techs.

12:30 the first part of the CCIF meeting is now over and lunch is called. They have set up two rooms for guest to have launch that’s sponsored by “Rockwood Learning Solutions Inc. Before I head of to launch I make my way over to Michel Guerette and commend him on his innovative and insightful requirements for the auto collision industry. We talked for a good 10 minutes very optimistic conversation… before we could conclude our conversation Mike Bryan (CCIF administrator) came over and shook hands with Michel and at that time I introduced my self. I obviously had already made an impression on Mike because he new my name saying… “Oh your Don Bailey”, I let him know “my interest for coming here today was primarily to find out for my self what direction this industry is heading in, listening to other people about what’s going on in the industry is Okay, but there comes a time when you have to take responsibility and interest for your own direction” and come see for your self, he nodded with approval and I left for lunch.


It was a buffet style lunch serving mildly warm lasagna, salad and your choice of coffee or water for refreshments. There were two eating areas one to the right and one to the near left... that’s the one I chose, I made my way over to the closest table to the door. I asked the gentleman at the table if this seat was taken; he gestated no and pulled the chair out for me. A little while after that a lady who used to be a repairer and now is marketing management software in the collision industry came and sat down next to my left. We had a nice lunch conversation on the various styles of production teams repairers can intermix.

After eating my lunch I found my self-wondering around looking for some conversation, so I stopped a very modest gentleman working by and said hi, he asked me if I new him, I said no and introduced my self, he introduced him self as Mike the editor of Collision Repair Magazine. I then said, that’s interesting I just got an email from Darryl

On 1/22/08, Collision Repair Magazine wrote:
Hi Don,

I came across your blog this morning and am impressed with your desire
to help the industry.

Collision Repair magazine is committed to helping as well and I was
wondering if you were interested in writing a column in our magazine
from the Tech's perspective.

Please let me know.

Darryl

www.collisionrepairmag.com





RE: Blog post‏
From: don bailey (travelpapers@hotmail.com)
Sent: January 22, 2008 10:50:53 PM
To: Collision Repair Magazine (publisher@collisionrepairmag.com)
Security scan upon download
Auto Body...doc (25.1 KB)



Hi Darrell, I would be pleased to write a column from my prospective as a tech in the Canadian Auto Collision Industry.

It’s very interesting that you contact me, because I was extended the opportunity in 2005 by Rosanna Armata of Collision Industry Action Group (CIAG) to submit an article to you that I wrote in 2000.

The article “The Auto Body Trend” was written for Lowell Conn of Body Shop magazine at his request but it never got published. My Intension in the coming months was to publish the article and the drama be hide it not getting published on my web site or blog.

I know time has lapsed since I wrote the article, I can certainly say my views of the industry has changed but the industry over all remains the same actually as much as it can after eight years.

The fact that you have contacted me tells me the universe has spoken so now I’m allowing you the opportunity to publish the article first.

Now keep in mind that Lowell Conn asked me to write this article and he could not get it published due to the fact “ the article was not in line with their advertisers”.

I believe the article can seem a little edgy… however it is, what it is.

Find article attached

Sincerely,

Don


I replied to his email and I’m waiting to here from him…is he here today because I’ve never met him. As we were talking about Darryl, he turns the corner and pops up in front of us (the universe of probability) so Mike introduces him to me. Darryl was in rush so we didn’t have enough time to really talk but he let me know we should keep in contact.

Mike and I continued our conversation, he gives me his business card and he talks about Bodyworx a new magazine that will be coming out soon for them, its hush hush but from what he did say it sounded very tomorrow. The bell chimes and its time to start the second half of the CCIF meeting.

CCIF Meeting P2

The main meeting room was divided into four large sections – I would say each section held one hundred people and they were all just about full. I found a seat in the far left section close to the front – sitting to my left were two PPG representatives and to my right an insurance executive.

Note: The time each floor presenter took on the podium is documented only to the best of my recollection.

8:30- Tony Canade (Assured Automotive) is the newly appointed President of the Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) taking over from Larry Jefferies (Carstar). Canade delivered the opening message with ease, confidence and professionalism considering it was his first time at the helm. His message was one of fully understanding of the changing environment affecting the Canadian auto collision industry, along with internal challenges to streamline business procedures.

Canade talks about techs… acknowledging “he has a lot of respect for them and has never tried to pretend too know how to fix cars him self.

9:00- the floor was turned over to Mike Bryan administrator of CCIF. He provided a broader picture to the issues and trends facing the collision industry, covering the concept of accreditation, water born regulations, insurance streamlining and the demand for qualified techs.

9:40- Jay Perry (ABC Consulting) took the floor covering National Accreditation and The 2008 Technician’s Survey though a power point presentation.

National Accreditation – (For the industry by the industry.) The question you might be asking your self is, what is accreditation? From CCIF Presentation -

Canada’s Standard for Professional Collision Repair
The Industry has a desire for a level playing field,

You may click the link National Accreditation above to obtain the CCIF concept direction in this matter of interest.

I have also provided the link for the wikipedia.org meaning of accreditation.

Perry then goes on to talk about The Toronto January 2008 Technician’s Survey
The actual numbers of repairers that received the survey and responded back was not provide, however the feed back percentage of 4.5% was provided. This respondent number was considered a success.



Respondents to survey: 50% Independent, 17% Franchise or Banner & 20% Dealership

Of these repairers 15% of techs surveyed offered comments.

This survey offered some very interesting insight into the views of what techs and repairs on average are considering important opposed to what the industry perceives as important. I will defiantly have to take an in-depth look and blog about some of the survey question responses.

10:10 – Greg Horn (Mitchell International) made his presentation, “The 5 Key Trends that will Change the Industry”. Horn provide a concerning overview of the reality that will effect the collision industry’s production rate.

Impact Factors:

In 2000 there was just fewer than 17,500,000 cars on the road and the injury collision count was around 225,000. In 2006 the number of vehicles on the road went up to 19,700,000 and the injury collision rate dropped to 210,000. This simply means more cars fewer accidents.

Transport Canada continues to make progress with Road Safety Vision 2010
Canadian insurers will see a Cdn$1-billion drop in net income between 2007 results from 2006
Insurance carriers are increasingly focusing on customer satisfaction to adjust to revenue losses.

Net Promoter Score, are being adopted by carriers to determine the best avenue to become more efficient and satisfy their customers.
Subtracting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters derives the NPS
NPS = % Promoters -% of Detractors Technology trends that will affect the collision industry

Electronic Stability Control
Telematics
Driver alertness technology
Advanced ‘no key’ technology
Pursuit avoidance technology
External Airbags

Waterborne Paints

The adoption of waterborne paints has been called the biggest technology change to this industry since the uni-body vehicle.
Waterborne - advantages over solvent-based materials:

- Do not require thinners, hardeners or other additives.
- Less material same coverage as solvent-based materials
- Reduce in cost clean-up

Waterborne – disadvantages - the 3 T’s- Time, Tools, Training

- Increased drying time required
- Investments of heating and curing equipment Training because the viscosity of the materials will differ, therefore yielding new application techniqueClick here to access the full: The Five Key Trends that will Change the Industry Presentation

10:45 Coffee Break

I’m feeling a little bit more relaxed but I don’t really feel like getting up and getting a coffee…there’s a lot of mingling going on it seams to me everyone knows each other. I decide to make my way over to the coffee area while I over there I saw some familiar faces of repair owners, managers I’ve worked for, they seam to be keeping their distance and I’m not going over to them and say hi. I started to think, “maybe its just me creating this uncomfortable environment for my self”.

I did have an interesting conversation with a small parts supplier, whom I recognized from previous companies I’ve worked for. We had some small talk, and then I asked him “where dose he see his company now in this new emerging corporate based collision industry?”

Before he could give me his answer Tony Canade (Chair of the CCIF meeting) walked by and shook the small suppliers hand. During that time Canade didn’t look towards me to acknowledge my presents. “I’m not saying he has too, but it’s the polite thing to do. Its not like Canade doesn’t know me because we shook hands at Christmas”.

Anyways back to my question…He didn’t have a pacific answer but he did realize that the big companies such as Cross Canada and Key Stone are rapidly controlling a lager percentages of the after market parts industry.

My reply to him was he should take this time, as an opportunity to utilize his knowledge and experience is an asset in the aftermarket industry and carve out a niche that has not been considered. I then went on and talked to him about an Auto Recycling concept that I had that allowed repairers to leverage their existing resources and generate additional revenue. At that time a bell is chimed identifying the break is over and everyone starts heading back into the meeting room.

To be continued

CCIF Meeting P1

Just got back from the CCIF meeting in Toronto. I don’t know how I could feel so out of place especially when this meeting is for industry participants and that is what I have been for twenty-five years. Even before I got to the meeting I didn’t feel like I was welcomed…”somewhat like I was invading a secrete temple”. I usually feel that way if I’m being inauthentic or there is an inauthentic situation happening around me.

It would be very nice to have an industry meeting just like this on the production end of the industry or for techs, then there’s a good chance I wouldn’t feel so out of place.

Either way I new I was only going to the meeting for the best interest of the industry like everyone else so, in order not to cause any uncomfortable moments with the brass of our industry I decide to act like a fly on the wall while in attendance. As I was walking up to the front door of the Marriott Hotel my eyes caught my former boss, standing adjacent to the door. We acknowledged each other with a nod of our heads and I proceeded to obtain my badge for the day.

Except for the sponsors all other badges had their name on it along with their affiliated company, mine said Oaktown causing some confusion all day for attendance and me considering I was no longer with Oaktown as of Thursday. “Only I and the former new that and what was I supposed to say? I felt pressure to quit. No, I said nothing all day.

I have a full day tomorrow obtaining my level 2 Ontario Soccer Community Coaching Certificate. Therefore it might take me a few days to blog all the information I found to be interesting at the CCIF meeting.

Changing Landscape

The auto collision landscape is dramatically changing. Small independent repair shops are finding it extremely difficult to function in this information era. Time and falling prey to their own lack of vision has left them holding on to stories of the past with limited future direction of independent opportunity.

In the new millennium small independent repairers are faced with a few options of survival that continue to disappear as the years roll over.

Options:

1. Close shop and retire or go work for your competitor.

2. Bring your shop up to industry standards through a sizable investment.

3. Join a forward thinking banner network.

4. Create your own collision network.

It’s just a matter of time before accreditation is prematurely implemented and the independent repairer that can’t afford to step up their grades will inevitably have to folk over their keys.

I have a good idea if we continue to stay on this evolutionary path what the outcome of the auto collision industry infrastructure would look like and that means less job opportunity for me.

Now, 10% will control 90% of the industry’s production flow.

Forced Out

Even through I seen it coming, I’m still flabbergasted after all these years of being a tech in the Canadian auto collision industry that I could be on the out side looking in again.

As much as I try to play by the rules of “just work and be happy you have a job mentality” it becomes so inauthentic for me, it starts to show-up in my presence.

Yes, today I was presented with a very distasteful and well thought out proposal that lacked integrity. Being a person yielding towards integrity the out come was obvious…I packed my tools and walked out of my job.

It can appear a little drastic quitting your job when you’re a single father of three kids and bills to pay. However, quitting today is not about what happened today to make me quite. Its has everything to do with the negative environment the auto collision industry has subjected me to for years, the optimistic future outlook I’ve attained for the industry and standing for the fair handling of present and future techs.

Today I took a blow for what I’m standing for;

It could have been a well-timed blow – considering I’m starting to take initiative, voice my intent and create exposure in the auto collision industry.

It could of been a coincidence – the job I was working at now, decides to go with two painters, when one painter and refinisher (me) was satisfactory when we were busy and not even explore the option of my experience as a painter or.

It was inevitable – considering the lack of integrity surrounding my initial hiring in August 2007 with ASSURED AUTOMOTIVE NETWORK and finally leaving them in January 2008.

Working for a banner network like Assured Automotive has been an interesting and eye opening experience, especially that they’re the new force sweeping the Auto collision industry.

I not upset that my former boss forced my hand for me to make such a hasty decision and move on, actually it’s a kind of a relief knowing I can speak openly with out feeling like I’m betraying my employer, even though they didn’t take my life into account.

This weekend is going to be quite exciting and informative. I’ll be going to the CCIF meeting held at the Toronto Airport Marriott and is chaired by Tony Canade President and COO of Assured Automotive.

Great timing…

First CCIF Meeting -Signed Up

I signed up for the CCIF meeting and I’m starting to let people know I will be there. The meeting agenda has quite an impressive line up of guest speakers. Am I nerves, I would be lying if I said no…I’m already feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of being around so many collision industry movers and shakers.

It’s easy to talk about the issues, change and what you would do to make the industry better, but the actual fact of the matter is it’s real and scary when you’re stepping into the unknown.

I have never been to a collision industry forum or meeting of any real size that’s anticipating a large number of participants looking for breakthrough answers to their valid questions.

What’s going to be the hardest thing for me to do is say nothing and just listen especially when I know I have the answers to the majority of the questions being talked about.

CCIF Meeting Request

I’m on a mission and that is to make a positive stance in the Canadian auto collision industry for change. Even through I place my self in a vulnerable position talking about the issues affecting the collision industry and the draining cause of not being able to solve those issues. It will be interesting to introduce alternative directions, innovative ideas and solutions to historic problems.

Since 1998 a consortium of Canadian auto collision stakeholders visit four Provinces each year holding meetings to address the issues affecting their industry. January 26, 2008 this consortium that goes by the name of CCIF – Canadian Collision Industry Forum will be visiting Toronto.

One of the major issues affecting the industry and identified by the Human Resource Department Of Canada in 1999 is the ability or lack off to attract and retain techs. Collision techs make up 60% of the industry’s production force; their interaction is critical to the longevity and stability of a lucrative auto collision industry.

At my visit to the CCIF web site I came across the registration form for the up coming meeting and I was very interested in attending. However, as I looked the form over I didn’t see any place for me to check-off in the category areas provided for participants in the industry. So, I sent off an email for clarification on if this industry event is of welcoming to me.

My Email

From: don bailey [mailto:travelpapers@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 10:43 PM
To: administrator@ccif.net
Cc: Larry Jefferies
Subject: looking to attend CCIF meeting



Hi, I've been a participant (Tech) in the Canadian auto collision
industry for over 25 years. Over the last few years I've taken more of
an active interest in the direction and activities relevant to my
industry's success.

While I was on your web site I found your profile and mission content to
be quite insightful and I realized you would be having one of your CCIF
meetings in Toronto January 26, 2008.

I'm very interested in going to this meeting but was wondering if this
meeting would be of welcoming nature for me as an auto tech to attend.

I only ask this question because while printing off and preparing to
fill out the CCIF Registration Form, I noticed there was no section for
me to check off under category. There is a section for Collision
Repairer, Insurer, Supplier/Wholesaler, Trainer/Educator, Recycler and
Association but none for techs.

Was this just an oversight and am I welcomed to attend all planed
activities?

Thank you, Don


Reply Email

From Mike (mbryan@aci.on.ca)

Sent: January 14, 2008 10:35:19 AM
To: travelpapers@hotmail.com
Cc: 'Tony Canade' (tcanade@oaktowncollision.com); 'Larry Jefferies' (ljefferies@carstar.ca)

Don,
Thank you for your enquiry. Let me answer your main point first by saying
yes, you are most welcome to attend CCIF.

CCIF is an open forum for anyone who has an interest in the collision repair
industry. We encourage anyone who thinks about, cares about and has any
professional involvement with the industry to attend.

I'm not quite clear on the other part of your question. We use the
categories on the registration form to keep track of the mix of business
types represented at CCIF. "Collision Repairer" is intended to include
anyone who works at a collision repair facility, "Supplier/Wholesaler" is
for anyone who works in any capacity in the supply side of the industry, and
so on. We don't categorize registrants by their particular job. As a
technician, you would come under "Collision Repairer", as would the shop's
owner, estimator, office manager or anyone else.

Hope that helps and that you'll register and join us for a great CCIF
meeting on January 26th.

Regards
Mike Bryan
CCIF
Tel: 905 726 9027
Fax: 905726 9038

Its Back

Since I will be reverting back and forth, quoting bits and pieces from this report “Prep For The Future” its only fitting that I introduce it to you in my first blog post.

The report was created by a Steering Committee lead by the Paint Body and Equipment (PBE) Council of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA), the Canadian
Automotive Repair and Service (CARS), Financial support came through the Human Resources Development of Canada and KPMG handed up research and analysis along with contributing consultations.

Written in 1999 – 2000 “by the way that’s over eight years ago” professionally capturing the issues and challenges affecting the Canadian Auto Collision industry. In my view this report has not received appropriate acknowledgment and industry wide conversation on the reports nail on the head finding.

Even if the report has had some spotlight discussions what have we as an industry implemented in resolving the issues pointed out?