CCIF Conclusion

1:00 Low VOC Conversion Update Facing Reality and Being Proactive is introduced by Jim Quick (Canadian Paint and Coating Association) starting of the evening talking about The Industries Campaign for a Orderly Conversion.

CPCA-Canadian Paint and Coating Association is the national trade association for the paint and coatings industry - founded in 1913
The council is comprised of the five global paint players

Akzo Nobel, BASF, DuPont, PPG, Sherwin-Williams

The VOC - Volatile Organic Chemicals environment reduction compliance is a big task for industry, fueled by public demand and mandated by government.

1:45 the presentation switched to The Future of DRP, with 5 participants going on the podium two representing the insurance industry and three representing the repairers. The topic of main discussion was Simplifying and Standardizing DRPs.

I got a much better insight on the relationship between repairer and insurer. They appear to have a tentative respect for each other with a very gray area of understanding that they have a mutual incentive (consumers vehicles).

The repairers require more standardization and clarity when it comes to several insurers’ estimate manual guidelines. It makes it a confusing and daunting day-to-day task when repairer must refer to different program guidelines for identical collision situations.

OEM - Original Equipment Manufacture and LKQ – Like Kind Quality Parts

OEM Parts Example

The Economical Insurance Group
When a damaged part is beyond repair original equipment manufactured parts must be used on vehicles within 24 months from the date of purchase.

The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company
If required, OEM parts must be used on vehicles that are two model years or newer, or if purchased new by the policyholder/claimant, vehicles that are within 24 months of the date of purchase.

Drafted Combined Version
When parts are damaged beyond economical repair and must be replaced, Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) must be used on vehicles that are within 24 months of the date of manufactured or with less that 40,000km.

It seems to me that repairers need to be litigation lawyers to comprehend the different underwriting styles insurance companies prioritize. Its very simple, insurance companies need to unify and standardize their program guidelines, allowing for a more comprehensive and streamlined collision operation, thus increase overall productivity for all involved.

2:30 they announced a half hour Coffee Break and after the break 3:00 they were supposed to introduce Mark Claypool (Verifacts Automotive), who was presenting Attracting, Training and Retaining the workforce of Tomorrow. This presentation was supposed to be the highlight of my afternoon; it probably was the only reason I was still at the meeting. But nothing, no mention of a cancellation or rearranged agenda, nothing!!!!!

Instead Larry Jefferies (Executive VP of Carstar Automotive Canada) and former chair of CCIF, addressed the remaining hundred plus guest on a very important and dear to him initiative. The WorldSkills Competition that will be held in Calgary, Alberta Canada.

The World is coming to Calgary!

Calgary will host the 40th WorldSkills Competition, marking its second time in Canada (1999, Montreal) and third time only in North America (1981, Atlanta). The Calgary Competition is proposed for September 1st to 14th, 2009, with competition dates scheduled from September 1st to 6th, 2009.

There will be three (3) scheduled competition events coming from the auto collision industry:

· Autobody Repair
· Automobile Technology
· Car Painting

Jefferies feels very passionate about having Ontario represented at all levels of auto repair competition heading towards the WorldSkills and stands firm in seeing this imitative come to light.

I remain very cynical, “it does matter who speaking” when I here “we need or this is a great opportunity to attract apprentices” at the most part kids, students, not yet started out in the real world of working, without first providing them (apprentice) with an industry of destination and cultivation for their future growth is shattering to me.

I believe all participants, tech, repairer, insurance, government and supplier must take responsibility to retain and foster workers (Apprentice and Techs) before inviting them into an industry without internal human resources.

The issue in this auto collision industry (local or global) isn’t the inability to attract new comers; it’s the inability to preserve them…thus creating an unfavorable profile.

If participants in this industry have the capabilities to plan and implement Worldskills, Watrerborn, IBIS and CCIF industry initiatives, then a human resource program is a matter of will and foresight.

In conclusion to my first CCIF and industry Meeting…

Even though the last two weeks as “I have blogged” has been a test of my fortitude, it opened my eyes up to a world of creative and dedicated possibilities. The courage to know I can express a vision of unification throughout my industry and push forth my mission for a human resource program that will take this auto collision industry beyond its charted barriers.