Get Busy When Slow
All I keep hearing out there is how everyone has been so busy due to the harsh winter weather we received in many parts of the country this year. But I suspect that when spring breaks and gas prices spike this summer, there will once again be a dearth of repair work and many shops
Letters to the Editor
The New DRP I was confused by your January 2009 cover story [“The New DRP,” pg. 22]. There are so many reasons why DRPs should be banned, and even though the article touches on the fact that many people in the collision repair industry feel that way, it takes on a defeated tone. Rather than
Legislative Lowdown
Federal – The U.S. Department of Justice recently released the final rules for the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), created by a 1992 law to prevent title washing. The rules, which were effective April 1, require insurers to report vehicles that have been declared total losses under state law and by their own
TECH TIPS: Replacing the Hyundai Power Sliding Door Control Module
Collision shops commonly encounter a “perfect storm” of problems, including confusing new vehicle features that can potentially blow away a lot of time and money. Case in point: a 2007 Hyundai Entourage that exhibits a post-repair condition such as a power sliding door that doesn’t fully close or that reopens itself after closing. Although the
READER’S CHOICE: Dealing with Inexperienced Estimators
“Is the trend of young, ill-prepared insurance estimators here to stay? How will this affect sales when estimates are so poorly written and biased more than ever in favor of insurers?” – Thomas Graddy, owner, Graddy’s Body Shop, Earlington, Ky.
READER’S CHOICE: Attracting New Talent
“How do we draw more technicians into this business? We’re making less profit and doing more work for the insurance companies. The insurance companies are going to force themselves into a situation where they won’t have qualified shops.” – Bob Showers, body shop manager, Bentley Pontiac-GMC, Huntsville, Ala.
Overcoming Resistance to Change in a Lean Environment
With change comes resistance and pushback. But here are some ways, when implementing lean, to get everyone to trust that what you’re
doing is a better way.
TECH FEATURE: The Case of the Murdered Paint Job
A horrible paint job. A miffed vehicle owner. An upset insurance company. We were out to crack the case. And everyone and everything were suspects.
