EDITOR’S NOTES: Refining the Machine
Three sets of eyes bored a hole in me. I read in their glares that if I screwed up, I was going to get stomped. I started to sweat profusely but tried to will it away, knowing that moist fingers handling small LEGO pieces could surely lead to my untimely death. To make matters worse,
PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE: Squeeze or Be Squeezed
I recently had the opportunity to speak to 250 top shops from across the United States about today’s business environment. To prepare for the presentation, I had Babcox Research survey shops about how business was going this year. While my presentation was centered on customer satisfaction, the research highlighted a trend in our industry that’s
TECH TIPS: 2006 Ford F-150, Lincoln Mark LT Cab Side Sectioning
To section or not to section, and where to section – these are the questions we all deal with each day when developing a repair plan for today’s Vehicles. Manufacturers will often publish or update procedures that involve sectioning, welding locations, corrosion protection or recommended equipment for properly repairing and evaluating these vehicles. Throughout our

Take Your Customers Back
In order to take back our industry, we need to take back our customers. How do we do that? By fighting insurers at their own game with clever marketing.

LEAN & MEANER: Building a Lean Front Office
You’ll find that the greatest opportunity for eliminating waste in the collision repair business exists not on the shop floor but rather up front in the office. Here’s how to do it.
SUPER TECHNOLOGY ISSUE: Hybrids – It’s All About Training
The expense and time commitment necessary to get trained on hybrids is significant, but without it, you have no business repairing these vehicles.

SUPER TECHNOLOGY ISSUE: Airbag Basics
Airbags, along with other components of safety restraint systems, are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and misinformation is spreading like wildfire. Here’s the real deal on what you need to know to restore them to OEM standards.

SUPER TECHNOLOGY ISSUE: Pedal to the Metal
Carmakers are introducing exotic metals to vehicle
structures at an alarming rate for the sake of fuel efficiency and passenger safety. Understanding their properties is key to quality repairs.
