California DA Charges 53 Body Shop Employees with Insurance Fraud in Sting Operation
The Orange County, Calif., District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) has charged 53 defendants in Operation Straight Body following a five-month undercover sting by the OCDA Automobile Insurance Fraud Unit targeting auto body repair facilities engaging in insurance fraud. Between January and May 2010, the OCDA conducted 152 undercover operations throughout Orange County. The targets for this
How to Retrofit a Spraybooth for Waterborne
“Makeover” shows are all the rage on TV today, but none concentrate on making over spraybooths for waterborne/low-VOC basecoats. So what do you need to do to restyle your booth? Listen up and your booth could become the height of fashion…and efficiency.
Sherwin-Williams EcoLean Level 1 Workshop Slated for Nashville
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes will hold its next A-Plus EcoLean Level 1 workshop July 14-15 at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. The EcoLean Level 1 workshop is exclusively designed to educate attendees about maximizing profitability by improving productivity and eliminating waste throughout their facilities. The company recently completed its first A-Plus University EcoLean Level 2
American Honda Releases Position Statement on Vehicle Safety Recalls
American Honda has released a new position statement on vehicle safety recalls for Honda and Acura vehicles. The automaker is asking all vehicle repairers – dealer or independent – that perform work on Honda and Acura vehicles check for any applicable safety recalls when a vehicle is being repaired. “Your customer will likely view your
Annual GCIA Labor Rate Survey Available Online
The Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA) is asking shops in its state to participate in its fourth Annual GCIA Labor Rate Survey, which is now available to complete online. The purpose of this survey is to provide the Georgia insurance commissioner with prevailing rates for labor and material. Shop identities will not be published with
California Congresswoman Uses Reciprocating Saw to Test Differences Between Bumper Rebars
Earlier this month, California Congresswoman Jackie Speier launched her exploration of the structural differences between certain vehicle safety parts by, the Collision Repair Association of California (CRA) claims, "sawing through" an aftermarket reinforcement bar in her San Mateo district office. The CRA claims the reciprocating saw she used "didn’t dent" the bar from the vehicle
Take 4th Annual GCIA Labor Rate Survey Now
The 4th annual Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA) labor rate survey is now available to complete online. To take the survey, click HERE. The purpose of the survey is to provide the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance with prevailing rates for labor and material so shops can be paid fairly for the work they
DRPs: Good, Necessary Evil or Bad for Business?
Panel at WIN Conference delves into effects of DRPs on various-sized shops, reveals percent of shops’ revenue that’s DRP-driven.
EDITOR’S NOTES: Same Old, Same Old
I attended a recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC) and heard this: “We have all the people we need in this room to get something done without turning to politicians.” The person obviously believes that legislation doesn’t always solve the collision repair industry’s problems. I’ve also heard another version of the same thing addressing regulation of
Manage Your Paint Inventory
The Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Lean Stock Inventory System helps collision shop owners and managers improve productivity, product availability and consistency. With Lean Stock, shops can lower inventory dollars, better manage product shelf life, reduce waste and increase profits. The inventory manager scans the barcodes on the kanban trigger to place replenishment orders through www.sherwin-automotive.com. The
