Bodyworx 8#2

SPECIAL EDITION OF

A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE MODERN HIGH SCHOOL AUTOSHOP

BODYWORX THE VOICE OF COLLISION REPAIR TECHS & PAINTERS

PROFESSIONAL

UNBOUNDED

ARTIS TRY

If he can get his hands on it, Keegan De France will paint it

MORE THAN A CAREER

ELECTRIC CREDENTIALS

SkillsOntario CEO Ian Howcroft on promoting the trades

I-CAR director Andrew Shepherd on EV education

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CONTENTS

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COVER Simplicity East York’s Keegan De France finds his peace painting whatever he can get his hands on! Cars, sneakers, prams — if it can dry, Keegan will paint it.

06 15

SkillsOntario’s CEO Ian Howcroft on attracting new talent to the trade!

18 20

What are the kids learning nowadays? Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute lets us inside its bodyshop to learn more about advanced techniques passed on to the techs of tomorrow!

REGULARS 04 PUBLISHER’S PAGE

By Darryl Simmons

24 LET’S TALK TRAINING

By Stefano Liessi

25 TRAINING

By Ben Hart

26 FINAL DETAIL

By Allison Rogers

A new way to spray with 3M’s Performance Spray Gun!

16 PLAYING THE FIELD

Industry young guns on finding your perfect job fit!

22 BEATS OF THE BODYSHOP

A glimpse into

the collision repairers’ go-to playlist!

BODYWORX THE VOICE OF COLLISION REPAIR TECHS & PAINTERS

PROFESSIONAL SUMMER 2021 | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL 3

>>>

BODYWORX

PUBLISHER’S PAGE

THE VOICE OF COLLISION REPAIR TECHS & PAINTERS

PROFESSIONAL

FOUNDED ON PASSION It’s a great time to be part of collision repair

PUBLISHER Darryl Simmons publisher@collisionrepairmag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Orest Tkaczuk | orest@mediamatters.ca EDITOR Allison Rogers | allison@mediamatters.ca STAFF WRITERS Max Reid | max@mediamatters.ca Maddy Kylie | maddy@mediamatters.ca ART DIRECTOR Yvonne Corvers | yvonne@mediamatters.ca VP OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS & ADVERTISING Gloria Mann 647.998.5677 | gd.mann@rogers.com

BY DARRYL SIMMONS

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Ellen Smith 416.312.7446 | ellen@mediamatters.ca

T

he phrase ‘daily grind’ has never resonated with me. If you’re working in a field you love, your work should never feel like it grinds—that’s a far better description for how it feels to chew on coffee grounds. Wouldn’t it feel much better to sip on a smooth espresso? Likewise, doesn’t work feel less like work if it revolves around a passion project?

Furthermore, Keegan’s success in the field has allowed him not only to propel success in his automotive painting career, but in his work as an artist. His passion, determination and skill with the spray gun has landed him several thrilling opportunities— from painting snowboards for the Canadian Olympic team’s fundraising efforts, to dazzling Anime-inspired paint jobs alongside the

The collision repair landscape is dotted with countless paths, all of which lead to different summits.

When asked of their roots in collision repair, industry legends across Canada will often utter a variation of one strong, yet simple sentiment: “I’ve just always loved cars.” What follows that statement differs with each story, but the gist remains the same—this industry is founded on passion.

If you possess passion for the automotive trade, work rarely feels like a daily “grind.”

When you’re working in a field you love, the work doesn’t feel like work—but the opportunities will come knocking nonetheless.

This issue’s cover star, Keegan De France, is a perfect example of passion paving the way toward opportunity. For Keegan, a career in collision repair provides a canvas for endless creative expression and a sense of “zen,” as he puts it. He doesn’t groan at the sound of the alarm clock—it signals another day of inventive opportunity waiting to be conquered.

hugely popular RefinishNetwork YouTube channel.

The collision repair landscape is dotted with countless paths, all of which lead to different summits. Keegan is a talented painter; but there are so many other endeavours available to pursue in the sector. You could master the mysterious art of paintless dent repair, tackle technology as an ADAS expert, develop the next great welding process or conquer a technique we’ve yet to discover.

The opportunities are plentiful. Go out and grab them.

44 BODYWORXMAG.COM BODYWORXMAG.COM || BODYWORX BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL

INDUSTRY RELATIONS ASSISTANT Wanja Mann (647) 998-5677 wanjamann1@gmail.com DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Cassie Doyle | cassie@mediamatters.ca CONTRIBUTORS Stefano Liessi, Dianne Park Thach, David DiCenzo

SUBSCRIPTION One-year $25 / Student Discount is 10%

Bodyworx Professional ™ is published quarterly, and is

dedicated to serving the professionals of the collision repair industry. It is published by Media Matters Inc. Material in Bodyworx Professional ™ may not be reproduced in any form without written consent from the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements made by its advertisers or independent columnists. All facts, opinions, statements appearing in this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by the publisher.

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“We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.”

Bodyworx Professional is published by Media Matters Inc., publishers of:

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>>> ON THE COVER

THE ARTIST’S

EYE

How Keegan De France finds zen at one of Toronto’s busiest shops

“I knew from a young age that the autobody shop was the place for me,” said Keegan De France, a painter at Simplicity East York.

BY MAX REID

I

Keegan de France paints cars–and almost anything else.

6 BODYWORXMAG.COM | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

f you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.

An old cliche adage that, for artists, often reads more like a statement on the difficulty of making a living than it does an encouraging line about passion for one’s work—a lack of passion is rarely the problem.

The problem is being able to combine that passion for art and creativity with a steady income. The collision repair industry, however, occupies a unique position where creativity and ingenuity have always been at the forefront.

Quality refinishes and an attention to aesthetics go hand-in-hand in this industry; that’s something Keegan De France of Simplicity East York recognizes as he continues to carry the torch with his urban-inspired paint work that is both flashy and functional.

ON THE COVER

Like so many of the pioneers of custom car painting that came before him, Keegan was steeped in the world autobody from a very young age and took to this exposure to the collision repair industry like any artist first discovering their instrument.

“I knew from a young age that the autobody shop was the place for me,” Keegan told Bodyworx Professional.

“I have been in an autobody atmosphere since I was 12 years old; I’m 35 now. My father actually used to be a part owner of Don Valley Volkswagen, so in the summers when I was younger, and in pretty much any spare time I had, he’d bring me down there and I’d get to hang around the shop, pushing the broom around, sweeping the floors—making myself useful.”

Keegan spent so much time immersed in the collision industry throughout his teens, when the time came to start looking for a career, there wasn’t much doubt in his mind about the path he planned on taking.

“When I was 18, I decided I didn’t want to go to school and went toward the automotive industry instead. I’ve been full-time for almost 17 years now.”

To be clear, however; Keegan didn’t make this decision out of a lack of interest in other fields by any means. In fact, the work he does today is directly inspired by the passions he developed in other media, throughout his teenage years.

“In high school I transitioned into doing graffiti and got lost in hip hop culture. I started airbrushing t-shirts and custom painting clothing and I was actually convinced that I was going to be an urban fashion designer when I was in Grade 11. Then I got involved in the automotive industry, and it just so happened that I could take my artistic abilities with drawing and graffiti and use it through an

airbrush—the crossover was almost seamless.

Graffiti and airbrushing and art in general just go kind of hand-in-hand, it’s just learning how to apply it properly.”

Seventeen years later and Keegan has made a name for himself as a custom painter, not only in his home base of Toronto, but across the country as his work becomes more and more sought after.

“I love working in the autobody trade and I like being artistic. I’m very lucky to be able to enjoy both aspects of that,” – Keegan De France, artist and automotive painter at Simplicity East York “I teamed up with Justin Jimmo, who runs a YouTube channel called RefinishNetwork and I painted a Nissan Altima in a Dragon Ball Z theme with a silver leaf going down the car, Goku and Vegeta on the hood and a silver leaf on the hood with pinstripes and stuff. I did an in-process video that he put up on YouTube and I think it’s now at just under four million views,” said Keegan.

“Another cool one for me too was being able to paint stuff for the Canadian Olympic snowboard team. I got approached by one of the organizers of the fundraising committee for the Canadian Olympic snowboard team. They wanted me to paint auction prizes to help raise money for [the team]. So, not only did I get

>>>

to paint a few snowboards, a couple helmets and two suitcases, but I was actually able to paint two snowboards that got put on display at all the snowboard events across Canada.”

But like any true artist, Keegan is just as happy with a high-profile art piece as he is with a personal project, as long he gets to continue honing both his art and his trade.

“I love working in the autobody trade and at the same time I like being artistic. I’m very lucky to be able to enjoy both aspects of that,” said Keegan “When it’s busy and you’re cranking out a bunch of work—putting in big hours. It’s a very stressful situation to be in and it’s important to have a way to be able to expel that stress.

To be able to do my artwork—my pinstriping and airbrushing, that kind of stuff—that relaxes me. That’s where I find my zen.”

And lucky for Keegan, he can find that zen just about anywhere.

“I have a saying: I can paint anything if it sits still long enough. I’ll paint whatever I can get my hands on,” said Keegan.

A mark of someone with a genuine passion for creativity, and of someone to make you nervous if you fall asleep after Thanksgiving dinner. Your uncle looks pretty cool with flames though.

In all seriousness, Keegan takes what he does to heart and is always trying to elevate the trade he does for his living into artwork that defines his character.

“I think it’s important in life to not be stuck on one thing. It’s important to always want to grow and rise to new levels of yourself and try to improve. So, there have been times in my life where I have gone, ‘Wow it’s really awesome that I could do that or that happened to me,’ and then I’ll think, ‘Okay, what’s the next thing that I can do that would be more awesome,’” said Keegan.

SUMMER 2021 | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL 7

>>> ON THE COVER

“I think it’s important in life to not be stuck on one thing.

It’s important to always want to grow and rise to new levels of yourself,” Keegan told Bodyworx Professional.

Despite all his successes and his pursuit the industry, you have to keep evolving,” of the next awesome project, Keegan knows said Keegan that there is no room in the spray booth for “That’s one of the things that I like about a big ego. working at a place like this, is that they’re “Cockiness kills it for me, because once constantly focused on bettering the process you start getting cocky you start shutting of getting the car in, getting the car done right. yourself off from opportunities that may have Using the right processes to get it done in a been presented to you when you were still fast, timely, but still quality fix and getting the approachable. Cockiness, to me, means that car back to a happy customer in a timely manthe people might not want ner. Places like this focus to approach you because on constantly improving “I’ll paint whatever I can you have that aura around and constantly learning get my hands on,” you. So, it’s important and constantly training to me to be constantly techs to improve their – Keegan De France approachable because knowledge of the most even, for example, people up-to-date processes.” that have motorcycles want to get pinstripes; There’s no question that Keegan has put I gladly accept that, because it’s still an in the hours either; “I’ve done multiple paint expression of myself, art-wise. And it still training programs. I went to Dupont, when gets my work out there and people can still they were still Dupont; I’ve done the BASF appreciate it,” he said. training; I’ve done the AkzoNobel training.

This desire to elevate himself has even led I’m a licensed technician and I have a Red him to the shop he is at today. Simplicity East Seal trade certification. I went to Centennial York; a high-volume banner shop in downtown College for their automotive painter course.

Toronto where he has the latest in paint techIn the thinking of the future of the trade for nology and processes at his disposal. potential painters and technicians, Keegan only “There are new paint lines; there’s new hopes that they are students will be afforded training all the time; there’s new ways to cut the same opportunity to fall in love with the down production time. There’s faster clears, trade that he had.

“I think it’s important to push our kids and faster primers, faster application processes.

It’s a constantly growing industry, constantly say, if you’re uncomfortable in school—if you evolving...and if you want to keep up with don’t get school and aren’t good at math and

8 BODYWORXMAG.COM | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

all that stuff—the things that other kids are getting into; try the trades. You never know.

You might go to a shop class and try sanding and painting a panel and you might fall in love with it,” said Keegan.

“I go home whistling happy at night, thinking about the ten cars I painted that day because I pushed myself and got the work done.”

>>>

IN THE HEADLIGHTS

INDUSTRY DELVING INTO DIGITAL

SENDING THE ‘WRONG SIGNALS’

3M has invested in asTech, citing a “continued commitment to advance the digitization” of the aftermarket supplies giant. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The 3M Ventures strategic investment in Repairify [asTech’s parent company] enables us to accelerate our solutions and offerings across the entire automotive ecosystem,” stated Cris Hollingsworth, president of Repairify, regarding the investment. “We seek to make strategic investments that will advance our innovation and growth,” said Ben Wright, director, 3M Ventures. “We are moving rapidly to an even more digital-first world, and we see those shifts in the automotive aftermarket. This investment signifies our continued commitment to advance the digitization of 3M as well as of the customers we serve.” According to asTech’s press release, “terms and conditions of the investment will be announced in a separate press release later.”

Two federal ministers have issued concerns regarding Saskatchewan’s plan to introduce a $150 annual tax on electric vehicles. Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra outlined their concerns in a letter to Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. “This provincial tax on electric vehicles does not benefit the climate, consumers or workers,” the pair wrote in the letter. “An approach that creates financial barriers to new low carbon technologies would send the wrong signal to the world.” In response to the letter, Moe wrote: “Highways and road systems do not maintain themselves. The road fee use paid by electric vehicle owners will help to maintain this crucial infrastructure.” Federal officials, however, said since electric vehicles generally cost more, their owners pay more in sales tax than internal combustion engine buyers. They also pay sales tax on electricity. They also say Saskatchewan holds many of the minerals used in EVs and said encouraging the use of zero-emissions vehicles in the province presents an economic opportunity. “We appreciate your newfound concern about Saskatchewan’s economy,” Moe responded.

Earlier this year, 3M invested in asTech. The two companies have yet to announce terms of the deal.

BREATH CHECK How’s your respirator fitting these days? According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) recent list of the top 10 most frequently cited violations of 2020, the United States saw more than 2,500 respiratory protection violations last year. “We’re finding these violations in autobody, paint and interior repair and maintenance shops,” Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs during a Feb. 26 webinar. Violations pertaining to respiratory totalled 2,649 in 2020, said Kapust. Kapust said the main culprits for violations were: failure to have a written respiratory protection program including training, types of respirators, etc.; failure to conduct annual (and thereafter) respirator fit testing; and failure to comply with general requirements on the type of respirators according to the hazard.

With 5,424 total violations in 2020, OSHA said fall protection has been the most-cited regulation for ten straight years.

OSHA’s recent stats suggest it may be time to re-check your respirator regulations.

RIVIAN REVS UP REPAIRS Electric vehicle startup Rivian has outlined a service strategy that includes “a nationwide network of Rivian-owned and Rivian-certified collision centres to handle bodywork and exterior damage,” in Canada and the U.S. The company said it is on course to open more than 40 service centres in the coming year, with more planned in the future. Rivian first announced its plan to delve into the autobody business last fall as it teased the idea of a certified network. At the time, Rivian collision program senior manager said the company would establish its own network of service and repair centres but rely on third-party collision centres. The company builds the R1T electric truck and R1S electric SUV, both of which are set to begin delivering to Canada in Nov. 2021.

10 BODYWORXMAG.COM | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

PASSING ON PUBLIC TRANSIT A new report calculates that millions of Toronto transit riders dropped their TTC habits in favour of ride-sharing platforms Uber and Lyft, resulting in a revenue loss of at least $74 million in 2019. According to the report, released by a group called RideFair Coalition, in 2019 an estimated 31.4 million TTC trips were lost to the two major ride-sharing platforms. The shift to Uber and Lyft not only means a financial hit for the TTC, the report says, but also more private vehicles circulating on Toronto roads. The RideFair Coalition says it is a diverse group of individuals and organizations supporting “fair regulations” for ride-hailing. Its founding members include two Toronto taxi companies as well as the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113.

While similar reports for other major Canadian cities are not currently available, some ridesharing apps—including Lyft in Vancouver—will present public transit alternatives like nearby TransLink and BC Ferries alongside ride-booking options, giving customers a full breadth of choice. Neither Uber nor Lyft in Toronto presents the same opportunity.

THE FADEAWAY Like feet at your mom’s house, the repair rate terms presented to Manitoba Public Insurance by provincial repairer associations are officially off the table after negotiations broke down in late March. MPI has given a 90-day notice announcing the termination of the current industry agreement with the automotive trades on repair rates. Talks between the Automotive Trades Association of Manitoba, the Manitoba Motor Dealers Association (MMDA) and MPI were underway to renegotiate the terms of compensation for light vehicle repair work, which was to be set in place on April 15. The public insurer referred to the other side’s terms as “unprecedented” and claimed that they are taking positive steps through the proposal of a compensation package with increases to labour, material rates and adjustments to several estimating standards. The group, which represents 232 auto body repair shops in the province, filed a statement of claim in Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench Apr. 1. The claim alleges MPI pressured shops to enter into individual compensation agreements by Apr. 14 or face operating sanctions. The ATAMB says that while shops are no longer facing the possibility of sanctions, the organization is still calling for an arbitrator, so that the two sides may eventually come to a deal.

“We’re in uncharted waters here,” said Steve Dennis, executive director of the Automotive Trades Association of Manitoba. “We’ve never had a termination before.”

>>> FINAL DETAIL

IN THE HEADLIGHTS

TRAINING VOLKS-REALITY

ELEVATING EACH OTHER

Volkswagen is exploring virtual reality (VR) training delivery to educate collision repair students on the automaker’s technology, repairing mixed materials, joining techniques, electric vehicle repairs and more. During February’s SkillsCanada Automotive Technology Summit, Volkswagen collision repair program manager Scott Wideman delivered a demonstration and discussion of the automaker’s endeavours in VR training. The demo featured two videos: the first documenting a battery repair on a 2020 Volkswagen e-Tron, and the second featuring body repair technology with mixed material substrates and joining techniques.

Wideman said the OEM has already launched its VR battery repair concept training for Audi technicians and it is working to someday introduce VR welding training. “The VR program will allow [students] to see what speed they are welding at, what the weld penetration is, the quality of the weld, so they can maintain that skill and develop it further,” he said. “Think of the impact and what it would mean for technicians in the field.”

In a move aiming to make positive steps towards diversity within the company, Hyundai Canada has committed to investing $250,000 over seven years to support Black and Indigenous automotive students at Georgian College, according to a press release. Starting this fall, Hyundai Canada will be giving out renewable $1,000 entrance awards to eligible Georgian College students via the Hyundai Canada Entrance Award Suite, in order to highlight the automaker’s continued efforts to tackle the underrepresentation of Black and Indigenous individuals in the automotive industry. The award is open to any student who self-identifies as Black or of Indigenous ancestry and is accepted into the Automotive Business (co-op) diploma program or the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Automotive Management) (co-op) program.

FINAL STRETCH If you missed the provincial insurer’s February announcement, Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) has announced an extension to the deadline for shops to meet the new Safe and Quality Auto Repair Program (SQARP). The effective date for repair shops to meet the new accreditation requirements has been extended to July 1, 2021. “We know that many shops were ready to meet the March 1 deadline, and we thank you for your diligence as well as your patience,” wrote the insurer alongside the announcement.

Volkswagen collision repair program manager Scott Wideman delivered a glimpse into the OEM’s virtual-reality training platform during a February SkillsCanada meeting.

BURST BUBBLE FUNDING THE FUTURE George Brown College and Hilti Canada partnered up to help women find careers in the trades. Hilti Canada will contribute $40,000 to help expand George Brown College’s Women Transitioning to Trades and Employment (WTTE) program. The provincial government funded the establishment of the WTTE in order to increase the economic security of low-income women by providing opportunities for women in skilled trades. The partnership aims to reduce the barriers to entry into trades for women and other underrepresented groups by offering scholarships, career planning, networking, mentoring/coaching, as well as employment opportunities. Hilti Canada is also donating approximately $100,000 worth of training tools so that students can start well equipped.

The graduates of the program will also get new toolkits to lessen the financial impact of having to buy new tools.

Whether you’re welding or welcoming customers, wearing a mask these days is as important as ever and with public health recommendations being top priority, the Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) has decided to postpone this year’s Moncton, New Brunswick event. CCIF made the call to cancel the event, originally scheduled for May, after a survey put forth to potential attendees and sponsors showed that it would be in the best interest of all to hold off on this year’s show until gatherings can be held safely. For more information, you can email info@ccif.ca.

AMP-ING UP ONTARIO The provincial government has announced that plans to pump $10 million into the Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP) to help give a kickstart to Canada’s recovering automotive supply chain. O-AMP was launched in September 2019 as part of an initiative spearheaded by the Driving Prosperity: The Future of Ontario’s Automotive Sector report which laid out the government’s plan for establishing a stable and prosperous auto industry.

CCIF has made the decision to postpone its Moncton event due to the ongoing circumstances around the pandemic.

SUMMER 2021 | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL 11

>>> FINAL DETAIL

IN THE HEADLIGHTS

TECH TRENDS THE PACE OF PROGRESS

THE PACE OF PROGRESS

American automotive technology company CCC Information Services is reporting a more than 50 percent year-over-year increase in claims processed using artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning. The company also reports that more than 5 million unique claims have been processed using a CCC deep learning AI solution, and the number of claims using two or more of its AI applications has more than doubled year-over-year. Today, more than 75 U.S. auto insurers are actively applying CCC’s advanced AI to power claims decisions and improve policyholder experiences, said the company via online press release. The company says the sharp growth is spurred by a combination of increased adoption, expanded applications and the more than 300-strong library of AI models supporting personalized claims decisions.

Magna International’s latest market-ready solution is integrated into an interior mirror and meets global regulations related to the detection of distracted driving. According to the company, the mirror utilizes proven camera-based technology to monitor the driver’s head, eye and body movement to detect distracted behaviour, drowsiness and fatigue. If distracted behaviour is detected, the driver is alerted through customizable audible or visual notifications. The technology also accounts for normal driving actions, such as looking in the sideview mirrors. The system is scalable to also include features such as child presence detection, seat belt detection and identifying specific passengers to enable user preference memory settings.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is claiming its stake in the collision repair space as U.S. insurers make moves to power claims processes with AI operations.

HANDS OFF THE FORD Ford has officially unveiled its new self-driving platform, BlueCruise, set to be patched into current-year F-150s and Mustang E-Machs, later this year. According to Ford, BlueCruise will allow hands-free driving on “prequalified sections of divided highways called HandsFree Blue Zones that make up more than 100,000 miles of North American roads. What makes BlueCruise unique, is the inclusion of an active driver monitoring system in the form of an infrared sensor on the steering column that tracks the drivers’ eyes to make sure they are keeping them on the road.

MOBILE OFFICES Bell Canada and Honda have teamed up to ensure that Canadian drivers are never offline when they’re on the road, as the automaker announced in March that all new Honda and Acura models will be equipped with built-in Wi-Fi hotspots. Drivers will be able to stream with up to seven devices through the Bell.ca/ConnectedCar program over Bell’s 4G network.

Bell Canada and Honda have teamed up to bring WiFi into some of the automaker’s new models.

Keep your eyes on the road—or Magna’s new rear-view mirror will do it for you.

QUIET ON SET You may not be able to hear them coming, but make sure you aren’t sleeping on the moves being made by the Materials Sciences Corporation (MSC) in the development of their innovative “Quiet Aluminum” product, which has reportedly been gaining momentum in the electric vehicles sector. The company’s CTO, Matt Murphy, delved into the specifics of the material at a webinar last month, where he announced that the material would be used in nine components in an upcoming electric vehicle. Murphy described the technology used to develop the product’s “engineered viscoelastic layer”, which is layered between two aluminum skins, giving the material “excellent noise-damping properties,” according to Murphy. He says that this technology will help shed “a lot of mass” put on vehicles by more traditional forms of noise dampening that can often weigh “easily a hundred pounds.”

MSC’s Quiet Aluminum has appeared on the Ford F-150 firewall dating back to the 2004 model, although it is unclear if it will be on the next-generation 2021 F-150. It was present during the pickup’s inaugural aluminum 2015-20 generation.

SUMMER 2021 | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL 12

ADVERTORIAL

DOUBLE DUTY Brianne’s experience helps Boyd navigate the current environment

B

rianne Walker has been part of the Boyd team in Brandon, Manitoba, since 2015. She’s held the role of estimator for a few years but, given the current pandemicinduced environment, Brianne was asked to cross-over into a dual role function–and she is handling it with the utmost of ease.

But before Brianne found a home with Boyd Autobody and Glass, she had starkly different plans.

Upon completing high school, Brianne knew she wanted to help people. One of the first jobs she landed was at a ladies clothing store.

She said she hated it—the standing around, the waiting for customer inquiries, the lack of real social interaction. She knew this was not the environment she wanted to work

in, so she kicked off her job hunt once again. That’s when her friend presented her with an opportunity at a local RV shop.

Brianne thrived as she started off as a parts picker and eventually became parts manager. She enjoyed the research elements of the job, as well as maintaining relationships with regular clientele; but still, she found herself in search of another challenge.

A master of the local bowling lanes, Brianne soon learned of an opportunity to work as a customer service representative (CSR) from Brad Rusnak, a fellow member of her team. After taking Rusnak up on the chance, it didn’t take Brianne much time to gain confidence in using Boyd’s work tools, leveraging

DROP & GO

knowledge from her peers, pursuing training via Boyd University to assist in her development and career growth into her estimating role.

A clear people person, Brianne says her collision repair philosophy lies primarily in customer satisfaction.

“There are tools and process in place to help us learn and function daily. The challenge is dealing with customers, they are all different, and we need to adapt to them.

“Be patient and be prepared to explain things more than once.”

Brianne has gone on to train other team members, continues to find fulfillment in her current role. For the moment, she’s happy to remain in her current space, just “doing her thing”: supporting her peers, clients and the organization.

For more information visit us online: boydautobody.com

>>>

IN THE HEADLIGHTS

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!

SPRING BROKE

Some people believe that miracles happen all over the world, every day; a mother lifts a car to save their child; a lost dog returns home after 20 years—a driver in Gatineau tows a pontoon boat with a Toyota Echo. But alas, there was no miracle in Gatineau when police pulled over a driver who was trying to kick off their summer by any means necessary, attempting to haul a pontoon boat behind their car on a Gatineau road. The driver’s car; the Toyota Echo, was revamped to the Yaris about 20 years ago due to its small size for North American roads—but no one tell that to the driver.

WHAT THE TRUCK Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway was home to a scene straight out of Italian Job in March when a dump truck pushed a Mini Cooper for more than half a kilometre along the highway. In a video shared to social media, plumes of black smoke can be seen as the massive piece of machinery propels the sedan down the strait. The collision initially occurred as the Mini Cooper driver—a Toronto nurse on her way to work administering COVID-19 vaccines—accelerated along the on ramp. The dump truck operator claims he did not see the other driver and collided with her vehicle, pushing the Mini Cooper sideways.

The dump truck continued up the ramp and onto the expressway, pushing the vehicle sideways along the highway for more than 500 metres. The dump truck was eventually flagged down by passing motorists and the Mini Cooper driver suffered only minor injuries.

This pontoon party was cancelled before it even started, courtesy of the Gatineau police.

A DOLLAR FOR YOUR DREAMS As residents of British Columbia await their Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) rebate cheques to materialize, one B.C. woman is asking the Crown insurer questions after receiving a $1 cheque in her mailbox. The cheques, averaging about $190 according to ICBC, were sent out in late March after seeing weeks-long delays due to cyberhacks. When O’Neill tweeted her frustrations—calling the cheque a “colossal waste of money”—ICBC responded by saying it “will be issuing refund cheques for any amount of $1 or more,” a change from the insurer’s “historical practice of not issuing cheques for $5 or less.” ICBC has not said how many cheques under $5 have been mailed out, though it estimates 0.2 percent of cheques will have value of $1. As for O’Neill, she says she doubts she’ll ever cash the cheque and reap the $1 rewards. “It’s a huge waste of resources that could go someplace else,” she said.

CHEVY ON THE ROCKS In the latest edition of our ongoing segment, “Will that truck fall through the ice?”; the answer was once again, yes. This time, the Saskatchewan-based Big Ice removal service was called in to Fort Chipewyan, north of Fort McMurray, to pull a partially sunk Chevrolet Silverado out of a fast-moving river, taking a massive slab of ice frozen on the hood of the truck along with it. Naturally, Big Ice posted photos of the recovery to their Facebook to help further document this rash of pickup truck drownings.

Remember, the next time you see a pickup truck parked on a frozen body of water and you think to yourself, “Will that truck fall through the ice?” the answer might not surprise you.

Tune in next year for our Winter 2022 Trucks on Ice tally!

14 BODYWORXMAG.COM | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

Safe to say that Mini Coop is totalled.

THE KICKER In late January a video of a Toronto man launching his most powerful roundhouse kick on an oncoming SUV began making rounds, prompting the internet to question his sanity. In a video shared to Instagram, the man—initially behind the wheel of a moving car—slams on his brakes to allow some ill-time jaywalkers to pass. The man then spots on SUV approaching the pedestrians at a reduced speed and deeming himself Superman in the blink of an eye, launches himself from his vehicle and into the path of oncoming traffic. Seemingly unaware that the approaching SUV has spotted the pedestrians and has slowed down to let them pass, the man the launches a kick to the vehicle’s tire before collapsing in pain in the middle of the highway.

You cannot fight a car, no matter what your personal trainer says.

TRAINING

>>>

IN TODAY’S AGE

SKILLSONTARIO TAKES TRADES PROMOTION ONLINE Ian Howcroft, CEO of SkillsOntario.

BY MAX REID

L

ast year saw the collision industry endure a period of uncharacteristic helplessness for a trade so foundationally dedicated to ingenuity and independence.

The pandemic kept shops apart from their customers, and by extension, the communities in which they operate.

Many felt, understandably, as though they were losing their reach as a shop in the wider collision repair landscape.

However, in certain ways, the pandemic gave us the skills to rethink the ways we engage with the industry.

Zoom calls and YouTube tutorials are now a part of daily life and educators in the training sector of the collision repair industry are capitalizing on the extended geographical reach that an online-based learning model provides.

That is why Collision Repair spoke with the CEO of SkillsOntario, Ian Howcroft, to discuss the ways in which the pandemic, while putting a large part of in-person training on hold, allowed for the provincial trades organization to pivot toward other methods of delivering their content.

“I have to say, the pandemic has been the most impactful and memorable event, for a variety of reasons,” said Howcroft over Zoom.

“It caused us to have to look at all we did and how we did it, because we are an organization that went into schools; provided in-person experiential events, conferences, competitions, contests. As of last spring, we had to pivot completely 180-degrees to offer everything remotely, virtually and digitally.”

Howcroft and SkillsOntario spent much of the spring last year, when the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing and many businesses were under lockdown, developing alternate programming to deliver students a fulfilling training experience while making use of remote technologies.

“We had been talking about what we need to do to better take advantage of remote

technology. ‘Can we have more people work from home?’ Most of our staff were already around the province going out to the schools, so it accelerated our work in this area,” said Howcroft.

“I think one of the key examples, which we’ve learned from, is our summer camp program.

We used to hold about 24, 25 summer camps

We’re trying to dispel the negative myths and present information in an accurate way,” – Ian Howcroft, CEO of SkillsOntario in the province, at a college or a facility, and we’d have the kids come out and have a one-week opportunity. Obviously, we couldn’t do that last summer, but we still wanted to provide skills-based and technology-based activities for kids. So, we put together different 35 activity events that we delivered remotely.”

The organization has already seen this transition pay off, says Howcroft, who noted how much greater of a reach online learning provides.

“Normally, we get about 400 kids at our camp program. Last year, we engaged about 800 kids in a variety of activities.”

As to be expected, there were challenges, however. Namely, an apprehension among some in the industry to engage with online learning opportunities and virtual tradeshows.

“We fared fairly well. When we had our big showcase events with our competitions, we would get tens of thousands of people, true.

But we can’t do that in the same way remotely.

We are using a very sophisticated platform, called vFairs to deliver our programming in May.” Howcroft says that while the industry seems excited to get back out and networking, not

every business is in the situation to be able to facilitate the transition to online events.

“We all recognize that it’s not going to be the same. All of our partners that I’ve talked to have continued to express their support for SkillsOntario. Some have had to lessen the amount because of their own financial issues. Some had to say, ‘Can we defer until we go back to in-person events?’”

Where SkillsOntario is truly directing its big-picture focus is not solely on the dollars and cents, however, but on the hearts and minds of not only prospective technicians entering the industry, and almost as importantly, on changing the perception of work in collision repair and getting parents on board with helping to make it a viable career choice for their children.

“We want to get the parents on board as well, because they often say ‘Go to university,’ or ‘Don’t look at that opportunity’, because they don’t have a full and comprehensive understanding of what the realities are. They are also dealing with perception. We’re trying to dispel the negative myths and present information in an accurate way,” said Howcroft.

In all, the past year has posed significant challenges to nearly every aspect of our industry, but it has also demonstrated the co-operation and perseverance of collision repairers, educators and students alike to continue along on their paths and create new solutions at every turn.

“It’s been a learning process for us, but I have to again applaud and recognize the team at Skills Ontario for their support,” said Howcroft.

SUMMER 2021 | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL 15

>>>

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

MORE THAN A PAYCHEQUE COLLISION REPAIR OFFERS A CAREER, NOT A JOB

BY DIANNE PARK THACH

M

any newly qualified skilled trades workers entering the industry today are searching for something other than just big paycheques. Recent reports from college educators and industry consultants are seeing youth becoming more attracted to job opportunities that encourage professional growth instead of just high-paying salaries—and Canada’s collision repair industry provides a wealth of opportunities.

Skills/Compétences Canada is a non-profit organization that promotes careers in technology and skilled trades. CEO Shaun Thorson says they have been hearing from students that the idea of careers—as opposed to a ‘job’—is becoming important.

“One thing that students seem to want to know is that if they start in this sector or in this job, and with additional training and education, is there a pathway to different career opportunities or a chance to level up?” explains Thorson. “They want to know if it can lead to career laddering.”

Dani Van Bendegem just completed her third year at Centennial College’s autobody technician program. She will soon be preparing to apply for journeyman status and write her Red Seal licensing exam to become a full technician.

“Auto body is cool because it’s mechanical but artsy at the same time,” she says. “You get to shape panels and work with it. Every skill is a little bit different and you’re never doing the same thing all the time.”

And as lot of older generation auto body techs are nearing retirement, getting new talent will be important. Van Bendegem says there are some things that shop owners can offer to attract new techs, like having the willingness to train new apprentices and to let them learn as much as possible.

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Skills/Compentences Canada CEO Shaun Thorson says today’s youth are keen for careers, as opposed to jobs.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

“Auto body is cool because it’s mechanical but artsy at the same time,” said Dani Van Bendegeem, a student in Centennial College’s autobody progam.

“It can either drive people away from the industry or create licensed techs who don’t know what they’re doing,” says Van Bendegem.

And having good equipment in the shop is also a big draw, she adds.

Olivia DiGianfelice has also just completed her third year at Centennial College’s auto body technician program and currently works as an apprentice at a large production-style shop in Toronto. She never pictured herself in a desk job and wanted a career that was hands-on.

>>>

Olivia Digianfelice, who just wrapped up her third year in Centennial College’s autobody program, always pictured herself working in a hands-on environment.

DiGianfelice says young auto body techs these days are fully invested in getting their licenses, moving up and continuing to improve the auto body industry.

“Shop owners need to embrace the younger generation,” she says. “We’re knowledgeable and we’re more active in working with newer vehicles and their production.”

The techs of tomorrow also don’t want to be held back from learning it all.

“When a shop finds someone that’s really

good at something, they kind of want to keep them in that one spot and you don’t get the opportunity to move forward and learn other things,” says DiGianfelice.

Thorson from Skills/Compétences Canada says promoting the benefits of entering skilled trades is on-going and necessary. “There continues to be a need for young people to learn about the many career opportunities and educational pathways available to them,” he says.

Locally owned and operated, CARSTAR facilities employ certified technicians to provide premier repairs to their communities. Visit our website to learn why CARSTAR is the leader in collision repair excellence.

CARSTAR.ca

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2021-03-31 9:05 SUMMER 2021 | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL 17 AM

>>>

TOOLS

A NEW WAY TO SPRAY 3M’S PERFORMANCE SPR AY GUN

BY ALLISON ROGERS

3M’s Automotive Aftermarket division unleashed its latest product innovation last month, shaking up the spraying standard for the collision repair industry.

In development for more than ten years, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Application Development Specialist Bill Suzuki says the new 3M Performance Spray Gun holds the power to improve not only a painter’s life but a business’s operations.

“We’ve significantly improved how we spray,” Suzuki told Bodyworx Professional.

The new 3M Performance Spray gun excels especially where time is concerned, said Suzuki.

“Using the Performance Spray Gun, cycle time—both with cleaning and changeover—can really be enhanced to take on more throughput.

The ability to spray multiple materials in a given booth cycle and change coatings simply by wiping the needle clean is a game-changer for painters.”

The company also touts 78 percent transfer efficiency at HVLP settings with the new tool.

Designed with automotive refinishing topcoats in mind, 3M also offers a variety of atomizing heads for the Performance Spray Gun, ranging from 1.2 mm to 2 mm.

“There’s an attachment for nearly every coating in the bodyshop,” said Suzuki. “Soon we’ll have attachments to spray thicker coatings—that’s a next phase launch but keep an eye out for that.”

Hilary Noack, owner of Toronto’s Ink ‘n’ Iron, holds the new 3M Performance Spray Gun.

Even still, Suzuki says most of the feedback he’s received has been on the spray gun’s impressive lightweight feel, which is said to be up to 50 percent lighter than other industry sprayers.

“We’ve heard a lot of surprise from our customers using the Performance Spray gun for the first time,” he said. “Metal spray guns

18 BODYWORXMAG.COM | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

have been prevalent forever; coming in with a composite gun shakes up the industry a bit.

But we are ready to open people’s minds.”

Hilary Noack, owner of Toronto’s all-female bodyshop Ink ‘n’ Iron, was among the first to publicly review the spray gun.

Noack shared a video to the Ink ‘n’ Iron YouTube channel featuring her first thoughts on

TOOLS the new product, where she praised the tool’s easy cleaning process and lightweight feel.

“The cool thing about this gun is that no fluid actually passes through the body, so it makes it really easy to clean,” said Noack.

“That’s really great if you share a gun with multiple people at your shop.

“These tips come in all different sizes. Whatever you’re spraying—water-based, solvents, solids, metallics, sealers, primer—there’s a tip for that,” said Noack. “You just twist the end and the whole thing comes off—all you need to clean is the fluid needle, grab your next tip and it locks into place. Lock in your PPS cup, and you’re ready to go.”

Noack agreed that the new sprayer is even lighter than 3M’s AccuSpray.

“We do a lot of restoration work at Ink ‘n’ Iron—big old cars from the ‘50s and ‘60s—you could be spraying a car all day. Having a gun that is 50 percent lighter than a conventional spraygun saves so much strain on your arm and shoulders and that’s a huge selling factor for me.”

Customers can request a demo of the 3M Performance Spray Gun at 3M.ca/CollisionSprayGun.

>>>

The new tool touts 78 percent transfer efficiency at HVLP settings.

The new 3M Performance Spray Gun has been ten years in the making.

IBIS 2021/2022 conference programme 2021 27 May IBISConnect Latin America 24 June IBISTV Global Summit 29 July IBISConnect Africa

2022

02 September IBISConnect USA

24 February IBIS Middle East

14 July IBIS Latin America

06 October IBISConnect Turkey

24 March IBIS Africa

20 October IBIS Turkey

10 November IBISConnect Middle East

4-6 May IBIS USA

December IBIS China

June IBIS Global Summit

IBIS – the platform for thought leadership, knowledge sharing, business development and peer-to-peer networking for the leaders of the global collision repair industry Visit ibisworldwide.com to find out more and book your place today. To explore sponsorship opportunities, email suzie@ibisworldwide.com SUMMER 2021 | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL 19

>>>

IN THE CLASSROOM

TOMORROW’S TECHS THE STATE OF THE MODERN AUTOSHOP CL ASS

BY DAVID DICENZO

M

atthew Lyle clearly remembers helping lead the inaugural Electric Car Team at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute as somewhat of a “catastrophe.” In 2016, Lyle, the Head of Technical Education at the Guelph-based high school, partnered with his Transportation Technology teacher colleague Dennis Ashley to form a team tasked with building vehicles. The ultimate goal was entering an endurance competition against other schools at the University of Waterloo’s annual Electric Car Challenge.

There was a learning curve in year one but, as the club grew in numbers and popularity, so did momentum. At the 2019 U of W event GCVI swept both the Dennis Weishar Engineering Design Award—named after the challenge’s late founder, a teacher from Orangeville—and the Toyota Fabrication & Manufacturing Award.

The hardware is exciting–but the rewarding part for Lyle and Ashley is the students’ experiences.

“They get to see an entire project through from the initial concept drawing to the manufacturing and prototyping to a completed car,” says Lyle, noting many students have tech industry and engineering ambitions. “Trades were seen as dirty jobs and parents didn’t want to get their kids involved. But now there’s a realization this is high-tech stuff, that it’s not just turning wrenches.

“We work on computer-driven design and programming, high-level manufacturing, and automotive skills. The kids have really bought into that.”

Ashley arrived at GCVI five years ago and introduced a lunchtime club, as well as the Electric Car Club. He agrees with Lyle that young people at the school are embracing tech. Though Ashley has been on sick leave and in-person work at the fully equipped GCVI garage was limited through the pandemic, anticipation to get back at it is building.

He has seen numbers grow in both his grade 11 transportation technology class and the grade 12 version, which is college-level

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content for students aspiring to a career in auto repair. There are no textbooks. Ashley utilizes computer based Electude education modules and the modern GCVI shop, with two tire changers, a giant ramp hoist, and new tools every year, services cars for teachers and the Guelph community.

“Our live shop is equipped exactly like any professional garage,” he says, adding students can do engine or transmission replacements, and full brake jobs. “They get a lot of opportunity and hands-on experience.”

According to the Ontario Ministry of Education, approximately 67 percent of secondary schools in the province have a Transportation

IN THE CLASSROOM

>>>

Grade 12 co-op student Lily Jack makes a hammer.

“Trades were seen as dirty jobs and parents didn’t want to get their kids involved.

But now there’s a realization this is high-tech stuff, that it’s not just turning wrenches.”

– Matthew Lyle, head of technical education, GCVI Technology class, with a total of 37,263 students enrolled in them during the 2018/19 school year. The GCVI classes and clubs receive support from the province’s Specialist High Skills Major program. The Guelph school, which also has a thriving all-girls class promoting women in tech, has actually brought in part-time teachers to help meet demand.

That’s not the case across the whole country, however. Stefano Liessi, an independent collision industry consultant in St. Albert, Alberta, has fond memories of a class he once taught at an Edmonton school.

Before it became a victim of what Liessi calls “bureaucracy and budget cuts” back in 2019, he ran a successful collision class for six years, teaching kids in grades 10 through 12 how to restore and paint damaged vehicles and parts. His students, who ranged from marginalized to academically gifted, won multiple awards at the annual Skills Canada National Competition over his tenure.

“The classroom was set up in a way to offer real-life experience,” says Liessi, who loved being alongside his students daily. “My goal was to have them understand that when they’re done school, this is what you would face in the real world. They had to solve problems if

something didn’t go right, and if you made a mistake, how do you account for it?

“There was an opportunity for them to express themselves and develop self-esteem.”

Liessi recalls one young student being terrified to enter a competition after he encouraged her to join but she beamed after winning a bronze medal. He is critical of the decisions to cut important programs that benefit young people, suggesting they are a disservice.

“It’s taken a toll,” Liessi says. “They’ve lost classes, apprentice programs, and great teachers.

“I always say that if you invest in education and health care, everything will take care of itself. If you don’t, you’re going uphill.”

Lyle and Ashley are fortunate they can witness their students make the most of their opportunities.

“These are great programs if you have a curious mind,” says Ashley. “Knowing how vehicles are made and how they work will benefit you. You can’t purchase those handson skills anywhere.”

“You watch these students come in, sometimes with little knowledge and they build over the year, with struggles,” adds Lyle. “Then the moment that they sit in the car and turn it on, the look on their faces is incredible.”

Some products of GCVI’s Electric Car Team.

SUMMER 2021 | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL 21

>>>

STAND UP SPEAK OUT

WHAT’S YOUR BEAT? THE SOUNDTR ACK OF COLLISION REPAIR

BY MAX REID

T

he bodyshop can be a noisy place; someone could be welding in one area, a heavy-duty fan could be blowing in another, reception is bustling with customers and phones are ringing all day long—maybe there’s a shouting match with an insurer, or two.

It can be easy to get lost in the cacophony of shop noise and find yourself out in the parking lot just to let your ears stop ringing.

In fact, an overabundance of noise in the workplace can lead to a slew of health issues that don’t even involve your ears or hearing at all. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) notes the potential for increased muscle tension as well as changes in breathing and blood pressure when exposed to large amounts of industrial noise.

That’s why we here at Bodyworx Professional decided to sing a new tune for this issue and reach out to our readers to hear about how they bring the noise at the workplace.

In a survey sent out to our email subscribers, we asked all about the role of music in the bodyshop and how it helps our collision industry experts, in the repair bay and the office alike, get through their day.

For the sake of establishing the sorts of environments around the bodyshop that music can be found in, we asked respondents to report how often there is music playing in their work area as well as where in the shop their work area is.

It was found that about 60 percent of respondents reported that there is almost always music playing in their work area.

As well, 60 percent of respondents said that they work from offices and about 25 percent from the repair bay, with reception area and spray booth staff making up the last 10 and five percent, respectively.

Regardless of where the music is being played from however, 63 percent responded that the music they do get to listen to is played on shared speakers and don’t necessarily get a choice what they listen to.

All said, respondents appear happy with the general choice in music played at work with the response of Rock/Metal representing 42 percent of those surveyed and aligning with the preferences of the 52.6 percent who want to hear rock music while at work.

In a turn of events that is unlikely to shock all the young techs separated by decades from their co-workers, the most common method for listening to music in the shop is still the ol’ reliable FM band radio, with about 58 percent reporting local radio as their go-to, with streaming as the only notable alternative.

In fact, 84.2 percent of those who took part in the survey consider playing music in the workplace to be either a somewhat positive or very positive influence on staff morale, with select outliers drawing attention to the potential

22 BODYWORXMAG.COM | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

distracting influence of bringing additional noise into an industrial environment.

So at your next staff meeting, consider bringing up the idea of having a speaker playing in the shop; maybe even make a staff playlist, no doubt they would get excited for it.

And if you’re not comfortable with more noise at work, that’s fine too. But, as one respondent pointed out, music is an essential part of life from infancy and on, and it can never hurt to check-in with the more creative traits of your staff every once in a while.

Talk to them about Luke Combs. Apparently they all really like him.

STAND UP SPEAK OUT

>>>

In a survey sent out to our email subscribers, we asked all about the role of music in the bodyshop and how it helps our collision industry experts, in the repair bay and the office alike, get through their day.

RESULTS:

5. ROCK/METAL 42.1% 6. COUNTRY/FOLK 15.8% 7. POP 15.8% 8. CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL 10.6% 9. LOCAL RADIO 5.3% 10. MIX OF GENRES 5.3% 11. N/A 5.1%

4 3

2

10

11

9 8

5 7 6

1

Do you listen to music while you work?

1. ALWAYS 63.2% 2. RARELY 21.1% 3. SOMETIMES 10.5% 4. NEVER 5.2%

What genre of music to listen to while you work?

What kind of influence does listening to music in the bodyshop have on overall staff morale?

12. VERY POSITIVE INFLUENCE 52.6% 13. SOMEWHAT POSITIVE INFLUENCE 31.6% 14. NEUTRAL/PLAYS NO ROLE 10.5% 15. SOMEWHAT NEGATIVE INFLUENCE 0% 16. VERY NEGATIVE INFLUENCE 5.3%

14

16

12 13

Respondents appear happy with the general choice in music played at work with the response of Rock/Metal representing 42 percent of those surveyed and aligning with the preferences of the 52.6 percent who want to hear rock music while at work.

SUMMER 2021 | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL 23

>>> TRAINING

MAKE YOUR BOTTOM LINE TOP OF MIND

DO YOU REALLY NEED MORE WORK—OR IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE?

BY STEFANO LIESSI

I

n my regular columns, I typically touch on training in the technical and hands-on area of the collision repair industry; today, I digress a wee bit.

I realize that there is approximately $36 billion spent per year on marketing by Canada’s small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), all in an effort to get customers through the front door. But what if I were to suggest a strategy that could bring an increase to the revenue stream all by way of adjusting a process or two. Would you be interested?

This is not a get-rich-quick scheme just a simple concept that could be beneficial to your enterprise. Some of the biggest costs to your business are materials, equipment and time. If you do not maintain these items, it will cost you dearly. Allow me to break this down for you; implementing these ideas will have a zero cost.

First off, we need to make a clarification on the definition of shop supplies and materials: cleaners, cloths, tips, nozzles, welding wire, welding gasses, solvents, equipment, equipment service and maintenance, equipment software, customer convenience amenities, wash bay materials, shop clean up tools, disposal services… and the list goes on.

These are all items the shop supplies to run their business in a general standard operating procedure. Note that these are generic and are either consumables or remain in the facility and are nonvehicle specific. These are used in aid to repair the vehicle but are not part of the vehicle.

My point here is this, clips, fasteners, onetime use fasteners, caulking, sealers, retainers, bonding agents, sound deadeners, etc. are parts. These items are required to put the vehicle back into pre accident condition and remain as “part” of the vehicle.

These items are line items on the estimate, line items encompass double duty, they require a labour note and part price. Some labour may be included in the operation—clip installation

is part of the O/H labour times—but you still need the part price and number.

This also documents that you have replaced this item. As we know, there is no official generic formula to be applied to the cost of these items—the advancements in automotive design have made sure of this.

Now before you hot under the collar, hear this out: As a shop you cannot just start charging away like crazy for these items; you need to be honest and fair. If a bumper has 25 clips and four are broken, you bag and tag the items, take photos and add 4 to the estimate—not 25.

Next, let’s talk equipment. You have spent thousands of dollars on equipment—use it. All too often I see equipment in the shop collecting dust. If you have it, make it work for you.

One example is measuring systems, which I commonly see misused or ignored. You should be measuring these vehicles—today’s technological advancements demand it; the liability tied to these advancements demand it.

You may be yelling at these pages, “We don’t get paid to measure unless it needs it!” This is the most asinine argument I have heard since I last tried to reason with a toddler.

There is only one way to know if a vehicle requires measuring, and that is to measure it.

Is there an exception? Possibly, a key scratch, door ding or I may go as far to include hail damage.

Every time I ask someone if they have ever skipped measuring, only to have the vehicle come out of paint to realize they should have measured it, I get a resounding 98 percent yes response. That can’t be good for the bottom line, now can it?

Finally, everyone’s favourite topic—time.

We never have enough of it. Never enough time to do it right the first time—but always enough to do it right the second.

I-CAR states that 80 percent of estimate supplements can be eliminated by blueprinting the process. Take the time up front during

24 BODYWORXMAG.COM | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

the estimate process. Systematically plan out the repair.

It is here where you identify and account for all the parts and clips and retainers required to complete the job, all panels including blend panels, 100 percent teardown and the lot. It is here where you measure to find the hidden damage right away—not halfway through the repair.

Remember that taking the time to ensure the procedures are documented is also a line item—nowhere in any estimating system does it say that researching OEM requirements and procedures is “a cost of doing business.” Putting the time at the beginning of the process allows you to mitigate the end. The more accurate and accountable the estimate is, the more accurately your KPI’s will reflect your business. Cycle time, touch time, LOR, capacity, all of this will reflect your accuracy, in turn, help your bottom line with no monetary investment.

Following these simple, yet—to some—controversial processes, you will see costs start to balance out, equipment being utilized, and time spent wisely.

In my opinion, and you are entitled to my opinion, the most important outcome of all of this is a facility that provides quality, timely, proper repairs, equitably that create happy customers making your bottom line top of mind.

STEFANO LIESSI

A Red Seal technician and founder of Canadian Collision Specialist, Stefano Liessi enhances his experience with 12 years of I-CAR instructing, coupled with high school teaching to bring training that encompasses all learning types. With experience on the corporate side of the industry, as well as in management and ownership, Stefano’s focus is proper repairs and equitably for all people involved in the collision industry.

WHIMSY

>>>

PAPER THIN STRATEGY

ALBERTA DRIVER CAUGHT WITH PRINT-OUT PLATES

This Alberta driver’s alibi was paper-thin—quite literally.

F

ashion, technology, fathers—these are all things that come and go in life. But what never leaves? Human will and ingenuity.

An Edmonton, Alberta driver is proving that registering your car is, in fact, required by law.

The driver was pulled over by police early in March, initially for having a tinted license plate cover that they were using to obscure the truly dastardly deception.

What was under the cover was not actually an Alberta license plate, but a printed-out photo of one.

Const. Chantelle Kelly of the RCMP spoke to CTV news about the incident that happened near Leduc, Alta.

“The officer spoke to the driver who admitted to not having registration or insurance and that the plate was actually a piece of paper, with a made-up number, printed on paper at home and placed onto a vanity plate ‘I (Heart) My Car’ and hidden behind the tinted cover,” said Kelly.

According to Kelly, reports of these illegal tinted plate covers have been on the rise in the Edmonton area. They are often used to obscure license plates from red light cameras and speed traps.

The driver faces $2,000 in fines and another potential minimum fine of $3,000 if convicted in court for having no insurance.

“The officer spoke to the driver who admitted to not having registration or insurance and that the plate was actually a piece of paper, with a made-up number, printed on paper at home and placed onto a vanity plate ‘I (Heart) My Car’ and hidden behind the tinted cover.”

- Chantelle Kelly

SUMMER 2021 | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL 25

>>>

FINAL DETAIL

THE WRECKLESS WORLD Your job is still safe in the crash-free future

BY ALLISON ROGERS

W

hat does a collision-free future look like for the autobody repair industry? At the idea of such a reality, many would imagine the collapse of the sector; no collisions mean no cars to repair. But that’s where you’d be wrong.

Honda recently made the statement that, by 2050, the OEM would tout zero traffic collision fatalities per year involving its vehicles and motorcycles, globally. The automaker plans to curb the severity of highway crashes by implementing its omnidirectional advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) to all new automobile models the company introduces in major markets by 2030. The Japanese giant isn’t the only one making such claims. In 2017, General Motors CEO Mary Barra announced what she called to be an “ambitious vision” for GM—zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion—achieved

a faster pace—than most could ever dream of. Not to mention the impressive ADAS technology of today; a whole other beast the industry persistently navigates.

Look to the aviation industry for proof. In 2020, large commercial airplanes saw 0.27 fatal accidents per million flights, resulting in a total of 40 fatal collisions and 299 fatalities worldwide, according to aviation consulting firm To70. Comparatively, approximately 1.35 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes, according to the World Health Organization.

Regardless, careers as an aircraft maintenance engineer remain in the picture. As of 2019, there were 17,662 licensed aircraft maintenance engineers in Canada, and there remains demand for such skilled technicians in the field.

Many envision the future of collision repair to be less about restoring a twisted frame and beaten panels and more about the upkeep of such high-tech collision avoidance systems. by harnessing new technologies to prevent crashes from happening in the first place.

“No more crashes. One day, no more lives lost,” Barra wrote in the LinkedIn paper.

To reach such ambitious goals, OEMs admit technological advancements need to be made. While impressive, it’s not likely that vehicle technology will be, in 30 years, at a point where it is capable of repairing and calibrating itself. That’s where you come in.

Many envision the future of collision repair to be less about restoring a twisted frame and beaten panels and more about the upkeep of such high-tech collision avoidance systems. With hundreds of sensors present on new vehicle models—and more added by the year—a mere fender bender in the grocery store parking lot will result in a complete recalibration of the system so many drivers rely on to keep them safe from more serious crashes.

Anyone that’s spent more than 10 minutes speaking to a seasoned repairer knows that the last 20 years of collision repair have seen tsunami-sized waves of technological advancement and change. With the introduction of aluminum panels, plastic welding, paintless dent repair, glue pull repair, three-stage coatings, e-coats and so much more, this industry has handled and adapted to more change—at

26 BODYWORXMAG.COM | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

You may be saying, “Well, that makes sense—aircrafts are much more advanced than automobiles,”—but give it some thought. We’re already seeing automakers make sweeping statements regarding the inclusion of ADAS in all new models. Companies worldwide are entering the now-popular race toward autonomous driving.

We may not be driving planes quite yet, but rest assured your job is safe with the amount of technological advancements ahead for the automotive industry. If you stay in tune with the happenings and ensure your skills are aligned with the times, you’ve got a long career in the field ahead of you.

And hey, if we do end up in a collision-free future, that’s a whole lot more time for restorations. Could be worse.

Allison Rogers is the editor of Bodyworx Professional. She can be reached at allison@mediamatters.ca, or 905-370-0101.

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