Page 25 - Australasian Paint & Panel Nov-Dec 2018

LIVE!
Far left: Gareth Wright from Audi; Left: Keynote speaker Trudi MacDonald; Middle: Ben Fewtrell from Max My Profit; Below: Damian Cahill from Holden.
repair process. Gareth Wright from Audi demonstrated the complexity of upcoming Audi and VW models and the level of knowledge needed to repair them correctly. Wright cited the main reasons for increasing manufacturer involvement in the repair process as: complexity, safety, ownership experience, brand protection and quality. ADAS, mixed material body structures and electrification are already creating repair challenges and he suggested that without constant technical updates from the manufacturer a repairer is less likely to effect a safe repair - "you don't know what you don't know."
Damian Cahill from Holden agreed with Wright starting his presentation with: "what he said." Cahill explained how the 'OnStar' system will allow Holden operators to direct their drivers to a certified Holden collision repairer and also pointed to the many complex safety features on new model Holdens. He talked about why and how Holden have set up their collision repair network to ensure a better customer experience.
A panel at the end of conference was made up of Damian Cahill, Gareth Wright, I-Car's Mark Czvitkovits and Dominic Mazzeo from B&A Motor Body Repair to discuss the topic further. Safety was the biggest issue with repairs outside of the manufacturer approved network and the most important reason that manufacturers will become more involved. The issue of recalibration was also raised as the panel felt that the dealer network will be swamped with these and it was agreed that there could be an opportunity for repairers to set up dedicated calibration centres either collaboratively or individually although they would have to specialise in certain vehicle makes.
The conference feedback was very positive with those who
answered our L!VE survey saying that they had found the content very useful. Our aim is to present a range of topics and naturally some people preferred some sessions to others.
Helen Willmot from Willmot Smash Repairs in Cairns said: "APP L!VE was just great. Being amongst industry leaders, with exciting presentations. We left feeling refreshed and confident about the future."
It was the first L!VE fro Dan and Megan Leishman of Gold Coast Collision Centre. "I loved it," said Megan. "Dan was surprised by how much he took away. I would definitely come again. The most useful thing I thought was Trudy Mcdonald HR section. I have followed up with Trudy's weekly videos that she offered to those that attended. Our biggest challenge at the moment is staff recruitment and so I was eager to hear what she had to say and definitely came away with practical things I could implement into everyday business."
Anthony Arnold from Damage Control was also a first time attendee as well as being up on stage too. He said: "he'll come back to me soon with something hopefully not too long or too short. We'll see if he has some good things to say."
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November / December 2018 PAINT&PANEL 25