Page 32 - Australasian Paint & Panel Mar-Apr 2019

32
News • In Focus
PAINT&PANEL MARCH / APRIL 2019
AS MORE SHOPS JOIN THE I-CAR ELITE, GOLD CLASS COORDINATOR GARY WOOD POINTS OUT THAT IT'S STILL A DROP IN THE TRAINING OCEAN.
INDUSTRY NEEDS MORE GOLD
T
HE IMPORTANCE OF TRAIN-
ing within our industry has never been greater, new ma- terials and attachment meth- ods, complex ADAS and SRS sys- tems combined with electric and hybrid technology have presented many new
challenges for today’s repairers.
The I-CAR Gold Class designation is recognition of a business investing in the knowledge required to deal with these challenges by giving a greater un- derstanding of how to safely repair mod-
ern vehicles.
Major insurers and OEM’s are now
recognising the value of I-CAR Gold
Class and beginning to introduce it as a standard for certified repair networks. Because of this the number of business- es investing in training is steadily in- creasing, but unfortunately, it is still ig- nored by many who still see training as an expensive luxury that can be ig- nored. That can be a risky decision, di- agnostics and calibration are everyday requirements in a modern vehicle re- pair facility and must be handled cor- rectly to ensure the vehicle operates as the owner expects it to after the repairs have been completed.
Investing in Gold Class can not only reduce risk but can offer an opportu- nity to invest in valued members of staff. Providing ongoing training with targets and goals for each employee can help to make them feel valued within the company resulting in them being less likely to leave. It can gener- ate greater engagement in the business
as their knowledge becomes a valued source of information.
The return on training is not immedi- ate, but proven statistics provide evi- dence that efficiencies across the busi- ness can significantly increase as knowledge and understanding is gained through training.
By choosing to join the Road To Gold program businesses receive ongoing sup- port throughout the process.
WAYNE PHIPPS SMASH REPAIRS
Multi-award winning Perth repairer Wayne Phipps Smash Repairs had a great start to February receiving I-CAR Gold, Holden manufacturer certification and AMBRA shop grading all on the same day.
The Holden approval is in addition to manufacturer approvals from Volkswa- gen and Subaru, the business also spe- cialises in four wheel drive repair.
"Cars are not all the same today and it is vitally important that our techni- cians understand the materials, struc- ture and technology behind them. Therefore, post trade training is vital and while some repairers deem it un- necessary or only train key individu- als, I believe every person working on a
ABOVE, FROM LEFT: Country Smash Repairs team in WA. The Sommerville Smash team.
LEFT: From left Mark Czvitkovits I-CAR, Wayne Phipps and manager Ian Janssen.