Keeping Up With Industry Trends
From its inception in 1983, the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) has demonstrated its ability to keep up with changing industry trends through educational and technical seminars. NACE sponsor – the Automotive Service Association (ASA) – and other show organizers, continually monitor the collision repair industry to provide the most progressive, up-to-date information available.
To achieve this goal, NACE is constantly adding to its agenda. In 1983, NACE attendees were offered six industry/technical courses and five management-oriented seminars for their educational needs. NACE ’96 offers 17 industry/technical courses and 15 management courses. Over the years, NACE has modified its education courses to reach all segments of the collision repair industry.
The first NACE-offered courses, "Managing by Computer" and "Understanding Today’s Paints," were not designed to benefit any particular segment of the collision repair industry. Today, courses and seminars are organized for body shop owners, technicians, jobbers and dealerships. Along with defining these segments, NACE brought in institutions and associations that could best provide the information needs of these segments. Instructing groups include the Automotive Service Association Management Institute (ASAMI), the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR), the Automotive Service Industry Association (ASIA) and the Paint, Body and Equipment Association (PBEA).
This year’s courses reflect the desire for body shop diversification. Body shop owners and technicians not only need an understanding of collision-related items, they also must possess mechanical-oriented insight into areas such as electronic training and passive restraint systems. These issues, as well as others, are addressed in courses such as, "Are You Plugged Into On-Board Vehicle Electronics?" and "Can Passive Restraint Systems Hold Back Your Business?" Vehicle manufacturers continually use and develop new products that the collision industry must learn to repair. The use of materials such as aluminum and proper welding techniques will be demonstrated in the courses, "Advanced Materials: Are You Equipped?" and "Aluminum Repair, Replacement and Welding."
For the second year, NACE will offer ASE certification exams. Technicians can take the "ASE Damage Analysis and Estimating Test," which is designed to test the knowledge of the skills needed to analyze damage repair and write estimates.
In addition to the technical courses, the management and business seminars offered are planned to address the changing trends in shop management. More emphasis is being devoted to regulatory and compliance issues, as well as the need for legal knowledge. For example, the seminars, "Been There ... Done That: How to Handle VOC Regulations" and "Don’t Get Stalled in the Legal System," prove that along with change and advancement in the industry comes additional owner responsibility. Another trend involves the evolving workforce. Whether it comes from within the family or through outside sources, the seminars, "Ties That Bind: Working With Family Members" and "Hire Tough, Hire Simple, Hire Winners," will provide tips on hiring techniques and family relations.
The demand for qualified technicians is an ongoing challenge facing the collision industry. "Where is Tomorrow’s Workforce Today?" and "Finding and Keeping the Best Employees," provide answers to questions such as where to locate employees, what benefit packages to offer, and how much training is needed for a new employee.
The amount of education a successful collision shop must possess, whether it’s management or technical, has definitely increased over the years. And as the industry and the world embark on changes and trends, so will NACE. The sponsors will continue to modify NACE to offer the most up-to-date information available to the collision repair industry.
NACE Pre-Show Coverage
Keeping Up With Industry Trends
Colin Powell – Soldier, Leader ... Automotive Technician?
NACE Show Specials
How's Your Business? || Taking Your Scan Tool To The Next Level
Cruising Instead Of Abusing || Putting The Brakes On Payroll Headaches
What’s Ahead For The Collision Industry?
Guest Editorial -- The Mouse That Roared
Tech To Tech || TechTips || Stat Corner || News Briefs
Taking The Hill || Directions || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLIV No. 11, November 1996