NO. 10: I'd like shops that aren't on an insurer's direct repair program to be able to exchange estimates, supplements, digital images and supplement reinspection requests electronically with the insurer. Allstate and Ameriprise are moving in that direction, and it would be great to get all of the other major insurance companies on board with this time-saving plan.
NO. 9: I'd like the estimating system providers to implement formulas for feather, prime and block. Please grant them the wisdom and courage to know it's not as variable as they claim, and could be a consistent labor time based on square footage or a percentage of the repair time.
NO. 8: If that is asking for too much, then I'd at least like to get the gift of insurers more regularly reimbursing shops for feather, prime and block. It's a process that has to be done, and isn't included in the paint times, which are for new, undamaged panels.
NO. 7: I'd like the Environmental Protection Agency to start enforcing its refinishing regulation (the so-called "6H rule") to hold the less-responsible shops in the industry to the rules most shops are complying with. It will help keep the air clean, and will stop letting non-compliant shops from competing unfairly against those shops that are making the considerable investment and doing the right thing.
NO. 6: I'd like insurers in the United States to follow the lead of some insurers in Canada and allow shops with highly trained technicians to include a line item on estimates, usually around $10, for I-CAR training. If insurers are serious about wanting shops to get training so that their insureds can get their cars repaired properly and safely, that's something they should copy from Canada.
NO. 5: Speaking of I-CAR, I like whoever pays for the I-CAR Gold Class points to own those points. So if a shop pays for a technician's training, and then that tech leaves to go work at another shop, the second shop wouldn't benefit from the Gold Class points unless it buys the points from the first shop. That would encourage more shops to invest in training because some are reluctant to invest in training due to a mobile work force.
NO. 4: And not to wish too much for I-CAR, but I'd like that organization to start offering classes aimed at the heavy-duty truck and recreational vehicle repair industry.
NO. 3: This should be a no-brainer, but I'd like more shops to use the Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG). Funded by three national repairer groups, the DEG website (www.degweb.org) offers an easy way to send an inquiry related to any of the big three estimating systems. It can help grant the wish of any shop with concerns about inadequate procedure times or missing parts information. If every shop in the country would submit just one inquiry a month, the estimating systems would be far more complete and accurate.
NO. 2: I'd like the salvage and recycled parts industry to have a more open dialogue with the collision repair industry. Oh, and a standard list price for used parts would be nice, too.
If I could get just a couple of these wishes granted this year, prospects for the collision repair industry and shop owners would be considerably brighter in 2012.
And the NO. 1 item on my wish list is goodwill and prosperity for everyone in the collision repair industry in 2012.
Happy New Year to all.
Mike Anderson, a former shop owner, currently operates COLLISIONADVICE.COM, a training and consulting firm. He also acts as a facilitator for DuPont Performance Services' Business Council 20-groups.
If you have a business issue or question you'd like Mike to address, e-mail him. [email protected]
