The June issue of Collision Management is now available online. You can flip through it here, but first, a few words from the Editor-in-Chief of Collision Management, Huw Evans.

It’s the People

The human element is by far the most critical part of a successful business.

In a world that often seems obsessed with technology, it’s sometimes hard to remember that the most important asset we have in our businesses are people. If you’re able to find good staff, as well as train, mentor and incentivize them, you’ll often end up with a winning strategy and a successful formula. As an integral part of building its business model on a national scale, Uniparts O.E.M has done just that. You can read all about it in our cover story starting on page 14.

Training, training and more training

There has arguably never been a greater need for effective training in our industry than right now. With repair complexity reaching an all-time high, the ability to understand how to fix damaged vehicles properly is critical.

Not only is it a question of having the right equipment, repair processes and access to training in place, it also comes down to having a methodology as a business. If you have a defined strategy when it comes to process, things tend to go a lot smoother. It’s an aspect we focus on in our Special File this issue.

The future

Not only is it about training today, we also need to ensure that tomorrow’s collision repair professionals know and understand what they’re getting into.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to follow students in an apprenticeship program around for a full day and ask them about their hopes and dreams regarding a career in this industry. We got some very interesting comments, which you can read about on page 20.

Preparing for the future is something we must all do, whether it’s investing in our business to ensure we stay relevant, finding the next generation of talent or anticipating changes likely to impact our industry. Granted, it can seem overwhelming at times but the support that’s offered through associations, vendors, training organizations and repair networks is unprecedented, and it’s something every shop really must take advantage of. Of course, it’s the people in those roles that make it all possible.

 

Click here to read the June 2018 issue of Collision Management