Leveraging the resources available to ensure success today and tomorrow

In today’s fast-changing collision repair industry, learning is the only sustainable competitive advantage. That is why it is critical to not only stay current with the latest technology and developments but that any training you implement proves effective for your business and your team.

An essential starting point is having a defined training goal. This can be done through I-CAR Canada Platinum or Gold Class Recognition, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Certification, or specialized training, including outer panel and glue pulling repair, mechanical, or advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) training. In most cases, it is beneficial for shops and their staff to utilize a combination of hands-on, in-person and virtual training, to maximize value and effectively manage travel.

Defined goal

Yet, while a defined goal is essential, it needs to be fostered through a learning culture within the business, otherwise you won’t be able to implement it effectively. If knowledge isn’t shared among the entire team, it will impede success and growth, particularly over the long term.

If we look at the training offered through I-CAR Canada as an example, there are a range of options. With over 270 online independent learning courses available at any point and time, there are plenty of training opportunities outside of the traditional Platinum roles, and most sessions take around 30 minutes to complete. There are also live webinars, with live instructors, in a group setting in an on-line environment.

Hands on skills development courses, like welding and electric vehicle (EV) training are good opportunities for professionals to get out of the shop and into an immersive learning environment that’s away from the daily pressure of business. This allows them to fully focus on the training.

Meeting demands

As the industry evolves, I-CAR Canada is meeting these demands with a next generation of training initiatives. This includes Mixed Reality, which includes both virtual and augmented reality. There are also interactive video courses, designed to create an environment where the student needs to make decisions, while AI driven online learning allows the course to measure the student’s knowledge and progress, so that the program can be adapted to each individual accordingly.

With ADAS becoming a fundamental part of the collision repair process, proper training in this discipline is essential. Within the shop environment, there needs to be a fundamental understanding of how every team member’s role can affect the ADAS calibration process, as well as training estimators on where to find the correct information. Furthermore, shops should ensure that at least one technician has completed the ADAS role from I-CAR Canada, even if work is sublet to a third party.

Constantly evolving

Like everything else in collision repair, training is fluid and evolving. If our industry is to survive long term, shops will need to continue investing in the right training, and for an individual shop to survive long term you must ensure that training leads to learning, and that gained knowledge is shared among staff. If we can show young people the long-term vision and that they can grow into a career that is both rewarding and offers longevity, that will help ensure that we’re building solid foundations for the future while leveraging the significant training resources available to us today.