Your Source for Up-To-Date News and Research on the Collision Repair Industry 

 

click here to subscribe to the FREE INSIGHT Editor's Desk News Alert Email

SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY
Today's News
INSIGHT This Month
INSIGHT Archives
Survey Center
Letter to the Editor

Business Tools
Subscription Information
CSI Reporting
Financial Analysis
IRS Audit Guide

Management/
Technical Info
2003 Market Watch Rates
INSIGHT Inside this month's issue...

Feedback
Letter to the Editor

Industry Meetings: A Cautionary Tale

I am climbing up onto my battered little soapbox this month, so brace yourselves, gentle readers.

After years of urging Collision Repair Industry participants to get involved, to become part of conversations that can lead to solutions, to come together to have informed dialogues, to pursue the best training and equipment, and to forge relationships among all segments of the industry, I see a huge problem this year.

Are you planning to attend Nace - or SEMA - or neither? I have heard this question for months now. Why do we have to ask this? Does it not seem that a splintering has happened?

If industry participants are scattering to two different national events, it definitely seems obvious that lines of communication have become twisted and confused. I believe that we as an industry can hardly come together when we are in two separate places. A meeting of the minds takes place a lot easier if we physically get together.

During this challenging economic time, it just does not make sense to me that national Collision Repair Industry organizations have presented two possible events, complete with double the expense, to companies hoping to display products and opportunities to potential customers.

It will be interesting to get the news out of both the NACE and SEMA events. I really hope that I have over-reacted, and that both events will be a real success, for all attendees.

Our feature article is a must-read this month. The information presented is essential to consider as our industry grapples with the creation and implementation of standards.

Check out a special article written by Carfax’s Larry Gamache, on page 19. Larry describes a new tool from Carfax which instantly provides a car’s correct vehicle identification number (VIN) from its registered license plate. This will certainly help prevent costly wrong parts ordering and exchanges. Better yet, the tool is free to shop management system providers (SMS), and easily incorporated into SMS software.

FEATURED
LINKS:

INSIGHT Supports the NABC!
Do You?