Body Shop Employee Training Services Ames IA

Technology is making training for collision repairers easier, faster and cheaper than ever before.

By Tony Passwater
5/1/2001

You've probably heard talk about Internet/satellite training becoming the next big thing, but what does it really mean to you? And how will it benefit your facility?

Before I tell you the answers, let me show you.

Imagine a collision repair facility that's produced a steady growth pattern over the last five years. In 2000, their gross sales exceeded $2.5 million. This year, they're already experiencing more growth due to the "real winter" their region had, so their anticipated sales for 2001 is $3 million. In fact, they're planning to build a new location in June.

They have a conventional management, customer care and administrative staffing model that includes three estimators, two customer care representatives, a front desk person, three data entry/accounting staff members, a parts manager, an assistant parts manager, a production manager and a staging specialist. The owner is actively involved on a daily basis and performs duties of both a general manager and an office manager. Her husband is also involved on a daily basis within production, training and quality control. They have five Level 3 technicians and a combination of eight Level 1 and Level 2 technicians in production, working in three teams.

Today, following the morning managers meeting, the production and parts manager prepare for the production day before normal business ho...