IN-SHOP KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT

Transcription

1 IN-SHOP KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT EVALUATING THE EXISTING KNOWLEDGE LEVEL TO PREPARE TECHNICIANS TO PERFORM COMPLETE, SAFE AND QUALITY REPAIRS WHITE PAPER

2 TRAIN OR FALL BEHIND For I-CAR CEO and President John Van Alstyne, the current state of the collision auto industry is clear. Right now, we are at the time of the greatest evolution of the automobile, ever, he said. The collision repair industry is being flooded with a tsunami of sophisticated new technologies and cutting-edge vehicle advancements. The reality is, that if you are not training on new technologies, you are falling behind. Evidence of the evolution of the automobile is happening from bumper to bumper. Vehicles are becoming lighter and more fuel efficient in response to tighter Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. New materials are being used to create these lightweight designs. Electronics are now embedded in nearly every automotive system, adding new complexities to vehicle repair. Modern vehicles have safety and autonomous technology like sensors and cameras which often require repair and calibration after a collision. What does all of this mean for collision shops? More training. A NEW AND INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO TRAINING While the need for training is evident, the best way to deliver remains a challenge. Redundant training, loss of productivity, and testing challenges all contribute to dissatisfaction with the process. In response to feedback received from the collision repair industry, I-CAR developed a new way to ensure technicians receive training appropriate for their skill and experience level, the In-Shop Knowledge Assessment. The industry was clear in the concerns it expressed to I-CAR about its training programs. The In-Shop Knowledge Assessment addresses some of those head on. CONCERN Training doesn t always happen in a formal class setting. Existing knowledge or training hasn t been acknowledged in preparation for I-CAR training programs. SOLUTION Technicians will get credit for proven knowledge gained through experience and other training. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US. IT SAVED TECHS IN THE BUSINESS A LOT OF TIME. THEY DIDN T HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRAINING IN WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW, SO IT WAS A GREAT BENEFIT. ROY SCHNEPPER OWNER BUTLER S COLLISION DETROIT, MI Training can require time away from the shop floor meaning lost productivity and revenue for the shop. Veteran technicians do not feel challenged by the foundational training they perceive as too basic that is the foundation of I-CAR s curriculum. Written assessment tests produce a new set of issues for those with reading comprehension challenges or for whom English is not their first language. The assessment is in the shop. Productivity is maximized by reducing downtime for technicians and travel time and expenses are decreased. Veteran technicians will be able to start I-CAR classes at the appropriate level, keeping them interested and motivated to continue training. With face-to-face assessments, language and reading comprehension barriers are minimized. 2

3 HOW DOES IT WORK? The program assesses the knowledge every technician in a shop already possess before they start I-CAR training. The assessment will confirm up to I-CAR ProLevel 1 knowledge for technicians, relieving them from taking redundant training classes. An In-Shop Knowledge Assessment involves a trained I-CAR assessor going to a shop to execute a step-by-step process. By working through the process, the assessor will be able to recognize and acknowledge the existing skills and training throughout the shop. First, the assessor sits down with the shop owner or manager to walk through the program. Through this conversation, the assessor will get a sense of the technicians current skills, personalities, challenges, and other information that will help the assessor relate to a technician during the assessment. The actual assessment involves face-to-face, conversational assessments to determine the true knowledge level of each technician. Technicians will not be assessed on I-CAR classes they have already completed. Each assessment takes approximately 20 minutes per knowledge area. Technicians know how they performed on each assessment with real-time feedback from the assessor. Once the assessment is complete, a report is created for shop management. The information gained in the assessment provides more confidence in their staff s skill and better awareness of knowledge gaps. From the report, a formal training plan can be created to fill those gaps. The training plan is a path for technicians to become I-CAR Platinum recognized and for a shop to quickly reach Gold Class status. After talking with the owner or manager, the assessor conducts a meeting with the shop staff. He/she will describe the assessment, what topics will be covered and provide an opportunity for questions and concerns to be raised. IN-SHOP KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT PROCESS One-on-One with Shop Manager Intro Meeting with Shop Staff One-on-One Assessments Completed Shop Report Train to Close Knowledge Gaps 3

4 BENEFITS OF AN IN-SHOP KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT By lowering the barriers to start training, I-CAR gives technicians and shops a better opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills while creating excitement in technicians to take more training. AVERAGE TIME TO SHOP SIZE PERCENT TO BEFORE ASSESSMENT PERCENT TO AFTER ASSESSMENT AVERAGE DAYS TO FROM EVENT An In-Shop Knowledge Assessment provides the fastest path to I-CAR Gold Class on average, shops that participate in an assessment achieve Gold Class in about one-quarter of the normal time. As changes to vehicle technology and materials continue, the importance of training for collision repair technicians grows. New technologies, new materials, and new approaches call for more educated technicians. Add in a shortage of technicians and the need for effective and efficient training becomes more apparent. I-CAR s new In-Shop Knowledge Assessment positions technicians and shops to receive the training they need in a cost-effective, timely manner. THE BENEFITS OF TRAINING ARE OBVIOUS, AND GROWING. The TECHNICIAN benefits from increased confidence, better job security and increased pay potential. SHOPS benefit because trained technicians see an increase in productivity meaning increased revenue. In addition, shops that train are a better positioned to be a part of valuable repair networks. LARGE 32.4% 39.3% 53.2 MEDIUM 24.5% 52.4% 44.7 SMALL 25.4% 62.1% 47.2 TOTAL 25.7% 55.4% 46.7 THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS PUSHED THE TECHS TO REALLY GRASP THAT I-CAR IS DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY HAD IN THE PAST. NOW, OUR TECHS WANT TO TRAIN MORE AND ASK MORE QUESTIONS, AND ARE MORE INVOLVED IN WHAT THEY DO. BARRY DORN CO-OWNER DORN S BODY AND PAINT MECHANICSVILLE, VA Finally, and most importantly, the CONSUMER benefits from a more complete, safer, and in many cases, timelier repair. 4

5 I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, is an international not-forprofit organization dedicated to providing the information, knowledge and skills required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs for the ultimate benefit of the consumer. MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT WAS EYE OPENING TO REALLY SEE WHERE THE TECHNICAL STAFF WAS KNOWLEDGE-WISE. THE ASSESSMENTS PINPOINTED WEAK SPOTS WE WERE ABLE TO CORRECT, AND IDENTIFIED WHERE THE GAPS WERE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO FILL THEM WITH RELEVANT TRAINING. ANDY DINGMAN GENERAL MANAGER DINGMAN S COLLISION CENTER OMAHA, NE I-CAR s focus is to provide everyone involved in collision repair with access to high-quality, industry-recognized training solutions. I-CAR also encourages and supports ongoing conversations in the industry on issues that impact collision repair. The biggest change our industry has seen is that technicians are learning new skills and technology. Regardless of the designations and recognitions earned or the countless hours spent training, they are facing new vehicle and technology changes head-on. What better time than now to start building on a foundation of education? An In-Shop Knowledge Assessment helps ensure that foundation is strong Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This document contains confidential and proprietary information and cannot be reproduced, distributed or printed without written consent from I-CAR. PDP