The second day of the 2024 SEMA Show, being held Nov. 5-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, gave show attendees another chance to learn about new tools, products and techniques to improve all aspects of their businesses.
Central Hall was packed with attendees.
Red Carpet Awards
The opening day of the SEMA Show, Nov. 5, concluded with the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards, emceed by Stacey Phillips Ronak.
Nine organizations gave out a total of 20 awards. In addition to hosting the show, Phillips Ronak will also write up a full recap of the event for Autobody News.
NABC Recycled Rides Presentation
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) presented 11 refurbished vehicles, donated by insurers and restored by collision repair shops who volunteered their time, to 11 Las Vegas area families, to aid them in regaining their independence by providing them with reliable transportation. The vehicles were all donated as part of the NABC’s Recycled Rides program, which has given away more than 3,500 such vehicles to date.
Among the recipients at the NABC Recycled Rides presentation was Lukas Guden, second from right.
The NABC also recognized Dave Adams, who started 40 years ago what would become the Recycled Rides program out of his own shop, and Henry Arroyo, a Fix Auto USA franchisee who owns five stores in California’s Coachella Valley, who was awarded the Changing and Saving Lives Award at the Red Carpet Awards the night before.
Abby Andrews will write a full recap of the presentation for Autobody News.
Education Sessions Cover ADAS, AI, Shop Efficiency
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) offered more sessions as part of its Repairer Driven Education series.
The Nov. 6 lineup in included a panel discussion on “Industry Realities of Restoring ADAS and Consumer Confidence Through Calibrations.” Panelists discussed how shops can help ensure the calibration work they do -- or have done by sublet vendors -- complies with OEM requirements.
Panel discussion on “Industry Realities of Restoring ADAS and Consumer Confidence Through Calibrations.”
Scott Van Hulle of I-CAR, for example, said too many shops that sublet such work to dealerships don’t provide enough information about what was done to the vehicle, and fail to specify what work they need the dealership to perform and document.
“Rethinking Roles in Collision Repair” was another panel discussion, with three shop owners talking about how they are working to improve efficiency and quality through strategic role segmentation of employees.
North Carolina shop owner Michael Bradshaw and Virginia shop owners Barry Dorn and Kris Burton shared how the collision repair industry can learn from other companies, such as Boeing, how specializing adds efficiency, particularly as vehicle technology evolves and becomes more complex.
They discussed how they have optimized role segmentation within their company to improve workflow and productivity. They all have fewer structural technicians backed by others who do disassembly and reassembly work, for example, roles they find that are easier to fill rather than finding experienced A-techs.
Ryan Taylor of BodyShop Booster presented “AI is Here: How Others are Leveraging AI Interactions with Automotive Consumers,” teaching shop operators how to use new and emerging AI tools to enhance efficiency, improve customers’ experience and win more business.
Taylor talked about the seven areas of a collision repair business that will be affected – and enhanced -- by using AI.
Quoting Rupert Murdoch, Taylor told attendees: “The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow.”
Autobody News’ John Yoswick and Abby Andrews will provide full reviews of all three sessions.
