On July 10, Dan Risley of CCC Intelligent Solutions kicked off the first Collision Industry Conference (CIC) since he was named chairman of the conference in the spring by welcoming hundreds of attendees from around the country to Denver.
Aaron Schulenburg, left, chairman of the CIC Parts and Materials Committee, moderated a panel discussing some of the factors complicating the blending process.
The Emerging Technologies Committee offered a presentation on the importance of maintenance, inspection and testing of low-voltage systems and batteries, including how the stability of a low-voltage system relates to accurate vehicle diagnostics and calibrations.
The Parts and Materials Committee focused on “blending,” the tasks associated with applying refinish on adjacent panels for color match. Paint company representatives, for example, shared the increased complexity of refinish products, the role ADAS plays in refinish, and the variability in the process based on blend location, panel size and aftermarket paint protection. Risley said the committee’s presentation helped provide the “why” behind decisions by the information providers to provide more flexibility to blend time calculations.
I-CAR and ASE discussed their efforts to create tools to help ensure entry-level technicians are proficient in five key areas.
And the Future Disruptions Committee offered a look at how specific automation related to claims processing, repair planning and other aspects of the industry’s work has started to change roles within shops.
Though not on the meeting agenda, several repairers raised concerns during the “open mic” segments at CIC about GEICO’s recent announcement that it had reached an agreement with asTech on “standardized pricing.” asTech representatives worked to explain and defend the agreement, saying they felt it would streamline processes and reduce friction for its customers.
Stay tuned to Autobody News for in-depth coverage of these sessions from John Yoswick.
The next quarterly CIC will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5, during SEMA week in Las Vegas.
John Yoswick