Calculating Car Workshop Labour Efficiency

The clock is ticking

'Time is money' in bodyshops and service workshops. Essentially, these operations buy and sell the time of panel beaters, painters and technicians. A service workshop, for example, might buy one hour from a technician for 瞿10 and sell it to a customer for 瞿40, and make a profit of 瞿30. (These figures are, of course, notional).

Buying and selling the time of productives is, or should be, the major source of revenue and profit in bodyshops and service workshops. Profits from the sale of spare parts; oils and lubricants; paint and materials; and sublet and sundry are all subsidiary to the buying and selling of productives' time. If you don't sell time, you don't sell any of these other things.

Just as you would take great care when buying and selling a spare part, you have to pay equal attention to buying and selling productives' time - or even more so, because you cannot 'stock' productives' time. In other words, if you don't sell their time today, you cannot sell it tomorrow.

Time for sale

So once time is gone it's gone, whereas a spare part will still be in stock. So it is a good idea to know how much time you have for sale. This would seem pretty simple. If you have six productives, and they are there eight hours every day, surely you have 48 hours for sale? Well, no, you don't.

For a start, productives might be in the workshop for eight hours every day, but they don't work on paying jobs for eight solid hours. For example, a customer could come back with a car that you serviced yesterday and complain that it keeps stalling. It will then be necessary for a productive to rectify the problem, and of course you cannot charge the customer for that. If it takes two hours, then you only have 46 hours left to sell, in our example.

Time sold

To complicate things further, you can actually end up selling more than 48 hours. Imagine, for instance, that a vehicle manufacturer's standard time for a major service is two hours and you quote the customer on this basis. If your technician completes the service in one hour (unlikely, we know) then you will still charge the customer for two hours.

If this happened all day long, you could sell 96 hours less the four hours you could have sold if one of your technicians hadn't spent two hours spent rectifying the engine stalling problem. (It's four hours because you are selling two hours for every hour worked in this example.) So if your productives could halve the standard times all day, that's 92 hours sold rather than 48 hours.

Three measures of time

What we are talking about here is the three kinds of time available in a bodyshop or service workshop:

Attended time - this is the time that panel beaters, painters or technicians are in the workplace available to work.

Work time - this is the time they spend actually working on jobs that, at the end of the day, a customer pays for. Clearly 'work time' does not include any time spent rectifying problems, or anything else they do that does not have a paying customer at the end.

Sold time - this is the time that you charge customers for. It could be the time quoted on an estimate for an insurance company, or a menu-priced service.

You could say that 'attended time' and 'work time' are both 'real', because you can almost see them. You can see when a productive is in the workshop, and you can see a productive working on paying jobs. What's more, you can measure 'attended time' and 'work time' using a clock.

On the other hand, 'sold time' is not 'real'. You can't see it, and you can't measure it using a clock. But at the end of every day you can add up all the time you have sold to customers from your job cards or invoices.

How fast and how long

If you measure attended time and work time, and add up sold time at the end of the day, you can then see how fast and how long your productives have worked during the day.

How fast they have worked is sold hours divided by work hours. In our example, that's 92 hours sold compared to 46 hours worked, or 200% expressed as a percentage. That is, your productives are working twice as fast as the standard time.

How long they have worked is work hours divided by attended hours. In our example that's 46 hours compared to 48 hours, or 95.8% expressed as a percentage. That is, your productives were working on paying jobs for 95.8% of the time.

Labour efficiency

What we have just worked out as percentages are two 'labour efficiencies':

Productive efficiency tells you how fast productives are working compared to standard times, or the estimate in the case of a body repair job - how many sold hours they produced compared to the work time it took them to produce these sold hours.

Labour utilisation (sometimes called 'selling efficiency') tells you how long productives worked on paying jobs compared to the time they attended the workplace.

As formulae, productive efficiency and labour utilisation are calculated like this:

Productive efficiency = (Sold Hours/ Work Hours) x 100%

Labour utilisation = (Work Hours/Attended Hours) x 100%

Overall labour efficiency

There is one other measure of labour efficiency and that's called overall efficiency. This is a simple combination of productive efficiency and labour utilisation, and comes from multiplying them together:

Overall Efficiency = Productive Efficiency x Labour Utilisation

Or, another way of looking at overall efficiency is as sold hours divided by attended hours:

Overall efficiency = (Sold Hours/Attended Hours) x 100%

How labour efficiency affects profit

Obviously you will make more profit if you can squeeze more sold hours from the hours your productives attend. We have already said that if you buy one hour from a service workshop technician for 瞿10 and sell it to a customer for 瞿40 you will make a profit of 瞿30. But if you bought one hour from the technician and then sold two hours, you will make much more profit - 瞿70.

It is equally obvious that if you buy one hour from a service workshop technician for 瞿10, and then the whole hour is expended rectifying a come-back job for which you can make no charge, you have lost 瞿10. Less obvious is that you have lost the opportunity to sell two hours (in our example), and thus lost the opportunity to make a profit of 瞿70.

So the reason for measuring time in a workshop, and then calculating the labour efficiencies, is very clear. It's all about profit. And if you don't measure time and calculate the labour efficiencies, it is absolutely certain you will not maximise profitability because you will not know:

How fast your productives are working as a team and individually, and whether they could work faster if they were better trained or had better equipment

How long your productives are working as a team and individually, and how much time they are wasting on work that customers aren't paying for.

How time is measured

The most basic way of measuring time in a workshop is by using a 'clock' which stamps time on a 'clock card' for attended time and on the job card for work time. The times are then correlated manually on a 'daily operating control' sheet, and the labour efficiencies calculated.

However, computers have largely superseded this basic method, with the 'clocking' carried out using barcodes or magnetic swipe cards. The computer then completes all the correlations and calculations instantly.

Typical labour efficiencies for the Top 25%

In recent years, the labour efficiencies achieved by bodyshops and service workshops have fallen from what would have been considered the 'norm' a decade ago. The reasons for this are complex. However the top 25% of franchised dealer bodyshops and service workshops are still achieving reasonable levels of performance, typically:

For a bodyshop, productive efficiency averages 106%, utilisation 88% and therefore overall efficiency is 93.3% (106% x 88%)

For a service workshop, productive efficiency averages 115%, utilisation 92% and therefore overall efficiency is 105.8% (115% x 92%)

For 40-hour attended by a productive in a week, these translate as:

For a bodyshop - 40 hours attended, 35.2 hours working on paying jobs, and 37.3 hours sold or invoiced to customers

For a service workshop - 40 hours attended, 36.8 hours working on paying jobs, and 42.3 hours sold or invoiced to customers.

Why service workshops are usually more labour-efficient than bodyshops

bodyshops are clearly less efficient, but why? Firstly, jobs move between productives in a bodyshop - starting with strip, then panel, then preparation, paint, refit and valeting. Usually this means moving the vehicle physically around the bodyshop, which is far less efficient than the straight in a bay, job done and straight out situation of a service workshop. The result for bodyshops is a lower labour utilisation than for a service workshop.

Productive efficiency in bodyshops used to be higher than for service workshops, because sold hours were negotiated with insurance assessors - so-called 'opinion times'. A bodyshop might get 20 hours for a job and the productives would finish it in 15 work hours, achieving a productive efficiency of 133%. Nowadays, the times in a bodyshop are set by computerised estimating systems with virtually no room for negotiation or 'opinion times'.

service workshops, like bodyshops, have seen standard times fall, too. But their customer base is millions of motorists rather than a dozen insurance companies, so service managers can set whatever times they want - within reason, and of course, subject to competition.

Lost time

Obviously it would be great if you could get away with just paying technicians when they are working on paying jobs, but you can't. What you actually pay them for is attendance, or 'attended time', and they don't 'work' on paying jobs all the time they are attending.

The difference between attended time and work time is 'lost time', which is also called non-productive time - the few hours every week that technicians are paid for when they are not working on paying jobs. Three common things that make up lost time are rectification of faulty work ('come-backs'), collection and delivery of cars, and cleaning and maintenance.

In addition to paying for lost time, you might pay bonus and overtime, and you pay for technicians' holidays, sick leave and training. Then there is the employer's contribution to National Insurance, and the cost of any perks technicians receive such as pension or health insurance contributions.

It's tempting to throw all of these payments into the cost of buying the technician's time in our example and calculate what you might see as the 'real' profit. If you did, the cost of buying the hour would probably be around 瞿13, and therefore the profit falls to 瞿27.

Accounting for time

The facts presented so far would seem to make calculating the profit when buying and selling technicians' time quite simple. Apparently all you have to do for any period - a day, a week, a month or a year - is add up all your labour sales and subtract all your technicians' costs (including basic, bonus, overtime, holidays, sick, training, perks and National Insurance) to arrive at your profit on labour.

You can, but it is far better to identify all your technicians' costs separately in your management accounts, because you can then see how much you are paying them for not working. And by separating these payments to technicians, you can look more closely at the effects of labour efficiency on your operation, whether it is mechanical servicing and repair or body repairs.

The following example shows the traditional format for the management accounts of a service workshop or bodyshop. Here we have taken the results for one technician over 12 months, assuming basic pay of 瞿12 per hour and hours sold out at an average of 瞿60 per hour. Additionally, we have assumed that the technician attends 44 weeks per annum and 40 hours per week, working 37 of those hours with lost time of 3 hours. As a result of the technician's efforts, the workshop sells 42 hours per week (or 1,848 sold hours per annum from 44 weeks x 42 hours), and this is achieved without any overtime or bonus pay.

Management accounts

Labour sales 1,848 hours sold @ 瞿60 = 瞿110,880

Less Technician's pay for 1,628 work hours @ 瞿12 = 瞿19,536

Technician's bonus pay (all bonus pay entered if earned) = NIL

Technician's overtime pay (all overtime entered if earned) = NIL

Gross profit on labour sales (Labour gross profit) = 瞿91,344

Direct expenses

Technician's pay for 132 hours of lost time @ 瞿12 = 瞿1,584

Technician's pay for hols, sick & training (40 days of 8 hours) @ 瞿12 = 瞿3,840

Technician's National Insurance and perks = 瞿3,744

Direct profit on labour sales = 瞿82,176

Labour gross profit

In this traditional form of management accounts, then, the cost of the technician is divided up into no less than six lines. The first three lines appear straight after labour sales, and consist of all pay made to the technician for actually producing work that is then sold to a customer. This includes pay for 'work time', and all bonus and overtime pay. Accountants call these the 'cost of sales'.

By subtracting these three lines from sales, you end up with the gross profit made from buying and selling the technician's time - usually called the 'labour gross profit'. The labour gross profit is often expressed as a percentage of labour sales, which in this example comes to 82% (瞿91,344 divided by 瞿110,880 expressed as a percentage).

The remaining three lines appear in the direct expenses section of management accounts along with the cost of non-productive salaries, apprentices, consumables, courtesy cars, advertising, etc. The idea, as we have said, is to identify what you pay technicians for not working. In this example, the total cost of the technician is 瞿28,704 per annum, and 瞿9,168 is for not working. That is nearly one-third, and a far from unusual proportion!

Dividing up the technician's pay

The way some of the technician's pay is divided up is self-evident - bonus, overtime, holidays etc, and National Insurance and perks. That just leaves the technician's basic pay, which is divided up according to 'work time' and 'lost time':

In our example we know the technician attends 40 hours each week and works 37 of these hours, which means that the technician works for 1,628 hours in a year (37 hours x 44 weeks), which at 瞿12 per hour is 瞿19,536.

That leaves three hours of lost time each week, or 132 hours per annum (3 hours x 44 weeks), or 瞿1,584 at 瞿12 per hour.

In fact, this split corresponds to one of the measures of efficiency we discussed earlier - labour utilisation. Labour utilisation is 'work hours' divided by 'attended hours' expressed as a percentage, or 92.5% in this case (37 hours divided by 40 hours). The split in the management accounts allocates 92.5% of basic pay as the cost of doing the work. The remainder (7.5% of basic pay) - corresponding to the technician's pay for lost time - is allocated as an expense.

It should now be clear that labour utilisation has a direct bearing on how much gross profit is effectively produced from selling the technician's time, and what is paid to the technician for not working.

Calculating labour sales

In our example, the workshop sells 42 hours per week as a result of the 37 hours the technician actually works out of the 40 hours attended. We have already seen that the labour utilisation here is 92.5% (37 hours divided by 40 hours). The productive efficiency can also be calculated as 113.5% (42 sold hours divided by 37 work hours), and the overall efficiency is 105% (42 sold hours divided by 40 attended hours). All these formulae were covered earlier.

The labour sales in our example are calculated by multiplying the sold hours in a year (1,848 hours) by the labour rate of 瞿60 per hour. In full, this calculation is as follows:

Annual labour sales = 1 technician x 40 attended hours per week x 44 weeks attended per year x 105% overall efficiency x 瞿60 per hour labour rate = 瞿110,880

Increased productive efficiency

Now we can have a look at what happens to the profit on labour sales if labour efficiency increases. Let's say our technician still works 37 hours out of 40 hours attended, but works faster (i.e. is more productive) and achieves 43 sold hours. The utilisation is still 92.5% (37 work hours divided by 40 attended hours), but the productive efficiency has increased to 116.2% (43 sold hours divided by 37 work hours) and the overall efficiency has also increased to 107.5% (43 sold hours divided by 40 attended hours). The effect is as follows (and we have assumed again that bonus and overtime are 'nil'):

Labour sales

1 tech x 40 att. hours x 44 weeks x 107.5% overall efficiency x 瞿60 per hour = 瞿113,520

Less

1 tech x 40 att. hours x 44 weeks x 92.5% utilisation x 瞿12 per hour = 瞿19,536

Gross profit on labour sales (Labour gross profit) 瞿93,984

Direct expenses

1 tech x 40 att. hours x 44 weeks x 7.5% lost time x 瞿12 per hour = 瞿1,584

Technician's pay for hols, sick & training (40 days of 8 hours) @ 瞿12 = 瞿3,840

Technician's National Insurance and perks = 瞿3,744

Direct profit on labour sales 瞿84,816

A small increase in productive efficiency - just about three percentage points - has resulted in an extra annual profit on labour of 瞿2,640.

Improving labour utilisation and productive efficiency

So far, we have explained how to measure time in a service or body repair workshop, how labour efficiency is calculated, and how management accounts are designed to highlight the sources of labour profit. We have shown how productive efficiency affects profitability. Next, we look at the effects on profit of improving labour utilisation, and then both productive efficiency and labour utilisation at the same time.

Increased labour utilisation

Taking the same example discussed earlier, let's improve labour utilisation by assuming that our technician manages to work 38 hours out of 40 hours attended instead of 37, while leaving the productive efficiency the same (113.5%) as in the original example. This means that utilisation goes up to 95% (38 work hours divided by 40 attended hours), and even if the productive efficiency is the same at 113.5%, then our technician will produce 43.1 sold hours (38 hours worked x 113.5%). That is, the technician's overall efficiency has increased to 107.8% (43.1 sold hours divided by 40 attended hours).

The effect on labour profits is then:

Labour sales

1 tech x 40 att. hours x 44 weeks x 107.8% overall efficiency x 瞿60 per hour = 瞿113,520

Less

1 tech x 40 att. hours x 44 weeks x 95% utilisation x 瞿12 per hour = 瞿20,064 Gross profit on labour sales (Labour gross profit) = 瞿93,456

Direct expenses

1 tech x 40 att. hours x 44 weeks x 5% lost time x 瞿12 per hour = 瞿1,056

Technician's pay for hols, sick & training (40 days of 8 hours) @ 瞿12 = 瞿3,840

Technician's National Insurance and perks = 瞿3,744

Direct profit on labour sales = 瞿84,816

The improvement, from one extra hour worked per week, is 瞿2,640 in a year.

Do both!

But what would happen if both utilisation and productive efficiency improved at the same time? That is, the technician still attends 40 hours, but works 38 hours at the improved productive efficiency of 116.2% (from Part 2) thereby producing 44.2 sold hours (38 work hours x 116.2%) and hence an overall efficiency of 110.5% (44.2 sold hours divided by 40 attended hours). The calculation looks like this:

Labour sales

1 tech x 40 att. hours x 44 weeks x 110.5% overall efficiency x 瞿60 per hour = 瞿116,688

Less

1 tech x 40 att. hours x 44 weeks x 95% utilisation x 瞿12 per hour = 瞿20,064

Gross profit on labour sales (Labour gross profit) = 瞿96,624

Direct expenses

1 tech x 40 att. hours x 44 weeks x 5% lost time x 瞿12 per hour = 瞿1,056

Technician's pay for hols, sick & training (40 days of 8 hours) @ 瞿12 = 瞿3,840

Technician's National Insurance and perks = 瞿3,744

Direct profit on labour sales = 瞿87,984

The improvement is 瞿5,808, multiplied by (say) seven technicians is a sizeable 瞿40,656 extra profit per annum.

This shows how significant for profitability only relatively small increases in labour efficiency can be. However, labour profits can also fall just as significantly if labour efficiency falls by an equally small amount.

Hidden lost time

If small improvements in labour efficiency translate into big improvements in labour profits, but any slight reduction means big falls in profit, then you need to know what levers to pull to make sure you are on the side of big profits. So what's the secret? Or is it about managing the minutiae?

There's no secret. The trick is managing every aspect of a workshop. Managers have to do everything they can to make sure technicians, panel beaters or painters are working as fast as possible for as long as possible. In other words, you must do everything to minimise lost time, and provide your productive staff with every means to support faster working like training, power tools... and even placing certain jobs with productives who are the most experienced. If you have a clutch job, then give it to the clutch expert.

But there is one secret worth knowing, and that's 'hidden lost time'.

As we have shown, lost time is a killer. But then lost time, if it's measured at all, is usually about the most obvious elements such as rectification of faulty work, collection and delivery of cars, and cleaning and maintenance. However, there is a lot more lost time hidden away within jobs. Technicians may seem to be working hard, but too often they may be waiting for spare parts at the back counter of the stores. Or a technician may be waiting in line to use a piece of equipment like a wheel alignment rig.

The outcome of 'hidden lost time' is a fall in productive efficiency, but labour utilisation is unaffected because you haven't measured the losses. But, as you have seen, the effect on profits can be huge. So apart from attending to the obvious and direct influences on labour efficiency, which affect how fast technicians work (productive efficiency) and how long (utilisation), workshop managers must also attend to anything that can slow them down when they are supposed to be working.

DIY Car Repair - Understanding Torque Values

In some cases when torquing a fastener, whether it is a nut or a bolt, it is very important to achieve a level of accuracy. If you are attempting to repair your car yourself there are some basic techniques that will save you both time and, in the long run, money. By understanding and applying some basic car repair techniques the average person is going to increase their chance at performing a successful car repair.
Car repair tools are something to consider - they can either provide a solution or, if used improperly, or in the case of Torque related tools, if not used at all, can make the car problem worse. You may not realize it but you may already own torque related tools. Have you ever wondered why the 10mm wrench is shorter than a 14mm wrench? Why does the 翹" drive ratchet typically only have sockets up to about 15mm? There is a good reason for both. If you use a 10mm wrench to tighten down a 10mm fastener, and aren't over "torquing", you are going to get the proper torque. If you used a wrench that is twice as long to do the same thing your chances of over torquing, breaking or compromising the fastener are vastly increased. Using a 翹" drive ratchet to tighten a 10mm fastener is much safer than using a 翻" drive ratchet to tighten the same 10mm fastener. This is a simple matter of understanding the forces of leverage and torque, the longer the tool the more leverage you get and the easier the torque is applied. As a rule of thumb, use a 翹" drive ratchet to tighten fasters if the bits are available. Generally speaking there is no reason to use a larger ratchet to tighten the fasteners below 15mm.

There is another car repair tool that will get you the proper torque every time; provided the tool works properly. It's the torque wrench. What does a mechanic have that you don't? Well, for the most part, experience. Gaining a feel for how tight a bolt needs to be is the first step to getting the proper torque. This is simple to practice, and it is easily gauged with a torque wrench. There are certain instances that using a torque wrench is incredibly important. Rotating parts is one of them. You don't want a spinning part to loosen the nuts or bolts that hold it in place. So torque your axle nuts and flywheel bolts. Any time there is a gasket or a nut or bolt that is a "Torque to Yield" it is very important to get out that torque wrench to ensure proper installation and operation.

Make sure you replace a the bolt or nut if it is recommended by a Car repair manual. This is because that bolt or nut has to be, and has been, torqued to yield. This means that the fastener is actually getting stretched to it's proper torque. It also means that when that particular bolt/nut is removed you will not be able to reassemble using that previously torqued bolt and achieve the same required torque that assures both fit and function. Now when we are talking torque, let's consider some other factors. When the car repair manual says to oil the bolt before torquing they are further modifying the manner in which that bolt gets torqued. The friction is reduced from the addition of the oil and this means that more force is now being applied to the bolt for that set torque value. Now let's think about a dry bolt at the same torque - it is not going to get turned enough to do what the manufacturer intended to do at that torque. What is even worse is if there is a bunch of dirt, rust or any contaminants on the threads. So now that there is a bunch of dirt on the threads, you are increasing the friction and ultimately under-torquing your bolt. Do that on a new hub bearing assembly and you are going to have a separated wheel bearing that has too much play.
To get a better understanding of the importance of following torquing guidelines let's consider a situation like replacing a gasket that holds oil or coolant - a good example is a valve cover gasket; the factory wants you to apply 10 foot pounds of torque to "most" valve cover gaskets. What happens if you over-torque? You squish the gasket too much and that creates the potential for oil to escape, this compromises the gasket and the required seal.

Here are a couple of charts to give you an idea of the relative torque values that are typically applied to different sizes of bolts. These are guidelines only and this information has not been verified.

Bolt Assembly Torque (ft-lb)
Values are based on the use of lubricated threads
bolt size Grade 8.8 Grade 10 Aluminum
M6 5 10 4
M7 9 14 7
M8 17 25 14
M10 33 50 25
M12 60 85 40
M14 90 133 65
M16 140 200 100
M18 200 285 135

The above chart is for lubricated threads and only provides typical torque values - This chart is not to be followed for any torque to yield bolts or nuts and does not provide proper torque values for a bolt or nut that is holding a gasket surface. Gaskets are made of different materials and the manual pertaining to the exact application is the only source that should be used in determining the proper torque for these gaskets.
Note: size: 10mm does not refer to the bolt head it refers to the diameter of the shaft. Typical 10mm bolts have a 13mm or 14mm heads.

The following chart shows slightly different torque values, and is not based on lubricated threads. M8x1.25 is an 8mm diameter with a 1.25 thread pitch - the lower the number the finer the threads.

Hex head Cap Screw
bolt size Grade 8.8
M4 x 0.7 1.65
M5 x 0.8 4.13
M6 x 1.0 7.1
M7 x 1.0 12.0
M8 x 1.0 18.0
M8 x 1.25 17.0
M10 x 1.0 39.0
M10 x 1.25 36.0
M10 x 1.5 34.0
M12 x 1.25 65.0
M12 x 1.5 63.0
M12 x 1.75 59.0
M14 x 1.5 102.0
M14 x 2 94.0

Anther consideration is that fact that torque specification depends on the type of material used - 8.8 grade steel is the most common, but stainless steel fasteners are a stronger alternative, whereas, aluminum is a much softer metal and will require a different torque. Always check the manufacture's manual for proper torque specs. No chart that is provided in this document has been validated for accuracy. Most factory service manuals will show a torque specification chart simply based off the size of fastener, however this should only be referred to if the specific torque application is not provided.

After reading this you should feel a little more confident and a little more worried. Continue to do your homework and take on the car repair jobs within your means. Ultimately, it is the experience that is required and some failures can be great learning experience so practice first and take your time.

Important Things to Remember in Car Service - To Do List

Usually there are three items that will be changed in completing the servicing process such as engine oil, oil filter and air filter.

However, we always forget a few important things that we must remind our mechanics to check before leaving the workshop. The result will be a car breakdown after a few minutes or hours of car service if not.

There are about 10 essential items that need to be checked and added on to your car service - To Do list. Only a few good workshops implement these steps before returning your car back to you, and it should be a good practice that we all remember them. They are:

1) Battery water - Do not just rely on the mechanic to remember to check and top up the water level.

2) Radiator water - Top up the water level or fill up with coolant.

3) Timing belt-This must be checked to confirm whether it is still within the limit before leaving the workshop in order not to get a breakdown.

4) Belting or bearing sound-The sounds of any belting such as alternator belting, compressor belting, power steering belting must be removed and belting must be changed if it is scratched.

5) Air filter housing-Need to be cleaned and any dirt must be removed in order to get smooth engine breathing.

6) Water coolant-To prevent the engine from sudden heat up, the mechanic should use water coolant.

7) Alternator-In order to get a good car condition after service, the mechanic has to confirmed whether this part can still be used or has to be changed.

8) Any oil-Check the oil level such as gear oil, brake oil and clutch oil.

9) Plug cable-change the plug cable in order to get good firing system.

10) Any hose-Any leaking hose has to be replaced especially the fuel hose before it get burnt.

Automotive Repair Marketing - The Key to a Successful Shop

If you are a business owner and you would like to increase your revenue, it is important for you to understand automotive repair marketing and how this is a key to a successful shop. The automotive industry is said to be one of the most lucrative and stable industries in the business world. Because people from all over the world use autos in their daily life, auto repair businesses are steady and secure.

Automotive repair marketing is as easy as changing the oil in your car. Every few months, you are to check your progress, do some maintenance, and give some added boost and fresh ideas to your automotive repair marketing campaign. The public loves fresh ideas.

Automotive repair marketing is all about taking action. Therefore, you as the business owner should make sure you use the right automotive repair marketing tools. Here are some of the most effective marketing tools for your auto repair business.

1. Direct mail marketing method
One of the most preferred automotive repair marketing tools remains to be the direct mail method. Most auto repair businesses make use of this method by mailing postcards to homeowners in zip codes surrounding their shops. This is an easy way to promote your services to potential clients. However, you will need to mail sufficient quantities to generate a worthwhile response.

2. Start a blog or a website
The internet is probably one of the greatest automotive repair marketing tools you can use. Create a blog and spend 10 minutes each day writing interesting anecdotes, maintenance information, tips, advice, or even car reviews. The more you write, the sooner you will be crawled by search engines, and the sooner you will reach a bigger audience which will essentially result in more business.

3. Social media marketing
One of the best automotive repair marketing tools revolves around social media. Websites with Facebook and Twitter integration are becoming increasingly popular and more repair shop owners are making use of this tool in order to promote their shops and acquire new clients. If you use social media for your automotive repair marketing, you should know that you are instantly exposed to millions of people. So, guess what happens when Jason needs a new transmission and he sees your business profile on Facebook? Voila! You have a new customer. Even though this may sound a little impossible, but social media could be well worth thousands of dollars to your repair shop.

4. The good old word of mouth
This method of automotive marketing is known to be one of the oldest methods of marketing in the business world. However, this is also proven to be one of the most reliable forms of marketing. For example, you started your automotive repair marketing campaign with the direct mail marketing method. Now, because of this, you have just acquired two new clients. If you do a good job, guess what happens? These clients will tell their friends about it, and their friends will tell their friends, eventually forming the perfect marketing campaign you can ask for.

5. Press releases
Most business owners tend to give press releases a complete miss, thinking that there is no possible way that a press release could be of any advantage to their automotive repair marketing campaign. Wrong! In fact, press releases are very effective and can be done either online or off-line. With the off-line method, simply write, or have someone put together a press release on a timely topic and send it to your local newspaper. With the online method, do the same and publish it to a press release service. Press releases are usually ranked higher than normal web pages and blog posts. This can never be a bad thing.

There are several other automotive repair marketing tools available to you. If you are serious about taking your auto repair shop to the next level and getting more vehicles into your shop, then make sure you give these aforementioned methods of automotive repair marketing a try today.

Business Booming for Auto Repair Shops

While most industries are still struggling or are barely managing to maintain their foothold since the recession set in, one industrial segment is enjoying the benefits of a stalled economy. According to a December 2010 Reuters report, the "Sputtering economy puts auto repair firms in fast lane."

If one stops to think about it, it makes perfect sense why business is booming for auto repair shops. Faced with higher unemployment and eliminated bonuses and raises, individuals are holding on to their vehicles instead of swapping in every couple of years when their lease runs out.

And with the age of the average American's mode of transport creeping higher and higher-now estimated to be nearly 10 years-more repairs are in order. That tendency spells good news for mechanics and auto body technicians alike. As the news report puts it, "As consumers put off buying new cars, they create more repair and maintenance work for automotive repair companies."

This upswing in car repair business does not play favorites either. Percentage wise, the mom-and-pop shops are seeing as many new customers as the mega auto repair corporations. And the good news keeps on coming for auto repairers. Reuters predicts that the "trend (of drivers patching and fixing their vehicles rather than buying new) should continue for a few years yet as a shaky economic recovery deters big-ticket buys."

One industry expert anticipates that tendency toward repairing over replacement to last another two to five years, despite consumer spending rising 0.4 percent in October 2010. The recession hit a lot of people hard. Understandably, they're reluctant to return to their old unfettered spending habits.

Of course, all this upkeep on their aging vehicles puts the burden on the consumers needing repair work. With his or her warranty expired, it's up to the car owner to bear the costs. Locating a reputable body shop that provides the best value for one's money also falls in his or her hands.

So what should these long-time vehicle owners be looking for in an auto repair service provider?

The first thing they should do is ask around. Family, friends, coworkers, neighbors- they're all game. At one time or another just about everyone has had to have their car repaired, so everyone has a story. Keep in mind that you're much more likely to get the down and dirty on a bad experience than a good one. That being said, if someone you know offers an auto repair shop praise, there's a pretty good bet it's well deserved.

You should also investigate what kind of warranty the repair shop extends on its services. If it's not an industry leading guarantee, which is the most important thing to remember in vehicle repair, then look elsewhere.

Finally, make sure to take the repair technicians' qualifications into consideration. ICAR Gold class certification is considered the highest in the industry, so it's a good qualification to look for. A commitment to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and certified alternative components, with no knock-offs or cheap imitations ever being used also says a lot about an auto repair business.

Auto Mechanics - Car Repair Doctors Are Indispensable

A good auto mechanic is as indispensable as your own family doctor and veterinarian. While you may be able to diagnose what's wrong with an ailing car, it's difficult to pare it down to less than 5 or 6 possibilities. And, even if you do hit the nail on the head, repairing it is next to impossible.

I am very fortunate to have found a tremendous mechanic who not only knows exactly what he's doing, but charges extremely fair prices. He even tries not to do anything extra unless it is absolutely necessary. He and I have even become close personal friends after all the years of fixing my ancient fleet of vehicles. I like to call him "Uncle Gary," amongst other nicknames we have for each other that are unprintable here.

The cheapest way to deal with auto maladies is always to fix them, rather than buying, God forbid, a new car. We all know that when you drive a brand new car off the lot, it immediately loses 20% of its value. Depreciation is a killer in the auto industry. So, I have found it best to cobble together my 4 old vehicles the best I can. I have Gary perform routine maintenance on them without fail. My cars always have fresh oil, a new filter, clean battery posts, and the right levels of all fluids.

Let me tell what I mean by "ancient vehicles": our newest is the 1996 Toyota Camry, followed by the 1995 Ford Windstar Van, then it's the 1977 long-bed Toyota pickup, followed by my favorite, the completely stock 1950 Ford 2-door sedan with the Flathead V8 and under 50,000 original miles. We were born the same year. And, I grew up with a carbon copy of it as a kid.

I have paid "Gary the Mechanic" a small fortune over the many years we've been doing business together, but it can't come close to what a new car costs.

If you saw my cars, you would be shocked at how well they run. Beauty is only skin deep, you know.
For what it's worth, a cardinal rule I have for all my vehicles is never ever wash them. We don't have a garage, and I live in the very dusty high country of Northern Arizona, so what's the use? Don't get me wrong, if I had a garage, I'd wash 'em up real good, and maybe even throw on a decent wax job like I always used to do. I'm probably an idiot for being so unconcerned about the appearance of my fleet, but I am a stickler for all things under the hood and drive train. Oh, and I get my tires checked often as a matter of safety and increased fuel efficiency.

One last interesting tidbit about Gary. He is retired now. His shop is rented to a new up-and-coming young buck. But, he comes to my house, leaves his Saab if we want to use it, and drives our cars back to his house 18 miles away to perform his vehicular magic. Gary does house calls! Does it get any better than that?

5 Steps To Choosing A Better Auto Repair Facility

Regardless of if you were just in a collision, if you have an odd noise coming from your vehicle that you need to get checked out, or if it is routing maintenance, there are a few common things you should look at before selecting an auto repair facility. The average consumer is used to shopping for the best deal, reading product reviews, and making informed decisions. With online shopping and comparison sites flooding the internet consumers have become more and more reliant on the web; unfortunately the web can be tricky to navigate when looking for automotive repairs. There are no online pricing tools available, there is no way to know that the repairs that are quoted are actually the repairs your vehicle needs, or guarantees that the work will be completed on time. This is why we have put together a simple checklist of things that should be reviewed before selecting a body shop, automotive repair facility, or any service provider for that matter.

1) Is the owner, partner, or general manager available to speak with before repairs begin. Many times if a person in a leadership role is not present the work can suffer. Also if you do have any problems and an owner is not present this can become a real headache when it comes to getting issues resolved.

2) Is the owner or manager willing to give you a tour of the facility before work begins? A reputable automotive repair shop or body shop will have certain areas that you are not allowed to tour for insurance purposes however you will still be able to view them from the threshold. This will give you a look into the facility, tools, and type of employees that will be working on your vehicle. If for any reason the request for a tour is denied or there are red flags during your visit we recommend that you keep looking for a reputable automotive repair facility.

3) Do your homework by asking people who have actually done business with the repair facility you are thinking about doing business with. Online resources are great however many times review sites are riddled with reviews that are paid for, created by the ownership, or even the competition. For this reason we always recommend asking for references that include recent work completed by completely unbiased third party clients.

4) Go with your gut. Most of the times when we have a really bad experience, we look back and say I had a feeling this was going to happen. Our instincts are built into our DNA to keep us out of trouble and one of the best ways to avoid mistakes is to do our homework and listen to your gut.

5) Don't get lazy. Online tools and shopping has made us forget how important it is to do our homework before making large purchasing decisions. Don't let yourself fall into this trap. While making a snap decision may seem like a great way to save time, it often takes more time and money to correct issues that could have been avoided.

Auto Body Repair

Auto Body Repair is a technique that restores a damaged vehicle to its original condition. The Auto Body Repair entails repairing and properly matching the paint on vehicle bodies, repairing vehicle frames, and understanding mechanical, electrical and electronic systems.

Some of the processes used in Auto Body Repair are shop safety, automotive body construction, tools, welding, sheet metal repair, frame straightening, repair materials, adjusting body panels, painting and refinishing, and estimating the cost.

Auto body repair also deals in welding light-gauge motor vehicle body panels and under-frame structures. The mechanic might have to learn to repair minor and major accidents and corrosion damage, and measure, realign and repair upper body and under-frame structures.

The variety and type of auto body repair materials and tools varies with the type and size of the damage. Bondo creams and hardeners might necessitate reinforcement with fiberglass for larger holes and dents in the body.

There are many options available on the Internet for students interested in taking up auto body repair as a full-time career. Mostly, the course includes auto body fundamentals, industry overviews, and safety procedures. Students would have to perform hands-on repairs in the areas of non-structural and structural repairs, MIG welding, plastics and adhesives, refinishing, and other related areas.

It is advisable that a customer conducts a wide search on the Internet and on the phone to find more details about auto body repair before calling in the mechanics. As the process is expensive, one should call these highly skilled mechanics only when necessary.

How to Remove Cola, Coffee, Chocolate Or Ketchup Stains From Your Vehicle's Upholstery

No matter how careful we are, sooner or later someone spills something in your vehicle. If you act quickly and with a little care the damage to your upholstery can either be avoided or minimized considerably.

Below are four common stains and some general purpose stain fighting advice to help you. Please remember each stain is unique and these remedies will prove more or less effective because of this. Always consult a stain removal specialist if in doubt.

*Soft drink stains* like cola, root beer and others can often be removed by using this method. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is mixed at the ratio of 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide to 3 cups of water (that's about an 8% solution). Then using a spray bottle, spray the stain and wait about 10 minutes. Rinse the stain with 1/4 cup of white vinegar added to 3/4 cup of cold water, and blot dry.

*Chocolate stains* can often be removed by mixing one teaspoon of a mild ph balanced detergent (a mild non alkaline non bleaching detergent) with a cup of lukewarm water, apply to stain and gently blot. Mix one tablespoon of household ammonia with a half cup of water, apply to stain and blot. Repeat step one, sponge with clean water. Blot excess liquid.

*Ketchup stains* can often be removed if the stain is fresh. On floor carpeting try using club soda. Blot up the excess, being careful not to rub into the carpeting. Apply more soda, and blot up excess, using a clean white cloth. Repeat until the stain is lifted. Windex is also reported to remove many condiment stains from carpets, but be careful because Windex contains ammonia and may bleach your upholstery!

*Coffee stains* can often be removed with this method. Remember stains lift easier if not allowed to dry. Remove excess coffee with a clean white cloth. Mix a teaspoon of a good dishwashing detergent with a cup of lukewarm water. Sponge the stain with the solution, and remove excess liquid once again. Now mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of lukewarm water. Finally sponge the area with this solution, and blot once more with a clean white cloth. Rinse with clean water and blot dry.

Please Note: Stain removal is part art, part science and there are many factors to consider such as the materials involved, the age of the stain and so forth. If in doubt consult a professional. Remember to always test an inconspicuous area for colorfastness, etc. before treating the exposed area. Also note that certain stains are permanent. Finally, if treating stains on seats with electrical heating elements or other electrified components, ensure that you have disabled the electrical current first!

Car Repair Shop - How To Find A Good One

We've all heard a few bad car repair horror stories. You know, about those fat slobs that kept your car hostage for days and days doing "additional repairs" while you took the city bus, and then laying a bill on you that was twice your monthly rent... and it still made funny noises!

There are lots of great car repair shops out there, but you rarely ever hear about them. The key to getting your car fixed and maintained by professionals for a good price is to find a great car repair place and stick to it. Here are some guidelines to finding a good mechanic.

- Look for a car repair shop long before you need it. You don't want to be in a hurry and have to take whatever you can find. Looking before gives you lots of time to research and find a great shop to call when you do have an emergency.

- It's good to find one close to home, but location isn't everything. Start by looking in your area; if you find a good place close by, this will save you lots of headache. But keep looking and don't just choose the one that's closest. It's well worth it to travel for good quality service.

- Get referrals from friends, family members and co-workers. If they're happy about their mechanic, they'll be more than happy to turn you on to them. You can also ask around at auto shows, dealers and car clubs, and check your local paper's "best of town ratings."

- Check to see what organizations they're in. There's a whole alphabet soup of automotive organizations - A.A.A., NAPA, ASP, MAP, etc. Each one of these organizations has rigorous standards of quality and experience that must be met before a mechanic can join. If they're members of several organizations, that's even better.

- Start by giving them a small job like an oil change. You may not really need it, but this will give you an idea of how they work. How quickly was it done? Was the price fair? Were they easy to communicate with? Overall, were they professional?

- Little details count. How clean is the garage? How easy is it to communicate with them? Usually these types of things are great indicators of how much pride they take in their work, and how professional they are.

- Keep track of all repairs, dates and costs. This will help you keep a track record of the repair shop and decide over time if they're doing a good job. A small notebook in the glove compartment is a great way to do this. More than just keeping tabs on their work, it also gives you a record of all the work that's been done over time.

Once you've found a good car repair shop, keep them. You're lucky to find somebody professional you can trust, so always show your appreciation. Spread the word; just like you, your friends and neighbors will want to know all about the great garage you've found. You'll also be doing them a great favor by bringing them more business.

Upgrading My Auto Repair Business - Stop MBP From Destroying Your Efforts

What is MBP and why is it the ultimate killer of upgrading my auto repair business? MBP is one of the biggest problems facing repair shop owners today because it destroys any and all forward momentum. This is the primary reason most auto repair advertising produces less than optimal results and is a large contributor to negative industry stereotypes.

When someone is looking into upgrading his auto repair business, he must first look into his MBP- Mood Based Philosophy.

Now, before you click away and dismiss this as some "as seen on Oprah psychobabble" take a second and see if any of these statements sound like you:

• "Advertising is worthless, we tried that and it didn't work."


• "We can't hire anyone, most people out there don't know what they're doing."


• "Word of mouth is the only thing that works."


• "We will not give information over the phone."

Upgrading My Auto Repair Business - MBP Example:

Why are these statements indications of poor MBP? Because it is a mood based philosophy which completely limits your ability to grow your business.

"Advertising is worthless, we tried that and it didn't work." This frequently comes from shop owners who tried something once or twice, had it produce less than fantastic results, and then decided to blanket the entire concept with a negative overtone.

One of the best illustrations of poor MBP crippling expansion was a fellow who told us, "I spent $5500 in one week on radio and it didn't bring in a single new car." This person is right up with another who said, "Direct mail is worthless; I sent out over 1000 letters and didn't see any results."

How did each of these shop owners end the discussion? "Advertising does not work."

Upgrading My Auto Repair Business - MBP Auto Repair Advertising:

Advertising DOES work, but only if used correctly. In almost every case, it never occurred to the shop owner he may have been doing something wrong. Instead, they turn to the "sour grapes" attitude and make blanket statements over entire non related situations. Why did the shop owner who spent $5500 in one week on radio ads not see results? Because he did not know you must be prepared to run your ads for multiple weeks for the message to sink in.

Radio reality is that most auto repair commercials sound exactly alike and are tuned out by consumers. Beyond that, for every 1000 people who even hear what you say, you'll be lucky to get 1 who cares and needs what you sell. If one does not use the frequency + placement + clarity = Return On Investment equation, he is bound to fail.

Why did the shop owner who tried direct mail see such awful results? Because he only sent one letter. If he had used a sequential mailer, he would have seen an actual return on his investment.

MBP Reality = Shop owners are locked into seasonal business cycles and always blame peaks and valleys on MBP fictions.

Upgrading My Auto Repair Business - MBP Car Repair Estimates:

"We will not quote over the phone." This statement has been pounded into the auto repair industry psyche like pimentos into olives. But unfortunately, it's been perverted from "no quotes" into "no value or information of any kind ever."

While it is very true that accurate estimates cannot be given without physical inspections, refusing to provide quality information to customers has only furthered industry problems.

When well meaning, knowledgeable technicians refuse to provide information when clients call, they are pushing unsuspecting drivers into the open arms of predators. This problem is compounded by the way shops present their information and estimates. Having a strong perfection-only MBP is just as crippling to a good shop as the low ball leaders.

MBP Reality = Shop owners believe the MBP fiction that price-shoppers dominate their market.

Upgrading My Auto Repair Business - MBP Bottom Line:

The bottom line is that it does not matter if your statements come from advertising, phone quotes, or hiring, if you hold a blanket negative outlook on any aspect of your business, it will completely derail all of your ability to move forward.

Your best bet is to find where your MBPs exist, write them down, and then take steps to find alternatives. Doing so will catapult you into an entire world of possibility.

Leather Car Seat Repair Options To Consider

Whenever you have leather seats in a car, you probably realize that these are prone to damage that will have to be repaired. Leather car seat repair is something that you will most likely have to do throughout the lifetime of your car to keep the seats looking nice. Whenever you do notice things like small rips, you will have to consider your options to get the vehicle back into the shape that you want it in.

The very first option that many people consider and try are the do it yourself kits. These simple kits are designed so that you follow the instructions to make the paste that will be able to repair the leather car seat to practically look like new. Whenever you take this option, you have to be careful. Some do it yourself kits are easy to use while others are not.

It's best to read the online reviews to see if users have had an easy time working with the various kits available. With these kits, you can try to match the color so that everything looks exactly like it should or you can go with other options. If you are good at color matching, it will give you the best results. Be sure you a kit that also provides a durable repair. This means that it not only sealed up the rip but will hold it for quite a period of time.

The other option is to go with an expert repair service. This costs much more than the kits do but you will get the exact leather car seat repair that you are looking for. This could be as expensive as a few hundred dollars but everything will be taken care of.

For extreme damage, with leather it's generally easier and less expensive to simply replace the car seat versus trying to do a full restoration as this will be extremely costly in these types of situations.

Most people will try to kit first to see if the repair works. If not, they will take the leather car seat repair problem to an expert to deal with the issue and get the car seat back in proper condition.

Make sure you deal with your leather car seat problems as soon as they occur, by the way. Broken seats - leather or not - will lower the value of your car by several percent, why fixing the seats as soon as possible is a good investment!

A Few Car Repair Basics Every Woman Should Know

Having a basic knowledge about cars like troubleshooting and maintenance is a must when you own a car, specially when the car is aged, it makes them even more unpredictable you won't know when a problem will arise until it breaks, and when it did break, these basic techniques of troubleshooting will definitely come in handy specially when driving in long road trips. Aside from hot fixes, maintenance also plays an important role for it can be the key to reduce wear outs and even extend the lifespan of the car, Remember to always be observant when driving your car because it is better to find out the problem sooner than later.
The most common knowledge you should know are the following:

Car Gauges - These are the interior gauges displayed on your car, you must know the purpose of each gauge and know how to read it.
Change tire - This is one of the most common incident that will happen when you're driving a car, that is why you must learn how to do this, sure It is easy to imagine the process of changing a tire, but in reality there are certain steps and techniques to make this process easier and safer to do.
Jump start - Now this is a very important thing to learn, jump starting is a manual way to start a car when a battery runs out, there are a lot of causes for a battery to run out so it is best for you to learn this technique, it's pretty tough to be stuck in a parking lot because you run out of battery. There are techniques in doing a jump-start to make it successful and safe.
Car Stall - You must know the common causes for a car to stall, learn where to find the problem and the solution on how to fix it.
Tire pressure- One of the basics you also must learn is your vehicles tire pressure like how much air should my tire have to get the best performance out of it, it is usually written inside the manual of the car or at the gas cap or somewhere near the driver side doors but if you happen to have a car without the standard pressure written on those places you'll have to learn how to get the correct computation of your standard tire pressure.
Tire Rotation - the Tire is one of the most common components of the car, as common as it may seem it could be quite complicated in some ways, but with the right knowledge it can even help boost the car's performance and if the right maintenance is applied the lifespan of the tire could be extended.
Flood car tips - This is just a precaution because honestly we don't know when this incident will happen to us but it is best if you have a background knowledge on what to do when a flood happens. There are steps to do that just might save your car, saving you from spending millions of cash to repair your flooded car.

If you managed to educate yourself with these car basics, then I'm proud to tell you that you're going to be a great car owner.

Is Brand-Specific Auto Body Repair Sound Practice?

As an auto body repair shop owner, would it benefit your business if you specialized on a specific Japanese, American or European brand? If you look at industry publications, you will see quite a few shops that are advertising their specialization in specific car brands. This is of course these shops' attempt to capture a specific customer base in a certain area. Would this be the wave of the future or is this a strategy that can backfire in the future? The answer here would depend on a lot of factors, such as what car brand the auto body repair shop will specialize in, the area where the shop is located, the affluence of the community, the quality of the shop's technicians and even the capitalization available to the owners of the shop. There a lot more factors that can work for or against a shop specializing in a specific car brand, but these are the more obvious ones.

The obvious advantages of targeting a specific are a more controlled inventory, less need to learn about different repair techniques, possibly less expenditure for tools and equipment a valid claim that the shop is a specialist in a particular brand. And if the shop has a good enough relationship with the car company, there is the assurance that the latest techniques, technical bulletins and support will be made available to the body shop.

But there are also factors which work against auto body repair shops specializing in a specific brand. Primary among these is the size of the market. Obviously, there would be more Toyotas than, say, Mercedes-Benzes although more affluent areas would have a higher number of luxury cars. It would seem logical then that an auto body repair shop would be better off specializing in Toyotas instead of Benzes. But a savvy manager must look at the margins too, as specializing in luxury cars would probably yield better margins.

Deciding whether to specialize or not in a specific car brand is not a trivial decision to make for the manager of an auto body repair shop. While being assured of a captive customer base, there is also the risk of not having enough cars in that target market in your area. Whatever the case, age-old values like quality, value for money, professionalism and good customer relations will still carry the day, whether an auto body repair shop decides to specialize in a specific brand or not.

Paintless Dent Repair: The Most Efficient Process for Dent Repairs

Paintless Dent Repair or PDR is a group of procedures used for fixing little dents and dings from the body of cars, buses and vans. A variety damages can be repaired through the paintless dent repair method. Some of the common repair types of damage include stone dents and bumper repair.

The methodologies for paintless dent repair utilize body picks and metal rods to push the damages out from the inner side of the body panel being repaired. A special kind of adhesive may also be used on the external side of panel to pull the dents out. In both the instances, fine-tuning of the dent removal usually involves "tapping" down the ding to take away small spots, making the surface flat and shiny.

The technicians access the dent from window openings, by taking out headlights and tail lights and through wheel well openings. After getting access to the inside surface of the body work, gentle pressure is applied until the dent is removed. Since PDR works from behind the vehicle's damage, no sanding or putty work are required. Paintless dent repair is used on both aluminum and steel panels. A skilled dent repair repairer removes up to 100 per cent of the damage using specially devised PDR procedures. These tools and procedures provide a large range of flexibility and rigidity, with tips tapered and configured to allow for repair to any kind of damage on any type of vehicle. Once the repairs are completed there is no visible or apparent support that a dent was ever there.

Some of the great benefits of Paintless Dent Repair are:

• There is no repainting or body filler used.
• It proves to be less expensive than standard body repair.
• The service is done within a few hours.
• The issue of paint over-spray on other areas of vehicle is eliminated.
• There is no risk of color mismatch.
• The vehicle retains its original paint.

A vehicle with showroom paint usually carries a better value than a repainted vehicle. Even if it is just a door or the fender, it is always smart to maintain the original paint as long as possible.

Dent Clinic based in Sydney, New South Wales Australia offers its expertise for the professional quality of paintless dent removal and scratch repair. Plastic Bumper Repair, automobile scratch and stone chip repairs and hail ding repairs are a few other services that can also be supplied at the Dent Clinic. The paintless dent repair method used by them preserves the vehicle value as it maintains the original paintwork. The professionals at Dent Clinic always assess the damage in detail and honestly to inform the customers about the likely results, post repair. For most satisfactory results in dent repair and removal, you can trust the Dent Clinic.

Avoid Car Dent Repair Costs in These 5 Ways

While it is inevitable that our cars get dings and dents from time to time, there are many ways to lessen the chances of car dents. It is important that we know exactly what the cause of our car dent was in order to avoid it in the future.

There are 5 common ways to avoid car dents, thereby, avoiding or decreasing car dent repair costs which can be very expensive sometimes.

1. Clean up your garage - if you are parking your car in your garage, make sure it is tidy enough. Sure, our garage often becomes our storage room sometimes, but if we love our car, the less clutter in the garage, the better.

2. Know how to park - let's just put it this way, if you do not know how to park, expect to bump into something from time to time. Be it a parking alley, or parking sign, or worst, another parked car.

3. Avoid parking in vulnerable places - this varies from different places but by vulnerable, it generally means places where your car is prone to vandalism or car bumps and kicks by antisocial, immature groups.

4. Park away from other vehicles - if you are not sure you can squeeze in your car in tight parking spaces, and you see a space quite far but you are sure you can park it without worries, and then by all means park it there. If this is what it takes to avoid unnecessary dents, do it.

5. Park beside cars that look well taken cared of - the rationale behind this is that if the owner of that car is able to maintain his car to look that good, then it would less likely be that he'd bump into your car while opening his doors because he's too careful himself.

But of course, no matter how careful we are, there will always be things beyond our control. If you face car dent repair problems and you do not want to spend too much, there are services you can avail of at a much cheaper price. No, I am not talking about repairing it yourself because obviously it will cost you lesser and is highly not recommended, but I am talking about mobile paintless dent repair companies who charge lesser than normal car repair shops, but produce the same quality of output. The good thing about these companies is that they come to you, instead of you coming to them.

Save Money on Ford F250 Super Duty Windshield Replacement

Finding it hard to get a good price on your F250 Super Duty windshield replacement? You are not the only one. Most people are not aware that there are options. Yes there are options that will work and save you money. Most Ford F250 Super Duty windshields from 2003 to 2007 have "SUPER DUTY" in the windshield above the rear view mirror. This is also called a third visor. This logo on the windshield can only be purchased from "Carlight". Carlight makes auto glass for Ford. So if you want the "Super Duty" logo, Ford is making money on you. The part number for the logo windshield is DW1522. Retail price for this windshield is $505.15 as per Nags price Jan 10, 2011.

Now what most auto glass shops will not tell you or may not be aware of, there are two other options for your F250 Super Duty windshield replacement. First option is a aftermarket windshield with a third visor with out "Super Duty" above the rear view mirror. What is good about this windshield you are still getting a sunshade over the rear view mirror making it easier on the eyes looking in to the mirror. The part number for this windshield is DW1537. Retail price for this windshield is $224.50 as per Nags price Jan 10, 2011.

Looking to stay with "Carlight" auto glass for your F250 Heavy Duty but want to save money. Take a look at this. Ford has a windshield with out a log or third visor. The part number is DW1505. This windshield can be ordered with a blue tint across the top. This will replace the third visor and save you money. Retail price for this windshield is $227.40 as per Nags price Jan 10, 2011. That is a savings of $277.75 if you use part number DW1505 instead of DW1522.

Always take the time to call around. Not all shops offer the same service and take short cuts to save time and money for them self's. Ask how long it will take to do the replacement. If they tell you 15 or 20 minutes most likely they are taking short cuts that will cost you more money down the road. To properly replace your windshield the windshield wipers need to be removed and the cowling below the windshield needs to be removed. This all takes time but assures that you will not have water or air leaks.

Why Choose Collision Repair As a Career and What to Look For in a School

Why choose collision repair as a career pathway?

Hands-on: Why should your job be boring and dreadful? You can earn income doing the things you like to do. If you're someone that likes working with your hands, a high-tech environment and you enjoy being able to step back and see the results of your work; then collision repair may be a good fit for you.

High income potential: I-Car Education Foundation completed a survey, showing the average income that a collision repair technician earns. You may be surprised that the average income of $51,312 is higher then many other comparable trades. In fact, the top 10% earn $88,460. Although, just like with any career, you shouldn't expect this your first year on the job. These are the incomes you can expect to make with experience and commitment.

Job Security: As roads and highways become more populated with vehicles, the results are more auto accidents. Unfortunately, the automotive industry is not finding enough trained technicians to properly repair these modern day vehicles. This means job security for you.

Work will never be outsourced: Think about it! Could you imagine a damaged vehicle being loaded on a ship, taken overseas, repaired, and shipped back to the customer...it's not going to happen. We need trained collision and paint technicians right here in the United States, in every state and every city to repair our cars. As a technician, you will never have to worry about your job being outsourced.

What are some of the things to consider when choosing a school to attend?

NATEF certified: Make sure the school is a National Automotive Technician Education Foundation (NATEF) accredited. This gives you peace of mind knowing that the school has met the NATEF standards and is a quality school. NATEF is national recognized in the automotive industry and will give you a competitive edge, when you pursue a job. In order to be NATEF accredited, all instructors must be Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified to teach. This means that you will have competent instructors to ensure your success in the future.

I-Car affiliation: Make sure the school is affiliated with I-Car. I-Car is an organization that helps the collision industry with on-going training. They provide training to technicians already on the job and they provide curriculum and support to colleges and technical schools to prepare students for the world-of-work. I-Car is known throughout the collision industry and will give your potential employer another perk to hire you.

Where do I find a school like this and how do I enroll?

1. Call the school to set up a time you can visit with them and ask to tour the collision repair school program.

2. Is the collision program accredited? If so, who are they accredited through?

3. Are they affiliated with I-Car and what curriculum do they use?

4. Ask if one of the program instructors are available to speak with. You can ask them program specific questions. This will give you a better feel of the program and the instructors.

5. What is their student per instructor ratio?

6. Find out what requirements, tools, tuition, and fees are required.

7. Have them explain the difference between a certificate and an associates degree. (some technical schools do not offer associates degrees)

8. Does the college have any articulation agreements with any other schools, which allows the student to transfer into a four-year university?

9. Once you feel you have made the correct decision, ask them to direct you to an advisor. The advisor will walk you through the steps to get you enrolled.

Set Your Sights on a Newly Reconditioned Vehicle

In today's economy it is not practical to just go out and buy a new vehicle. Most people want to buy a new vehicle because they look nice and shiny! However you can have a nice car that shines even if it is not brand new. You can get your vehicle reconditioned to look like new and shine like a new also! There are many auto reconditioning shops around that provide many great services to get your vehicle looking its best. So, instead of getting a new car set your sights on a newly reconditioned vehicle by taking your current vehicle to an auto reconditioning shop!

Auto reconditioning shops offer a lot of services in a wide variety; check out what can be done to your current vehicle!

There is a great service called paintless dent removal. Paintless dent removal is used to remove dents and dings on your vehicles auto body. This process involves the use of reflective sources, rods and other specials tools that massage the dents out from the inside. That means no fillers and no paint is needed to repair the dents and dings. So you will pay less and it will not affect the original finish of your vehicle. This service can be completed in under a few hours at most auto reconditioning shops!

Bumper repair is another great service that you can get for your vehicle. It has not always been possible to get your bumper repaired. However, they have changed the material that bumpers are made from so it is possible now. If your bumper has been damaged you can easily take it to an auto reconditioning shop for repair.

If it is your vehicles interior that is holding the rest of your vehicle back from looking like new, which can also be repaired at an auto reconditioning shop. They repair things like rips and tears in upholstery, falling headliners, cigarette burns, stains, cracked dashes and much more. It can be completed in a quick time and is affordable.

Another repair that many car owners don't know about is wheel rim repair. Getting new wheel rims can be quite costly, and if you have already put a lot of money into your wheel rims chances are you don't want to do it again. If your wheel rims are scratched or scraped or even need straightening that can be repaired at auto reconditioning shops as well.

Windshield repair is a great repair that can be completed quickly and most times they will even come to you to fix the repair with mobile service. If your windshield is cracked or chipped be sure to get in repaired right away. It is a quick and affordable repair that also provides safety to your vehicle.

Auto reconditioning shops have a lot to offer to car owners to want to make their vehicle look its best! You should find out what one can do for your vehicle so you can have a vehicle that looks great and shines like new!

6 Tips To Start Your Auto Repair Shop Business Today

So you want to start an auto repair shop business here are 6 tips to get you started off right.

1) First as with any business you need to write a business plan:

Businesses that do not write a business plan usually fail you must know what you expect for the business. Where is it headed? Will you some day have a franchise or will you only have one location? What type of advertising should you do? How much will it cost for shop equipment employees tools lifts etc. You must write a plan to know where your business is headed. You would not plan a trip with out looking at a map would you? Make sure to map out your business to see future plans become a reality.

2) Register for a business license:

Call your local SBA they are the best place to start. They can tell you about loans, free publications and so much more. You must register your business with the local city hall. You should call the court house to find out what business licenses you will need as they vary from state to state. In my county you do not need a fictitious name if the business is in your name such as David's Car Repair but if you want Elite Car Repair you must file with the state for a fictitious name which can be done online.

3) Open a business account:

This is very important you will need an account just for the business to pay for business expenses. This is where a lot of businesses fail they spend business profits on personal bills. In the first few years of business the business must keep 80% of income to sustain itself and grow. I know it is tempting but be careful. Contact your local bank and get a no fee checking account for your business.

4) Get insurance:

You must have garage insurance if you will have employees you will need worker comp insurance and you should check into what ever other liabilities there may be for your area fire, hurricanes,tornado etc. Insurance can make or break your growing business if you have insurance and the shop burns down insurance will pay to replace your shop. Or if you have disability insurance for just yourself if your a one man business. If you break your wrench hand you can sustain the business for months until you get well.

5) Pick a location:

The old adage location, location, location is true with auto repair shops. You should make sure to find a shop right by the interstate or the main highway. If you can put your shop in the middle of your busy town. If you can find a shop location by the highway it will be very lucrative for your business.

6) Advertise:

To me this is one of the most important things you can do for your shop. The old adage "when you do not advertise a funny thing happens" Nothing is true in the auto repair business. The first thing you do if your car needs repairs and you do not know any one to fix it for you. Most people would check the phone book go online check the newspaper. A good source of advertising is tow truck companies in you area. What do truck drivers see daily that is right broken down vehicles. Offer them a referral fee for every customer they send you. You could pick up 10 or more repair jobs a month from them alone. Marketing is very important in any business get creative have fun and always under promise and over deliver and you will be successful.

Auto Warranties and Service Contracts 101

Factory Warranty

All vehicles come from the factory with a warranty that is provided by the manufacturer. These factory warranties range in coverage from three years to ten years and cover anything from powertrain to full coverage.

Vehicle Service Contract

When the warranty provided by the manufacturer runs out, your vehicle is no longer protected from expensive repairs. The best time to purchase a service contract is shortly before your full coverage (or bumper to bumper) warranty expires. At that time you can choose to continue your coverage by extending the warranty with a vehicle service contract. A warranty is provided free of charge by the manufacturer. A warranty can never be sold, whereas a service contract may be sold at a dealership, in the finance office of a bank or credit union, on through a third party online.

Powertrain: A powertrain service contract covers the engine and transmission components of your vehicle. This is the most basic coverage and will be the longest portion of your factory warranty. Some vehicles come with a factory powertrain warranty of up to ten years. But you may want to cover some of the other components when your bumper to bumper warranty expires (usually after three years or 36,000 miles).

Component: A named component plan provides additional coverage beyond the powertrain service contract. These plans vary greatly by administrator, so read the benefit section of the contract carefully. They will list the additional vehicle components that are covered. These contracts will provide you with additional coverage when the bumper to bumper portion of your factory warranty expires.

Bumper to Bumper: "Bumper to Bumper" or "Exclusionary" plans cover everything on your vehicle except those components specifically excluded. Things excluded typically include maintenance items.

Terms of the Contract

Term of coverage The term of coverage is the length of time your vehicle is protected. This is generally stated in terms of months and mileage (ex: 36 months/36,000 miles). The term is whichever you reach first, the mileage or months.

If you are purchasing a "new" vehicle service contract, this term begins with mile one and day one. (Example: You purchase a 72/72,000 new vehicle service contract - the term runs out at the first of either 72 months or 72,000 miles on the odometer) You can purchase a "new" vehicle service contract on a vehicle as long as the factory warranty has not expired. Some administrators will offer "new" coverage up to 50,000 miles on the odometer at issue.

If you purchase a used vehicle service contract, the term begins with the date of purchase and current mileage. (Example: You purchase a 72/72,000 used vehicle service contract when your vehicle has 60,000 miles on it - the term will end 72 months from the date the contract is purchase, or when your vehicle reaches 132,000 miles)

Waiting Period: Most service contracts that you purchase from an online source have a waiting period of 30 days and 1,000 miles. When you purchase in a dealership, the dealer knows the condition of your vehicle and knows it is not about to break down. When you purchase from an online source, the administrator does not know the condition of your vehicle, so they place a waiting period into their contracts to insure against someone with a broken down vehicle purchasing a contract to cover their current repair cost. The 30 days and 1,000 miles are generally added to the end of your contract period.

Deductible: Unlike a warranty, your service contract will come with a choice of deductibles. The deductible you choose will apply to each claim made against the contract. Deductibles range from zero to $200.

Where to Buy

When deciding where to purchase a vehicle service contract, check around. Check out the administrator, the insurance, the price, Better Business Bureau complaints and any customer service issues. You have choices about extending your warranty.

Dealerships The dealership will offer you one at the time of purchase. The advantages to buying from your dealer include the trust you have already placed in them, convenience of having the cost in your car loan, and the ease of maintenance records keeping when you return to them for servicing.

Online Providers The most obvious advantage to buying online is the price. It is generally much lower than that of your dealership because there are fewer parties receiving commission on the sale. The dealership and agent both get paid a commission when buying with your car. Most online providers will also offer low cost or free financing into convenient monthly payments so that you can avoid a large cost upfront.

Compare the cost among several providers. The price can vary on a similar contract by as much as $1,500 to $2,000. Some of the larger online providers employ hard sell techniques because they pay their staff on commission. Those with the best price and service will have a salaried sales staff.

Backed by Insurance When you choose to extend your warranty with a service contract, you should be sure the plan is backed by a strong (at least A rated by AM Best) insurance company. Those that are backed by insurance are much less likely to go out of business and stop paying claims.

Should you buy one?

Extending your auto warranty with a service contract can provide financial stability because it prevents unforeseen, and un-budgeted, expenses. By paying for a service contract now, you can control when your expenses occur. Most online providers will also offer monthly payments, making the expense that much easier.

When to buy

The best time to extend your warranty is before it expires. Then you are not left without protection and you will also get the best pricing. The more miles your vehicle has on it, the more expensive the service contract price for a shorter period of protection.

Changing the Perception of Auto Body 101

"Shop class", such as Auto Body or Automotive has had a reputation of changing its meaning through the years in the eyes of the public. It has gone through the transition of cool hot rods, racing, restoration or hobby class to easy "A" for the slackers or even a holding place for students that the high school counselors don't know what else to do with. There are many reasons that contribute to the lack of qualified students entering technical education courses, but we may be in for a rude awakening if we don't pay attention and change our thinking. In order for us to protect ourselves from unskilled technicians, who will lead to unsafe vehicles on the road, our educational system must put the same emphasis on technical education (auto body, welding, etc.) as they do academic skills (math English, etc.).

Part of the reason schools are giving the technical programs less attention is due to bill that was passed by the Bush administration called "No Child Left Behind." Bush has constantly pushed to stop all funding to technical education programs, in order to increase funds to the NCLB act. With this action, the mentality is that all students can learn. Therefore, all students should attend a four-year school after graduating high school. However, according to the National Assessment of Vocational Education (NAVE) "two-thirds of young people do not obtain a four-year degree and 25% of them go directly to work after high school " (NAVE 6). According to this study, our perception of all students attending a four-year degree is incorrect. What are we doing with the two-thirds of students not attending a four-year college? Shouldn't we focus more on these students?

The NCLB bill has forced schools to focus on academic skills, which improve students' math, English, etc in order to secure their funding. Therefore, schools are using every student who is competent of performing well academically to comply with the (NCLB) standard for better test scores. This leaves less room for technical education, which does not directly prepare students for the state assessment tests. In some cases, programs such as Auto Body are receiving students that the school does not know what else to do with. Many of these students are at-risk of dropping out of school, low performing and low motivated.

With the quality of students' shop classes are receiving in mind, let's discuss modern day vehicles. Since there have been cars, there has been pride. Many people feel like their car is part of the family. If it's involved in an accident, they are concerned and want it repaired back to the perfect condition that it was in before the collision. If the vehicle was not returned back to the owner in its pre-accidental condition, they are crushed and their pride is destroyed. However, there is more than pride that will be crushed if modern day vehicles are not repaired back to their pre-accidental condition. Now, if a modern-day sophisticated vehicle is improperly repaired, it will result in unnecessary injuries or deaths to you or you whole your family.

According to the US Federal Government National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as stated on caraccidents.com in 2005 there were nearly 6,440,000 auto accidents with a financial cost of more than 230 billion dollars. More importantly, 2.9 million people were injured and 42,636 people were killed. That averages 115 people who die per day, which is one every 13 minutes.

How many of these wrecked vehicles are repaired and back on the road? Of those repaired how many of them were repaired correctly? There are organizations, like I-CAR, available to educate technicians in the collision industry, but it takes a competent technician to be able to absorb and apply what they learned. If they are unable to comprehend the content, this will jeopardize the repairs made to the vehicle, which could result in one of the unnecessary injury or death as mentioned above. Therefore, Auto Body 101 is more critical to society then you may have realized. It's crucial to focus on these types of programs to eliminate some of those injuries and deaths.

Why are improperly repaired vehicles a bigger threat now than they used to be? The reason is the fast-paced technology modern day cars have. Our cars have all of these cool features that make our lives easier. However, relying on some of these features will create a death trap if they are not working properly.

If you visit the official Chevrolet Malibu website you will see that it comes equipped with OnStar, turn-by-turn navigation, hands-free calling, stabilitrak, and six air bags. This car sounds to be safe, and it is. It was named 2008 car of North America car of the year. It has 5 star frontal and side crash test rating. OnStar now allows the vehicle to give you turn-by-turn direction. The Malibu will even diagnose itself and e-mail the results to you. Another safety feature is the hands-free calling. I know I have came close to an accident due to answering a cell phone call or dialing a number while driving. The stabilitrak sends messages to the computer and automatically adjusts your suspension depending on the road conditions and will help prevent you from having an accident. These features are great; however, when involved in an accident, it can become complicated to assure everything is repaired correctly. In addition to the traditional body and paint work, we must focus on all of the safety and electrical work as well. I think we are already starting to understand that we need properly trained and highly skilled automotive and collision repair technicians to work on our vehicles.

In addition to airbags, car makers are looking at other ways to increase safety as John Quain writes in New York Times. Everyone knows airbags provide safety, but car makers are starting to look at other issues. John writes that over 100 children are backed over and killed every year. To prevent this, the car makers are putting camera in vehicles allowing the driver to see behind them better. This is just a start of what we are seeing in modern day vehicles. However, the features that keep us safer are all vulnerable to damage during a collision. The technician must be much more knowledgeable about electronics to properly repair a vehicle back to its pre-accidental condition.

If you pick up an auto body textbook by James Duffy, you will learn about vehicle construction. The first frames, ladder frames, were designed to hold a car body on the top of it. However, the frame did not provide safety when involved in an accident. Imaging for a minute that you are strapped down to a heavy duty extension ladder. Now imaging that you hit a brick wall traveling at 50 MPH. When you hit the wall you will come to a sudden stop and the impact would be deadly. Now imaging taking the extension ladder and placing some weaker points to the front of the ladder, which will collapse if involved in an accident. While these point collapse, it slows the ladder down before the sudden stop. This would cushion your collision. That is what car designers have done through the years to improve safety. The points that collapse are called crush zones. This can be indentions in the metal, which allows the frame and body panels to crush or collapse in a predictable manner.

At the same time, car designers are making the passenger compartment stronger to prevent the impact from injuring the passengers. This is done with different types of metals and materials. Some of the materials used in car structures and panels include: Mild steel, high strength steel, ultra high strength steel, boron steel, aluminum, magnesium, sheet molded compound, plastic, and carbon fiber. Laser rolled steel allows the manufacture to provide parts with different thicknesses. For example, a pillar may be thicker is certain areas and thinner in other areas. With this technology, the crush zones may not even be visible. This is significant because if a technician does not to know where the crush zones are may result in an improper section procedure. For example, let imaging a hood panel. We know that if you are involved in a front-end collision, the hood is going to buckle up. However, let's say that the hood had some additional supports welded underneath to strengthen it. If this vehicle is now involved in a front-end collision the additional braces will prevent the hood from buckling. This would result in the hood coming through the windshield, which may result in a death. A hood is one example, but the whole vehicle is designed with crush zone throughout the vehicle. If the technician can't see the crush zone, he or she may not know that a repair should not be performed in that area. They must be able to find the proper repair procedures. The traditional methods will not work for modern day vehicles. This will require excellent reading and comprehension skills locate and perform the needed repair procedure.

Earlier we discussed the high-tech technology an average priced car has today. Now let's look at one of the feature of a higher priced car like BMW. On their official website you can learn about the car's steering capabilities. The car's steering range changes depending on the speed you're going. For instance, at slow speed you don't have to turn the steering wheel much to make sharp turns. At higher speed it takes more movement of the steering wheel to make turns. This is a really cool feature, but the steering components are bolted directly to today's unibody structures. Therefore, if the car is involved in an accident, the structure is vulnerable to damage. In the past, technicians could pull the structure back to its correct dimensions give or take a little. Then the front end could be aligned to assure the car will drive properly. However, today's cars allow very little tolerance. The structure must be pulled almost exactly back to its factor dimensions. If not, the front end may never align properly, as there are not any adjustments to adjust on newer vehicles. There is not much adjustment on body panel today either. If the structure is slightly off, this will result in door, hood, and fender gaps misaligned. This requires a technician to be accurate, skilled, and the ability to use mathematical skills.

The consumer is not the only one at risk; an incompetent technician is at risk as well. In an article by I-CAR, the topic of multiple-stage airbags is discussed. Depending on the impact one or two bursts may inflate the airbag. In a light impact the first stage may only fire. This allows the airbag to be inflated long enough to protect the passenger. However, in a hard impact, the impact force is greater and the takes longer before completely stopped. Therefore the second charge fires immediately after the first charge to keep the air bag inflated longer for added protection. The added protection is great for the safety protection to the passengers; however, it can be deadly to the untrained technician. If a technician physically sees that the air bag has deployed. This may have them believe that there is no risk of accidentally deploying it. However, if it is a two-stage system, it could deploy again during repairs, which could result in injury or death to the technician. Its little things like this that may take the un-trained technician out of this business permanently. Another example is the magnesium used in some vehicle parts today. If an unskilled technician determines that he or she needs to make a weld repair on or too close to a radiator support, this could result in severe burns to them, as the radiator support of newer model Ford pick-ups are made out of magnesium. There have been reports of vehicles being burned to the ground in body shops for this reason. If a technician can read and comprehend proper repair procedures, they should not have any problems with safety. However, steering students who are unmotivated that will not perform well in any of their classes to this profession is putting them at risk. We need highly motivated students with academic and technical skills to enter this career pathway.

I think we have conveyed the significance of the safety issues of repairing vehicles back to their pre-accidental condition. Now let's look at what the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) say about required competencies in the book titled Overview of Career and Technical Education by John Scott. Following are the seven skill groups compromising the workplace basics identified in the ASTD report: Foundational-Learning to Learn, Competence-Reading, Writing, and Computation, Communication-Listening and Oral Communications, Adaptability-Creative Thinking and Problem Solving, Personal Management-Self Esteem, Goal Setting/Motivation, and personal/Career Career Development, Group Effectiveness-Interpersonal Skills, Negotiating, and Teamwork, Influence-Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership (Scott 9-10). This sums up the fact that technical careers need highly qualified students entering these professions. For example, a collision repair technician must be able to communicate well with the managers and customers. Miscommunication is one of the biggest problems business managers face. A technician must be able to read the repair order to determine what repairs are needed to the vehicle and what may not be included in the repair process. The technician will also need good reading and comprehension skills to locate and determine the manufacture repair procedures. Mathematical skills are essential to proper measure a damaged frame or unibody structure. It also takes mathematical skills to measure paints and insure proper mixing ratios. However, if you talk to body shop managers, one of the common things they are looking for is good work ethics and a good attitude. As you can see, it takes a rounded set of technical, academic and professional skills to succeed in technical careers.

Allowing students to explore career opportunities to find their interests and talents is an important role for education to play. In fact, there are many students that are bored in academic classes. Some of these students are gifted and intelligent; however, they lose interest and sight and find them-self dropping out of high school. California Governor Schwarzenegger is a big advocate of technical education and discusses it as being a solution to keeping student in school. In an article by Time Magazine he states "I have talked to many kids who tell me they don't want to go to college, so why graduate?" They don't see an end goal. They can't visualize it." The Governor strives to attain additional funding for vocational programs in California. He understands the value and role it plays in society. While technical careers may not be for everyone, but I believe education needs to do a better job of promoting and allowing students to explore all career opportunities allowing them to find their niche.

Would you rather go to an incompetent heart or brain surgeon or an incompetent collision repair technician? You may be quick to say an incompetent technician, but if you think about for a little bit you may realize that the doctor could jeopardize your life. However, a collision repair technician could jeopardize your life, in addition to your family's life and others. As mentioned earlier 115 people die every day in the US due to auto accidents. I don't think that many people die going to the doctor. This puts it in a different perspective, doesn't it? We better keep the slackers out of the health industry and the collision repair industry. Our educational system needs to put the same emphasis on technical education as they do academic skills in order to assure we have properly trained technicians for our future. If we don't expose the different professions to students, then we will pay the consequences for it later.