AssessorsJournalMagSpring2024 web - Flipbook - Page 26
JOURNAL
SKILLS
TRAINING,
UPSKILLING AND
DATA ACCESS
CRUCIAL FOR
BODYSHOPS
Dave Shepherd.
Dave Shepherd is a respected 昀椀gure in the bodyshop sector. A former bodyshop owner
himself, these days he is an industry consultant and advisor. On behalf of ALLDATA
Europe, Dave looks back at the early days of collision repair, explores the in昀氀uences that
have driven its evolution and how this is driving the need for data and repair information
across the sector.
ecently, the body
repair industry has
undergone a profound
transformation. From
its humble beginnings,
where repairers primarily dealt with
bent metal and damaged paintwork, to
the current landscape 昀椀lled with
high-voltage (HV) systems, advanced
driver assistance features, and
autonomous vehicles, the industry has
evolved signi昀椀cantly.
R
As a result of this evolution, it has
become clear that professionals in
the bodyshop sector must continually
adapt. Staff need to be fully trained;
they require up-to-date mechanical
and systems knowledge, the appetite
to learn new skills and have access to
the very latest repair information to
meet the demands of today's complex
vehicles.
In the early days of collision repair,
the primary focus was on repairing the
physical damage caused by accidents,
with occasional complexities arising
when drivetrains or engines needed
removal to facilitate repairs. As vehicle
manufacturers (VMs) strived to enhance
vehicle safety and reduce weight for
improved fuel ef昀椀ciency, however, the
industry underwent a seismic shift.
The introduction of in-car infotainment
systems, advanced safety features,
HV systems, safety restraint systems,
and the ever-advancing march toward
autonomous and EVs ushered in a new
era of complexity.
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Today, bodyshops are tasked with
repairing vehicles that have intricate
body structures. They have multiple
advanced systems and increasingly
stringent safety requirements. In this
landscape, it is no longer enough for
repair professionals to rely solely on
their traditional skills. The need for
continuous training, the acquisition of
mechanical and systems knowledge,
and access to comprehensive repair
data have become indispensable.
Professionals in
the industry must
continuously invest
in training and skill
development while
also having access
to comprehensive
repair information.
To ensure the safe and effective
recovery and repair of vehicles,
technicians and recovery agents
require immediate access to accurate,
standardised easy to interpret data.
This information allows them to
understand what needs to be done,
in what order, and how to carry out
the necessary processes, without
compromising a vehicle system’s
integrity. The absence of this critical
data can lead to damage, increased
repair costs, and, in extreme cases,
injuries or fatalities.
During the repair process,
understanding the precise location
of vehicle components is vital to
their safe removal and reinstallation.
Equally crucial is the availability of
this information during the estimating
stage, enabling Vehicle Damage
Assessors (VDAs) to create accurate
repair plans and work orders.
Even seemingly minor repairs,
such as replacing a door mirror or
front bumper, require specialised
knowledge. Modern components often
come equipped with lane departure
warning systems, cameras and
proximity sensors. Proper integration
of these components and subsequent
calibration are essential to ensure that
they function correctly post-repair.
Failure to adhere to these requirements
can have dire consequences, such as
rendering advanced safety systems
ineffective.
For both independent repair shops
and multi-brand dealers, to reiterate,
ensuring the safe repair of vehicles is
paramount. However, it is not feasible
for these businesses to compile repair
data from every VM. This is where
ALLDATA Europe steps in to bridge
the gap: ALLDATA Repair possesses
original repair and collision information
for 36 VMs. The information is available
THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL | SPRING 2024 | www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor
