This raises an interesting point. Most of us have an attachment or appreciation for other dated objects such as automobiles, printed materials and practically everything else from housewares to farm equipment. We even wax sentimental when seeing pictures of old household appliances ("Remember when we owned that old lime green fridge?") or when we talk about our old audio and video component purchases ("I really thought Beta was the way to go!"). In stark contrast, outdated computers and the like get the kind of regard we typically reserve for the hairdos we sported in our high school portraits.
I suspect that attitude rises partly out of some repressed resentment we carry for the technology that impacts our working lives. Sure, this technology makes us more productive and efficient and helps us all be better workers, but keeping on top of it is difficult and expensive. As soon as we master one technology, something newer comes on the market. On top of all that, the constant changeover in technology can make us feel threatened about our own usefulness. The soul-shattering question here: What happens the day we feel we can no longer keep up?
Yet we do. Many shops have done an impressive job of staying current. Considering the daily struggles they face just bringing in business in this industry and turning a buck, many are eager to latch onto new tools to improve their operations long before this technology has become the norm for the rest of the industry. In this month's "Paint and refinishing trends and technology" supplement, we detail how California shops are making the move to waterborne products look relatively easy. Shops elsewhere in the country are making this transition years before legislative mandates would compel them to.
If you look elsewhere in this issue, we also cover airbag repair and replacement and alignments – tasks that all require a great deal of training and knowledge along with the willingness to stay updated. These tasks also require techs to be well versed in the scientific method, which requires them to make observations and run tests to diagnose problems and then provide technical solutions. For all else they are, our techs, painters, estimators and managers also are very much working scientists who incorporate new technology in their operations. Better than that, they work with manufacturers to introduce the new ideas that revolutionize our industry.
As this industry searches for an appropriate image it can broadcast to the general public, the shop as a 21st century technological center is a great one. It's also an image we should be building on and celebrating every day.
Tim Sramcik
