Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) is fast approaching, and despite all there is to see that week, the 2006 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) is dedicated to helping shop owners, technicians and other mechanical repair shop employees change their work and their lives. From Nov. 2 to 4, CARS will provide AAIW attendees with insights into the issues that affect today's repair shop operations and the emerging trends that will shape the successful shops of tomorrow. While the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) show has been shortened by a day this year, CARS has added an extra day to its program. In addition, CARS is offering "single-day registrations" that will allow those attending other AAIW events an opportunity to experience the convention on a day of their choosing. Past CARS participants know the value in attending. But for those still considering registration, here are four reasons why you might want to invest your time.
1. Taking the industry to the next level What you have to say matters. On Wednesday, Nov. 1, two special preshow events will be held. The morning session is an open forum discussing shop licensing; a meeting of the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) follows in the afternoon. Both events are outside the scope of CARS and are open to the public. Bill Haas, vice president of education and training for the Automotive Service Association (ASA), says that the shop licensing issue has had various levels of support within the industry over the years, and that interest by ASA's membership is stronger now than ever before. Citing ASA's most recent membership survey, Haas says 75 percent of respondents now favor some form of shop licensing. The tide has shifted for a number of reasons, including the belief that a licensed designation conveys a level of professionalism, training and ability to consumers worthy of commanding associated rates. A panel of experts, moderated by Bob Redding, will discuss the importance of shop licensing and how you can help develop a shop licensing program for your state or enhance an existing one. The forum session is designed to allow attendees to interact with the panel. The dialogue is important, not only in the discussion of the pros and cons among attendees, but also in bringing the insight and direction to the forefront, says Haas. In the afternoon following the forum, the NASTF general meeting will convene to review progress made this past year in formalizing the organization, as well as to provide updates from its committees.
2. Are you ready for J2534? Haas stresses that shops need to attend CARS this year if they want to avoid sending customers to dealerships when the SAE J2534 protocol arrives. "From a technical education side, the 12 technical sessions will feature an emphasis on reprogramming, initializing and diagnostics with respect to the new SAE J2534 protocol," he says. While all automakers are compliant, there are some individual issues with certain models that will require different handling, tools and protocols to resolve problems. "It may not be what people want to hear, but it will allow people to get the information they need to know - knowledge of the J2534 technology, the tools required, and how to address service problems in the marketplace," Haas notes. "There is a misconception in the industry that J2534 was to result in uniformity - that all vehicles would be able to be handled with one tool and one procedure," Haas adds. "Frankly, that understanding of J2534 is wrong, and ASA wants to ensure its membership is aware and prepared for the reality. The show will address the misinformation out there with real applications that work. There are a lot of things technicians and shops should know that will help them be effective, efficient and profitable in doing it."
3. Managing with success "top of mind"
With three full days available for management education this year, Haas says that CARS is focusing each day on a specific management theme: financial matters, marketing and personal development. Full-day, AMI-credited sessions have been developed for each day, with topics honed to help develop skills that can be used to improve bottom lines, tune customer relationships and demonstrate leadership skills that convey to customers just why they should do business with you. "Dealerships tend to have a large enough size to have both technical and management specialists. For independent shops, that luxury is not always possible," says Haas. "For them, it's more concentrated within the people they have. We need to ensure we are as effective as managers as we are as technicians." Haas also notes that the keynote address by Tom Easton will dovetail with the technical and management educational seminars. "Tom Easton is going to make you look at yourself," Haas says. "He will help our attendees think about what they need to do to drive their businesses forward. 'Who am I? Where am I? Where do I want to be? How do I get there in time?' "
4. Exhibits that matter "During Industry Week, a person can see a lot of product and touch the glitzy and glamorous edges," Haas says. "While CARS offers practical technical and management training that can be implemented today, it also has those product and services exhibits that can drive businesses forward." This year, he notes, the exhibits will reinforce the topics covered in seminars. The emphasis is on diagnostic equipment, in addition to services that will help shops attract and retain customers, as well as manage effective communications with them. "This year, CARS will feature a Top Tech Competition." adds Haas. "One of the exhibitors has set aside space to run a competition, with stations that will allow techs to test their diagnostic ability against their peers." The event is designed to be fun, yet demonstrate that diagnostics is the edge that independents have over dealerships, providing them with one more marketing message to consumers. Preregistration for CARS is available online, with an early-bird discount available for those who register by Sept. 22. More information on registration, the program of events and seminars can be viewed online at the
CARS Web
site.
(Source: ASA)
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