NACE Network Area Returns to ASRW

Officials of Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW) and CCC Information Services Inc. are pleased to announce the return (back by popular demand) of conveniently located private meeting rooms during NACE and CARS. These complimentary spaces are available to any registered ASRW 2012 participant (attendee or exhibitor) who requests one.

The NACE Network will be available Oct 10-13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. In advance of the show, reservations can be made on a first-come, first-served basis by completing a form on the NACE or CARS websites. On-site reservations can also be accommodated at The NACE Network reception area on a first-come, first-served basis. Each room can be reserved for up to 90 minutes.

The meeting rooms will be located on Level 2 of the Morial Convention Center, in close proximity to the ASRW Expo show floor in an area named “The NACE Network.” The area will consist of small and larger private rooms, each equipped with comfortable furnishings, wireless Internet and a plasma flatscreen or screen projector equipped with a laptop connection.

AMRA Names Director

The Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association (AMRA) and the Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) have announced the addition of Joseph M. “Joe” Henmueller to the association staff as director of administration. His duties involve overseeing the MAP Technical Committee as well as handling AMRA’s technical services and office administration.

He most recently served as manager of operations and compliance for Midas International. Henmueller also previously served on the AMRA board of directors and was co-chairman of the MAP Technical Committee.

Study Shows Training Pays

Training has a direct correlation to business performance, says I-CAR.

Research in 2011 by I-CAR and participating Industry Training Alliance members uncovered that of 69 percent of collision repair facilities that did not train, 7 percent went out of business.

To better identify the link between training and performance, I-CAR conducted additional research this year. It studied key performance indicators of specific repair shops over an eight-month period, during which the shops took role-based training from the I-CAR Professional Development Program. The results were startling. One hundred percent of the participating facilities saw increased monthly revenue, with half of those shops averaging a 5 percent increase, and the other half averaging more than a 10 percent increase in revenue. Additionally, on average, touch time improved by 45 percent, customer service index scores improved by more than 5 percent, and cycle time improved by 14 percent.

I-CAR says it will incorporate this knowledge into future curriculum offerings. “I-CAR believes indisputably that knowledge and education are the foundation for excellence,” says Jeff Peevy, senior director of Field Operations and Segment Development for I-CAR.

Likis to Lead NASTF Panel

If you’re attending Automotive Service and Repair Week, you won’t want to miss the fall meeting of the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) on Oct. 13. It will be held from 1-4:30 p.m. and it’ll be open to all show pass holders at ASRW events in the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Multimedia car-talk personality Bobby Likis will lead a panel of ethanol fuel system experts who will present exciting new engine technologies.