The official online publication of the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE), the NACE Online Daily News will be reporting from the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nov. 1-4, 2006. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06 Total loss is the one issue the entire collision repair industry can agree is important because it impacts each of the different industry segments. Today's Town Hall Breakfast addressed the issue through the perspective of different industry representatives, including representatives of body shops, information providers, insurance companies, and OEMs. The program was moderated by former CNN correspondent Gene Randall. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/totalloss.htm "Blend Within Panel" was one of three discussion group meetings this morning as NACE presented its first Early-Bird Roundtable sessions prior to the Town Hall Breakfast featuring Total Loss issues. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/blend.htm At a Saturday morning Early Bird Roundtable, Darrell Amberson, AAM, president of Lehman's Garage in Minneapolis, Minn., and ASA's Collision Division director, led a group of his peers in a thorough discussion of multi-shop ownership. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/multishop.htm At the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) closing press conference Saturday, Nov. 4, show officials reported on the success of the education events, highlighted several new activities introduced this year, shared feedback obtained from exhibitors and attendees, and set the stage for next year's event. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/closing.htm Representatives from Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai fielded questions from repairers regarding many of the most difficult repair challenges they face now or are just beginning to face. Highlights included inquiries on the accessibility of OEM repair information, new materials such as high-strength and boron steel, and the involvement of repairers in vehicle development. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/forum.htm At a Friday afternoon press conference, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) announced its new health insurance benefit, which will launch in early 2007. The health care program, the Automotive Industry Health Insurance Trust (A-HIT), is ASA's newest member benefit and will be available nationwide by the end of 2007 following a regional rollout. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/asapress.htm Several industry awards were handed out during Friday morning's OE Forum. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/awards.htm Obviously, a vehicle show makes perfect sense at a trade show dedicated to the body repair industry. And now auto repair professionals have the opportunity to show off their skills and their labors of love to their colleagues. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/autocycle.htm Prior to Friday morning's OE Forum, Darrell Andrews, chairman of the National Collision Repair Technology Committee of SkillsUSA and property claim trainer with State Farm Insurance, and Geralynn Kottschade, NACE chairman, recognized the winners of this year's Collision Repair Technology National Contest. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/skills.htm During the awards presentions before Friday morning's OE Forum, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), presented this year's ASA-ASE Top Score Award. The award was presented to Scott Daffron, owner of Daffron's Body Shop and Used Cars Inc. in Cortland, Ohio. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/topscore.htm "Superior marketing is and always has been analysis, then action. It is the way to customer satisfaction and increasing your profit. Marketing is everything you do to bring a customer to the point of sale," said Hank Nunn, who presented the seminar "Maximizing Your Marketing Effectiveness" to NACE attendees Friday afternoon. And by the end of the presentation, his key message is that marketing for today's collision repair center is more important than ever. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/maximizing.htm Accelerating Cycle Time (ACT) is one of the quickest and most-efficient ways to go about increasing profit margins. In today's collision centers, cycle time can be one of the most difficult aspects on which to get a grasp. But in h is Friday afternoon Congress session, Kent Carlson said cycle time is a key area that must be measured; and those results harnessed to accelerate cycle times. http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/cycle.htm Bernie Blickenstaff began his Friday afternoon Congress session on "Measuring Collision Center Performance" by stating three objectives for the class. "Each attendee should grasp three points," said Blickenstaff. "First, they should understand the importance of performance measurement; second, they will learn to improve the performance of their collision center; and third, they will be able to benchmark performance with non-competitive collision centers." http://www.autoinc.org/daily06/measuring.htm