Eastern Regional Conference Breathes Life into Division

Sudbury is home to one of the world’s largest deposits of nickel, courtesy of a meteorite collision some 1.6 billion years ago.

Significantly more recently than that, the Automotive Industries Association of Canada’s Eastern Regional Conference hit town.

With a rejuvenated Northern Ontario Division at the helm–it has just recently been reconstituted, with Bob Neault of Exide as divisional head–nearly 100 aftermarket professionals took in a program that featured everything from a funeral director talking about life and success, to consultant and trainer Bob Greenwood talking about how not to let your business die.

In between was a selection of speakers offering some paths to success through consumer awareness of vehicle maintenance, and how to deal with technological change in the maintenance marketplace.

Local notable Gerry Lougheed, of funeral firm Lougheed’s Limited, gave an entertaining presentation on having an effective and efficient workplace, and happy homes.

“You want to be sure that you can be successful in changing circumstances. Changing circumstances is, in fact, a way of life. Success is our capacity to change.”

It is, he says, all about the attitude you bring to your business and your personal life.

Seeking to change the attitudes of the consumer at large is Kelly Williams, Be Car Care Aware spokesperson.

“When we’re touring, we’re using the whole environmental aspect. There are two billion dollars in unperformed maintenance in Canada, so we are going after that. And we are working to build the image of the industry.”

In the past year the program has been featured in more than 100 television appearances, 80 radio presentations, plus myriad community programs.

There is also much work to be done on less public concerns.

Association chairman John Cochrane provided an update on the association’s activities, including a report on some progress on the access to information issue.

“We need everyone to be involved. We must keep the pressure on government to make the change. It is absolutely critical.”

As a demonstration of the issue, he logged on to the Ford U.S. Motorcraft website, and onto the programming and calibration information.

“That information access is not available in Canada. We don’t have it with Ford Motor Company. We don’t have it with Honda.” And a number of other companies similarly restrict access. He acknowledges that much of this information is accessed through the grey market. “Everybody has a backdoor deal. But we need to do it right.” AIA chairman Ray Datt reminded attendees that the information is copyrighted in the US, and if you access it without assent, you are breaking the law.

How big is the problem? Some 40% of Ford vehicle repairs in Ford dealerships require reflash as part of the service. A survey of 40 GM vehicles at a used car lot in London, Ont., revealed that all required a reflash for some type of driveability issue.

It is, he concluded, an issue of critical importance to the industry.

Among other presenters was Louise Turcotte, who gave a presentation on Cambrian College’s SkyTech program, a co-op diploma apprenticeship program.

It was created 10 years ago when the industry was suffering from skills shortages, and the traditional apprenticeship delivery program was no longer effective. “The original intent was to also have a place they could send their own people for skills upgrading,” she explained.

The program provides a combination of post-secondary training and apprenticeship in an innovative way that works more effectively with the needs of business and the student.

“It is something we would like to apply to the automotive technician.” That addition is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Also, Ray Proulx walked the attendees through what KYB has learned through its business training at the shop level. Bill Wruble, Delphi, spoke on technology changes, and Bob Greenwood focused on the bottom line.

Western Regional Conference Coming in September

The AIA Western Regional Conference will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan on September 13-14, 2007 at the Delta Regina Hotel, the leading hotel in the city.

For more information, visit www.aiacanada.caor contact Patty Kettles at pattykettles@aiacanada.com or 1-800-808-2920 ext. 221.<