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knowmeasure If it’s out of whack, how will we know? PUBLISHER DARRYL SIMMONS (905) 370-0101 publisher@collisionrepairmag.com
By Darryl Simmons
I
’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. If you can’t measure, then you don’t really know. Usually when I say this, I’m talking about key performance indicators, cycle time, productivity and so forth. This time, around, however, I’m talking about literal measuring. This issue has a product showcase focused on the latest and greatest in measuring systems for vehicle repair. The article features entries from every category. Mechanical and electronic measuring systems are both represented. I’m not here to lecture you on which kind of measuring system to use in your collision repair facility. I have no doubt
“I could give you a small stick of wood, with some marks on it, and I can tell you it’s a yard, but unless I’ve calibrated that stick against something, then you may or may not get accurate measurements,” Watts said. “It’s amazing that this industry has gone for as long as it has with no verification system for how we measure cars. You can’t buy a litre of gasoline or a pound of hamburger without it going across a scale that’s been verified as accurate. Why aren’t the same standards applied to systems used to repair a $30,000 Lexus?” He makes a good point. Even if we ignore the benefits to repair quality, there’s one big reason I can think of to make sure
We need to depend on the system giving us the right info. that they all have merit. Some may be better in certain situations than others, but they all have a place. What I will say, though, is that you had better be sure that whatever system you’re using is properly calibrated. The tolerances are very exact. If it’s off by as much as a few millimetres, it can throw the entire repair out of whack. You won’t necessarily know about it, either. It might not be visible to the naked eye, so we need to depend on the measuring system giving us the right information. Measuring systems are calibrated at the factory, of course, but there is always the possibility that they will drift out of calibration over time. I don’t know how likely that is to happen, but if there’s any possibility at all, we should take steps to make sure the systems we’re using are properly calibrated. Robert Watts is the CEO of Advanced Measurement Systems. In a recent conversation with our editor, Mike Davey, he outlined why he believes that some sort of calibration standard is needed.
your system is calibrated: liability mitigation. One big, successful lawsuit can put a shop right out of business. Do you think a calibration system is something we need? Feel free to email or call me and let me know, or give me your opinion when you run into me at an industry event. In other news, I’m happy to say that we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary this year. It’s been a long, strange trip, but it’s been well worth it. Starting in this issue, we’ll have special anniversary content for the whole year. We kick off this issue with a look back at our earlier years with a series of photos. Don’t think that celebrating an anniversary means we’re resting on our laurels. Stay tuned for some special stuff as we move into 2012. CRM
04 collision Repair collisionrepairmag.com
EDITOR MIKE DAVEY editor@collisionrepairmag.com ART DIRECTOR DANIELA LUBERTO daniela@collisionrepairmag.com Interns Amanda skopec, Matthew so, W. Mike Dineen COLUMNISTS DAVID GOLD, JAY PERRY, JONATHAN BARRICK, SAM PIERCEY, TOM BISSONNETTE VP INDUSTRY RELATIONS GLORIA MANN (647) 998-5677 advertising@collisionrepairmag.com VP Digital Media JOE PLATI (647) 669-2625 jplati@mediamatters.ca circulation department Pat Cappelli (905) 370-0101 pat@mediamatters.ca publisher’s assistant Ryan Potts ryan@mediamatters.ca SUBSCRIPTION One-year $29.95 / Two-year $55.95 Collision Repair™ magazine is published bi-monthly, and is dedicated to serving the business interests of the collision repair industry. It is published by Media Matters Inc. Material in Collision Repair magazine may not be reproduced in any form with out written consent from the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements made by its advertisers or independent columnists. All facts, opinions, statements appearing in this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by the publisher. PRINTED IN CANADA ISSN 1707-6072 CANADA POST CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL SALES PRODUCT AGREEMENT No. 40841632 RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED Send change of address notices and undeliverable copies to: 86 John Street Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2
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