Sept. 10, 2012—Organizers of Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) on Monday announced the launch of a new special event that will debut during ASRW 2012 in New Orleans—the Auto Body Repairers Assembly.

ASRW organizers said the Auto Body Repairers Assembly is an opportunity for repairers to discuss challenges and solutions to operational issues. The format of the event is designed to transform issues and opinions presented by attendees into resolutions, action items and feedback for operational improvement.

The Auto Body Repairers Assembly is meant strictly for repair professionals. Attendees must be a shop owner, shop manager, shop employee or an official representative of a repair business. No other ASRW attendees, exhibitors or press will be admitted.

“The urgent need for collision repairers to have a forum to openly discuss their issues amongst their peers was brought to the attention of ASRW organizers by repair community leaders across the industry. In response, the Auto Body Repairers Assembly was created as an inaugural event and hosted as a natural extension of the activities that take place during ASRW,” event organizers said. “Depending upon repairer response and interest, future events will be scheduled and the Assembly will become an ongoing venue for repairers to ensure their voice is heard.”

The Auto Body Repairers Assembly is scheduled for Oct. 10 at 4:45 p.m., and will take place at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The event is free for all qualified collision repair professionals. For more information, or to register for the event online, visit asrwevents.com.

“As an event dedicated solely to the professional collision repair industry, NACE is a natural choice, and we’re happy to provide a home to launch this event,” said Ron Pyle, president of the Automotive Service Association (ASA).