Lean manufacturing panel, insurer liaison to highlight SCRS Annual Meeting

PROSSER, Wash. – The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), April 15-16 in Philadelphia, will feature a panel discussion on lean manufacturing followed by a presentation by Cindy Fillman, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Insurance Consumer Liaison, who will speak about the role of the Department of Insurance and how it can help collision repairers.

Lean manufacturing is a concept that has recently taken hold in the collision repair industry, and the panel discussion will take place at 8:30 a.m. on April 16. An efficient production system originated by Toyota Motor Company, lean manufacturing is designed to reduce unnecessary waste in the collision repair process.

"Over the past five years, collision repair shops have begun to embrace lean production principles in order to meet the challenges of changing market dynamics," states panel member Steven J. Feltovich, manager of Business Consulting Services for Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. "The intensifying demands of insurance companies and increasing customer requirements are the major influences necessitating this transformation. By learning and implementing lean production principles, shops have proven to produce higher yields, eliminate waste and improve profitability."

Panel member Steve Schaefer-President of Schaefer Autobody Centers in St. Louis, Mo., and a partner in @ccelerate, a company that facilitates theory of constraints (TOC) implementations in the collision repair industry, agrees that the subject is a timely one. "Understanding the principles of lean manufacturing is important so that every stakeholder in the collision repair industry can successfully remove as much wasted motion as possible. By 'wasted motion,' I mean anything that does not serve the true needs of the customer. Step one in the process is understanding those needs,” he says.

Ken Friesen, President and CEO of Concours Collision Centres Ltd. in Calgary, Alberta, Canada believes by sitting on the panel, he can help clear up confusion regarding the subject. "For one thing, lean manufacturing is not a quick fix for all that ails your business. To make it work, it takes a lengthy commitment as it is a highly disciplined, process-centric approach to production,” he says.

Also on April 16 beginning at 10:15 a.m., immediately following the panel discussion, Cindy Fillman, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Insurance Consumer Liaison, will speak about the role of the Department of Insurance and how it can help collision repairers. With the current unrest permuting the industry, SCRS believes it is critical to have repairers become more engaged with their respective departments of insurance. Fillman's presentation will give attendees valuable insight into two areas: How the Department of Insurance and repairers can work closely together through SCRS; and a discussion of selected hot-button issues in Pennsylvania, including steering and what action the Department of Insurance is taking in regard to it.

Other events of interest taking place over the two days include the SCRS annual election, which marks the installation of new SCRS officers, and the SCRS Corporate Awards Dinner. For the convenience of attendees, the SCRS Annual Meeting is being held in conjunction with Collision Industry Conference (CIC), which takes place on Wednesday, April 16th in the afternoon and Thursday, April 17th. A more detailed schedule of events is available on the SCRS Web site www.scrs.com.

If you would like to attend these presentations, please RSVP to Linda Atkins in the SCRS Administration Office via phone (877) 841-0660 or by e-mail to [email protected] by April 4th.