I-CAR launched DACUM (develop a curriculum), a process for occupational analysis supported by the Ohio State University’s Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE).
The university’s Web site describes the DACUM process as “involving local men and women with reputations for being the top performers at their jobs, working on a short-term committee assignment with a qualified DACUM facilitator. Workers are recruited directly from business and industry. These workers become the panel of experts who collectively and cooperatively describe the occupation in the language of the occupation.”
“In the past, I-CAR identified what it felt was most appropriate training for specific roles in the industry based upon a combination of technical research and industry feedback,” explains Jason Bartanen, I-CAR technical director. “The DACUM process I-CAR is using in conjunction with OSU provides a more structured process that allows the people who actually do the work to tell us what they do. I-CAR, along with other inter-industry training organizations, can then begin to develop a training and career path for those individuals.”
I-CAR included several individuals from the collision repair and insurance industries in the two two-day sessions that took place in July. Those attending from the collision repair industry included Stacy Bartnik, CARSTAR; Dennis Steinke, ABRA; Paul Blaski, Sterling AutoBody; John Sanders, True2Form; Aaron Clark, Collision Solutions; and Chris Hardin, Autobody of Columbus. Those participating from the insurance industry included Tom Perrett, Allstate; Garrett Fitzpatrick, State Farm; Kenny Hall, State Farm; Craig LeBlanc, Farmers Insurance; Kenny Hall, Progressive Insurance; Kyle Thompson, USAA; John Williams, IADA; Chris Boisvert, Nationwide; Jesse Flaugher, Safeco; and Chad Scott, Safeco.
The participation of professionals from within the industry in the DACUM process will allow I-CAR to better-develop training that is relevant to the roles that are represented within the auto collision inter-industry. The DACUM work, in conjunction with existing feedback provided by instructors and volunteers, the International Advisory Committee, Industry Segment Advisory Councils, and I-CAR research with vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and students, will provide information for the development of the next-generation of I-CAR curriculum that the industry has requested to fill its training needs.
“Last year, I-CAR launched an aggressive external scanning effort to help identify areas the organization could improve to deliver on its mission to providing timely and relevant training to the collision inter-industry,” says John Edelen, president and CEO of I-CAR. “The work of these dedicated volunteers who are participating in the DACUM process will help I-CAR develop and deliver role-based training that fulfills the I-CAR vision that every person in the collision industry, current and future, has the necessary knowledge and skills relevant to their position to achieve a complete and safe repair.”
