Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing A machine is defined as “an apparatus using or applying mechanical power and having several parts, each with a definite function and together performing a particular task.” Machines work by accepting an input, transforming or modifying it in some way and then releasing the output of its efforts.  Most discussions and examples of a “machine” will include references to automobiles, a vital piece of the collision repair industry, yet there’s an even more important machine that plays a role in this field: the shop itself! Each repair facility (apparatus) requires several parts (employees) to use or apply their power to function together…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing One bright afternoon in August, Ashley*, a 19-year-old college student, drove down the Parkway on her way home from a shopping expedition with her mother, who was a passenger in her car. When the traffic in front of her slowed down, Ashley slowly engaged her brakes – but the person behind her did not. CRASH! Pulling to the side of the road, Ashley exchanged information with the other driver, but when she attempted to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, she learned that they had not paid their insurance bill and their card was invalid; they were uninsured. …

Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Last month, AASP-MN News shared how two schools’ automotive technology programs are thinking outside the box to address the challenges they face in providing students with the tools and knowledge they need to become successful shop employees after graduation, but with today’s technology advancing faster all the time, several enlightened educators have seen the opportunity to take things a step further by creating new initiatives that specifically target some of the industry’s changing demands.  These schools have taken the initiative to offer unique courses that address shops’ developing needs. Two years ago, Minnesota State Community and Technical College (Moorhead) received a $349,652 grant from…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing It’s no secret that the majority of new vehicles being sold today include ADAS. In fact, around 95 percent of light duty vehicles manufactured in 2023 came equipped with automatic emergency braking, according to CCC Intelligent Solutions’ 2024 Q1 Crash Course Report (available at cccis.com/reports/crash-course-2024/q1) – and experts anticipate that number will continue rising as consumers increasingly rely on these types of safety systems.  With cars being produced with a growing number of electronic components, it’s no wonder that the majority of repairs necessitate calibrations to maintain those components’ functionality following an accident, though the frequency of shops performing calibrations does…