AkzoNobel informs managers

AkzoNobel informs managers

The theme of this year’s conference was “Are You Ready?” Drastic changes in mobility culture – driver assistance systems, autonomous driving, car sharing, etc. – are constantly presenting the paint and bodywork industry with new challenges. "Are you ready?" is primarily aimed at the extent to which the individual business owner is prepared to reject traditional schemes and dare to try something new. In his opening speech, Benjamin Burkard, Sales Manager at AkzoNobel VR DACH, emphasized that, despite ever-increasing insurance losses and the currently increasing number of accidents, paint shops are facing fundamental changes. Who will control our damage in the future? Burkard used the example of “care by Volvo” to illustrate that it is no longer the driver, but the manufacturer who makes the decision about where the vehicle will be insured and repaired. Every company must implement the following goals: optimize utilization, reduce dependencies, maximize profits. This requires process optimization and employee involvement.

MOBILITY SYSTEMS

After mobility researcher Thomas Sauter-Servaes outlined the mobility of the future and predicted that everything would happen much faster than currently expected - "The smartphone as a means of communication between people and cars" - Andreas Brodhage, GF Global Automotive Service, spoke about new customer needs and the upcoming mobility mix. His core thesis: “Aftersales is the only way to create customer loyalty.” Christoph Lauterwasser, CEO of the Allianz Center for Technology, predicted that the next decade would be dominated by driver assistance systems. And these would significantly influence the frequency and extent of damage to vehicles involved in accidents. Future vehicle concepts will be networked, electrified and automated. A network like Acoated Selected offers companies a knowledge advantage and opens up possible solutions so that they can continue to work profitably and efficiently. PCE (Process Centered Environment) was named as the most important tool for improving processes. AkzoNobel's own process optimization concept is an effective tool that encourages rethinking and has a significant influence on operational success.

SKILLS SHORTAGE

Thomas Aukamm, Central Association for Body and Vehicle Technology, dealt with the explosive issue of “skilled labor shortages” and spoke of a “competition for qualified personnel”. HE advocated higher apprenticeship compensation and said the official tariffs had to be attractive in order to attract young, talented people. Kai Gräper, Acoat Selected Manager DACH, emphasized that AkzoNobel primarily wanted to support partner companies in fully exploiting their existing potential and recognizing and using new opportunities. Acoat Selected Intense - from 2019 the auditing for this will be carried out externally via Dekra - currently has over 100 companies in German-speaking countries. Goal for 2019: 150 partners. According to Daniel Kapeller, sales manager at AkzoNobel Austria, 38 companies in Austria are currently Acoat Selected partners. Kapeller is generally satisfied: “We were able to gain 28 new companies for Sikkens this year.” Kai Gräper's closing statement conveyed the message above all that there is no reason to be afraid of what is coming, but that it is appropriate to see change as an opportunity.