Repaint Reporter

6 " solvent eMissions is cleaRly an aRea that's GoinG to dRive the industRy and technoloGy." GaReth huGhes " PPG will oFFeR a total wateRboRne systeM by q1 2014." John outcalt focused improvement events called rapid improvement workshops, where we roll up our sleeves and work side by side with customers while they make the required changes to their process. There is no magic pill but there is a proven system to get real results. huGhes: one of the things i see is customer demand to make products easier to use. Simple mix ratios. easy to apply. Very robust in terms of application method. customers want better appearance straight from the gun, so there's less polishing, making them easier to use and faster overall. what Key investMents is PPG ReFinish MaKinG to Maintain its Role as the leadinG ReFinish Paint suPPlieR? outcalt: we continue working on expanding our waterborne systems. The Delaware, ohio, waterborne manufacturing plant is a multi- million dollar investment for water- based coatings in America. it's a state-of-the-art facility that allows us to manufacture all our water systems in the u.S. Additionally, PPG will offer a total waterborne system by q1 2014—primers, basecoats and clears. huGhes: Trends project the use of water in more layers. More waterborne primers and waterborne clearcoats will be They can become a real resource for independents, with value-added services and programs. not everybody wants it, but some folks really appreciate advice and input. Shops will listen to the local guy they've done business with for decades. beRKey: Just as important as the shop's ability to improve performance is their ability to connect with the customer. Businesses today must find a way to be unique, to make the experience for the customer unique in a world of sameness. Smaller organizations have no disadvantage to larger MSos or consolidators when it comes to creatively marketing and creating a memorable experience for the customer. what Key PRactices aRe eMeRGinG to helP collision centeRs Meet deMands FoR cycle tiMe PeRFoRMance? beRKey: To reduce cycle time in any shop we have to work on the car, it is as simple as that. we need to solve the process problems that force us to stop working on the car. PPG has had a comprehensive Lean for collision system to reduce cycle time for years now. we use the popular Green Belt class to get participants to a point where they understand what must be done. our in-shop methodology is to run beRKey: Smaller independent shops can have a decided advantage when it comes to making changes in shop performance. improving cycle time requires the organization to become better at solving problems and improving processes. This requires culture change. The larger the organization, the tougher this is. Many smaller independent shops have moved the performance needle more quickly than their competition and are being awarded business for making those changes. claRK: independent shops should work more closely with their distributor. The distributor is a key part of a body shop's success.

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