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Competitive companies around the world are raising their financial performance by reducing the environmental impact of their operations. Pollution is a cost which signals room for
improvement; waste is a symptom of a problem. Wherever there is waste, changes can be made for a business to be more efficient, more profitable.
In Australia, the automotive crash repair industry disposes of approximately 36,000 cubic metres of un-compacted waste material per week; comprising of packaging, consumable wastes and damaged components. Approximately half of the damaged components are plastic.
Unlike other industries, the problem of damaged automotive plastic waste is a window of financial opportunity for collision repair specialists. This industry is one of the few that has the opportunity to make a profit from what is at present discarded plastic rubbish. Adopting an attitude of repairing rather than replacing damaged automotive plastic components has far reaching, positive consequences: improving profitability, creating employment and consideration for the environment.
As competition increases in business so to does the importance of maintaining, improving and acquiring new trade skills. Profits cannot be improved by lifting prices. Progressive business must look inwards, "implode" to improve customer service and profitability
by improving practices through training and exploiting ways to capture more profit per job.
Adopting an in-house plastic welding and repair service is essential, for today´s modern crash repairer.
A medium size crash repair business with five panel beaters, engaged in general insurance repairs, can generate enough plastic repairs to employ a plastic welding and repair technician on a full time basis.
Plastic has proven to be one of the most difficult materials when it comes to disposal. As it´s a petroleum product, leeching over time is of major concern in landfill. By repairing instead of replacing, not only is the raw material saved, but the flow on of packaging and energy costs enter the equation.
This training text enables the astute repairer to take advantage of being at the forefront of modern collision repair processes.
Graham McDonagh
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