3M offers hands-on training at new Skills Development Center
By SARAH PERKINS
According to industry research, 34 percent of automotive shop owners believe that finding qualified technicians is the single biggest challenge they face. Comparatively, TechForce projects a shortage of over 100,000 collision technicians by 2026.
Luckily, for collision repairers across North America, school is in session at 3M’s new Skills Development Center (SDC). This October, Collision Repair magazine had the privilege of being the exclusive Canadian media at the grand opening in St. Paul, Minnesota.
This state-of-the-art facility is set to become a hub for professional repairer and educator training, addressing the industry-wide need for advanced training as well as the on-going North American technician shortage. Dedicated to educating and upskilling technicians across all levels of experience on the most updated automotive collision repair and refinishing processes through intensive hands-on training, the SDC complements the company’s suite of online training programs available through the 3M Collision Repair Academy.
“The new 3M Skills Development Center represents our commitment to advancing the collision repair industry,” said Dave Gunderson, President of the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “We’re thrilled to provide collision repair staff with access to real-world experts and the latest training processes to enhance their skills and knowledge.”
3M officially opened its doors to the 15,000-square-foot centre in early October. The centre will be able to accommodate over 100 training sessions annually and provide hands-on education to over 1,000 technicians and assorted industry professionals.
Attendees will be able to range from seasoned experts looking to enhance their comprehensive understanding of the latest OEM specs and repair standard operating procedures, to students looking to explore careers in collision repair and attending vocational training for the first time. “With a worldwide shortage of qualified technicians and increasingly complex vehicles being manufactured, 3M opened the SDC to bring awareness to the employment opportunities available in the industry, help instructors and technicians keep up with the latest technologies, and ensure they are trained to repair vehicles properly,” said 3M Canada President, Penny Wise.
A key design theme to the centre is a focus on flexibility. A modular layout allows for the Skills Development Centre to be readjusted to adopt the needs of the students and partners in attendance. Moreover, a hands-on work environment represents 70 percent of the building’s overall square footage with workshop stations and 24 drops for electrical and air service.
These features are further accompanied by a 35-foot GFS XL paint booth with three stage filtration—one of the largest automotive paint booths available on the market, capable of accommodating 16 painters simultaneously. The facility also features a dedicated welding space with a dozen Pro Spot welding stations individually equipped with fume extraction hoods. “The training philosophy [of the SDC] revolves around the ‘science of why,’ ensuring trainees understand the rationale behind repair techniques. By emphasizing OEM recommendations as the foundation for these techniques, the SDC reinforces industry standards,” said Victoria Eggleston, 3M’s global operations manager.
In light of the swiftly evolving landscape of vehicle technology, the impending shortage of technicians and the growing demand for standardized training, Eggleston underscores the pivotal role the SDC plays in bridging this crucial gap in the industry. Leading instruction at the SDC is a dedicated and passionate staff of seasoned collision repair veterans with more than 85 years of combined industry experience.
According to Craig Jalbert, 3M Canada division leader of the Automotive Aftermarket Division, “It has become increasingly evident our industry is lacking technician recruitment and retention. 3M took notice, and to help grapple this growing issue we invested in this innovative facility to focus on the development of current and future collision repair technicians.” While the North American automotive technician shortage may not be solved overnight, institutions like the Skills Development Centre are helping to ensure that the future of the industry can work towards getting a passing grade.
