LB Autobody receives certification to work on high-tech vehicles

With the automotive industry producing more technologically advanced vehicles, Moose Jaw’s LB Beattie Autobody is keeping up with the changes by ensuring it has the right certifications to fix these machines.

The autobody shop recently received official certification from Certified Collision Care, a non-profit consumer advocacy organization that promotes the use of right tools, equipment, training and buildings necessary to repair vehicles according to the manufacturers’ specifications. LB Autobody is now capable of the most advanced repair possible and is part of the most efficient collision repair network in the world. Besides Certified Collision Care, the business is also certified by Fiat Chrysler, Nissan Canada, and Kia.

“I’m totally excited about it,” owner Terry Beattie told the Moose Jaw Express. “It’s great. Our people are empowered. We’ve put them through a lot of training. We have a good crew here and we’re totally embracing it.” Having this certification is important in collision repair, especially since Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is developing a plan to have all autobody shops certified so they can work on today’s vehicles, Beattie said. His team would not be able to make repairs to certain vehicles without this designation. Manufacturers have also been pushing to ensure their vehicles are repaired properly, especially since major lawsuits have happened in the United States over vehicles that were not fixed well.

The whole industry is receiving an overhaul, he continued. The objective is to ensure customers’ vehicles are safe when being put back on the road and to ensure autoI pretty much hated school. From day 1 of kindergarten (yes, I remember it) until the end of my professional education, there was nothing about school that I liked. It goes to wonder then, that if I hated it so much, why did I voluntarily continue to go for so many years after high school?

Part of my personality includes not being able to tolerate very well being told what to do. I figured the longer I went to school, the better my chances were to be able to get a job where there was more freedom. Another part of school I didn’t like very much was anything to do with research. While I understood the importance of research, I wanted very little to do with it because of all the statistics involved in research.

I realized recently what else I didn’t like about research, and it comes down to the whole “control” Terry Beattie, owner of LB Beattie Autobody, and his team have received official certification from the Certified Collision Centre, which will allow the business to work on some of the most technologically advanced vehicles on the market. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

body shops are confident in the work.

“I’ve always liked change,” Beattie said. “It’s the new normal.”

To become certified, LB Beattie Autobody passed a rigorous certification process to help ensure a proper and safe repair of a new generation of vehicles, according to a news release.

Fewer than five per cent of body shops across Canada can meet the stringent requirements to become officially certified and recognized. The certified network is composed of best-in-class collision repair businesses that have met or exceeded the strict requirements of the certification program.

issue that I have. Too much research appears to be very self-serving, especially in the area of health research. The researchers take full control over the studies and as such results are often too biased in favor of what the research designers are often wanting to see. The public as research subjects, and even as patients, have historically had little control over the direction of their healthcare. But hopefully that is changing.

There is some new terminology in health care and research in Canada that shows change may be on the horizon. Patient Oriented Research, Patient Engagement, Patient-Centred Outcome Research and Community-Action Research is the direction that some Canadian health care policy advisors and policy makers are looking to take. This contrasts the traditional doctor-centred and researcher-centred model of health care policy and delivery.

The June 2019 Report from the Canadian Pain Task Force stresses the importance of patient engagement and that people living with chronic pain be equal partners in pain research and management. Chronic The certification criteria are based on requirements from auto manufacturers, the news release said. These are important to ensure the vehicle is fit, finished, durable and safe following an accident. Newer vehicles are using lightweight, high-strength materials and advanced technology, which means a proper repair based on manufacturer specifications is important. This ensures passengers are safe and the vehicle performs properly. Previously, LB Autobody received its training through the apprenticeship and trade commission, or the best practices laid out by SGI and SaskPolytechnic.

It took three years for Beattie to acquire this certification. He pointed out “the writing has been on the wall for a long time” that major changes were coming in the industry. However, he did not know what those changes would look like. He does know SGI will make an announcement in September about changes for autobody shops.

“I’m really happy and proud to say that whatever (SGI comes) out with, we’re going to be in that tier 1 … at the top,” he added.

Beattie thought it was humbling to be considered one of the best autobody shops in the world and to be part of an exclusive worldwide network. He noted LB Beattie Autobody is one of the few to receive this designation since it has been working to attain it for so long. Yet, most other autobody shops will have to do the same if they want to continue fixing vehicles.

“This industry has never had this much of an overhaul,” he added. “It’s exciting times right now. It’s nice, it’s new, it’s fresh.”

pain has morphed into a legitimate disease state that affects 20 percent of Canadians. Lack of patient involvement and control may have contributed to the current problems with chronic pain management and possibly have contributed to the opioid epidemic that exists today.

A recent review of the effects of patient engagement reveal an improved patient’s experience of care, better patient outcomes and potential health care cost savings.

Whether it is chronic pain, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis or any other affliction, an engaged patient results in a better-informed patient. Health care teams should include the patient at the forefront.