___________________________________________________________________________________________ Auto
Windscreens
skills shortages, pushing for greater uptake of apprenticeships and for windscreen fitting to be formally recognized as a skilled trade. One of the biggest misconceptions about the sector is that windscreen replacement is a simple task, hence why it is currently classed as‘ semi-skilled’, despite the reality of the work involved. The company is actively working to correct this misconception, because the level of precision required for this type of work today is remarkable. When James began his career as a windscreen technician in 1992, vehicles were fitted with simple rubber gaskets. Today, a windscreen can account for up to 40 percent of a vehicle’ s structural integrity. Getting glass fitted and ADAS calibrated correctly is vital, which is precisely why the company is pushing for the role to be formally recognized as a‘ skilled’ profession, like motor mechanics rather than‘ semi-skilled’.
“ Connecting into the vehicle’ s technology is a critical part of getting ADAS calibration right. Our job is not just about fixing a warning light on a dashboard but about identifying underlying ADAS errors that could point to a safety risk. We’ re also working towards attracting more talent into our sector,” James continues.
Looking ahead, Auto Windscreens is preparing to launch one of its largest projects to date, an 18-month collaboration with IFS Cloud involving substantial investment in both systems and ADAS equipment. With ADAS developing incredibly fast, staying ahead of the curve is essential for the company. Customers increasingly expect realtime updates, seamless journeys and greater transparency throughout the repair process, and Auto Windscreens is investing significantly in systems designed to improve that experience while also operating more efficiently. Alongside
tlimagazine. com 97