In the collision repair industry, vocational training needs to rethink its foundations. Workers no longer learn the way they once did, content is consumed differently, and traditional formats are struggling to keep pace. Continuing education remains the solution. Patrice M. Marcil, Global Training Director at Axalta Coating Systems, sheds light on the subject.

Traditional Formats Are Showing Their Limits

For years, collision repair training has been offered in full-day sessions or blocks ranging from 8 to 30 hours, often available only at specialized training centres. These controlled environments made it possible to focus on a process, a product or general skills essential to the trade. But workers no longer plan their training needs weeks in advance. They want—and need—access to information when a need arises, so they can address the issue without delay.

The Era of Short, Accessible Content

Patrice M. Marcil explains from the outset that “the way people consume information has shifted toward faster formats: short videos, targeted tutorials, social media and immediate answers. For many, YouTube has become the first reflex, even for technical procedures. The risk is clear: unverified information circulates faster than official training content.”

This type of content is appealing because of its brevity, but it can lead to inconsistent or inaccurate practices. “To remain relevant, organizations must offer short modules, precise videos, agile e-learning and content that can be accessed within seconds on a platform available at all times,” he continues.

When In-Person Training Remains Essential

He points out that “some skills simply cannot be learned on a screen. Complex application techniques, procedures that require close guidance, fine adjustments… all of these require an instructor, a shop and a real-world environment.”

In-person training therefore remains essential for developing advanced technical skills.

Mr. Marcil concludes by emphasizing that “collision repair training does not need to be reinvented, but rather rebalanced. Combining short-form content with hands-on expertise, while protecting the quality of information and adapting to new learning habits—that is the challenge!”

The automotive industry is evolving quickly. Its approach to training must move at the same pace.