As an I-CAR Gold Class facility owner, Melendez has prioritized training for himself and employees.
The Gold Class® recognition, which started in 1990, is the highest role-relevant training achievement recognized by the collision repair industry.
Having I-CAR Gold Class status has helped JDM Collision employees learn what is needed to complete safe and quality repairs. It has also helped the business acquire OEM certifications.
“OEMs want you to be trained and make sure you are following the correct repair procedures,” he said. “That has led us to continue getting trained by I-CAR.”
Their current path and dependence on I-CAR training will help the team at JDM Collision gain OEM certification for Ford, Nissan, JLR, Hyundai and Kia, and become one of GM’s only certified centers equipped to handle the new EV platforms.
“Being I-CAR Gold Class will make it easier for us to acquire these OEM certifications,” said Melendez. “Honestly, we wouldn’t have been able to acquire them if we didn’t have I-CAR Gold Class recognition under our belt.”
The shop’s purchase of a building down the street is being set up as an advanced calibration center called JDM CALIBRATION Center. In addition to focusing on calibrations, alignment and EV mechanical repair center, it will also do body and aluminum repair.
When the facility opens, they plan to use tow trucks to transport vehicles to and from their existing shop. The new center will offer service to other collision repair centers in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana area.
“We’re going to be a one-stop shop for consumers,” he said. “It is so exciting to be able to operate with this type of status, and the repairs coming to our door are not driven by any insurance company.”
Melendez is also looking forward to dealing with other EV manufacturers when the training paths are completed.
With a passion for industry training, Melendez has volunteered as the Northwest Indiana I-CAR Committee chairman for the past four years. In this role, he provides information to local shops about the options available.
He stresses the importance of technicians taking the time to stay up to date with new technology and repair methods.
“My advice to other shops that want to stay in the collision industry is to not be intimated by the complexity of the cars on the road today,” he said. “The information is out there, and any individual who doesn’t take advantage of that should not be fixing cars.”
I-CAR
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To read more auto body shop profiles in the October 2023 Shop and Product Showcase, click here.
Abby Andrews