Collaboration to Focus on Automotive Glass Repair & Replacement Education, Best Practices, and Technology.

The Independent Glass Association (IGA) today announced that it has joined the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) with intent to address the critical nature of education, industry best practices, and technology in order for collision repair facilities to participate in automotive glass repair and replacement (AGRR) services. The announcement was made at the opening of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“The AGRR and collision repair industries face the same issues as they relate to the complexities involved in the handling of automotive glass services for customers of all types, including those with insurance claims,” said Gary Hart, IGA executive director. “We all share the common goal of providing quality repairs focused on safety while being fairly compensated and without obstruction from third-party administrators and their discriminative programs,” continued Hart.

The IGA has formally joined the SCRS as a Company Member in the interest of supporting organizations serving common objectives to related industries. The membership presents an increased opportunity for the IGA to provide professional collision repair facilities with access to guidance and benefit that can assist them in their handling of automotive glass services in the collision environment.

“The SCRS has been a pioneering force and advocate for collision repair facilities in North America. As part of our mission statement, we are committed to providing the industry with the education, information and representation it needs to remain relevant and profitable in the advancing landscape of the industry,” said Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of the SCRS. “Many of our members have been challenged by the same issues as their colleagues in the automotive glass industry. With the IGA’s support, we are confident that we can identify a lot of the commonalities and potential solutions that will ultimately benefit businesses in both industries. We are excited to have the support of membership from the IGA, and look forward to their participation with SCRS,” concluded Schulenburg.

Beginning immediately, SCRS members are welcomed to apply for IGA membership directly online at http://www.iga.org/scrs. The IGA is extending SCRS members $50 off any new membership through December 31, 2014 in addition to an IGA new member discount of an additional $50 off ($100 total savings). Benefits of IGA membership include a point-of-sale and management system, powered by eDirectGlass and called Total Shop Management (TSM), that allow collision repair facilities to manage and process automotive glass repair and replacement claims.

For more information about the Independent Glass Association, please visit our website or call Gary Hart at 480-535-8650.

About the Independent Glass Association (IGA)

The Independent Glass Association (IGA) is the Core of the Automotive Glass Repair and Replacement Industry. The IGA is a community of people – independent glass shops, industry representatives, educators and technicians – committed to safety and proper repair or replacement of automotive glass. Through its direct members, affiliate state chapters, and associate members, the IGA is comprised of automotive glass repair and replacement businesses and professionals in the USA and ten countries who work with consumers and insurance companies to provide high-quality automotive glass repair and replacement services.

About SCRS

Through its direct members and 44 affiliate associations, SCRS is comprised of 6,000 collision repair businesses and 58,500 specialized professionals who work with consumers and insurance companies to repair collision-damaged vehicles. Additional information about SCRS including other news releases is available at the SCRS website.