Green Scene By Mike James
mjames@jamesenvironmental.com
Competence: Is It Important to Prove It? How Do You Prove It?
any times credibility is confused with competence. These terms are not synonymous, but it sure is difficult to think about one without thinking about the other. We can have competence through many avenues, but if we do not have credibility it is difficult to prove to the person on the other end of the phone or the other side of the counter that we are worthy of their business. Our company is unmatched in com- petence working on the issues that we service. We have represented hundreds of recyclers with the most complicated OSHA audits or environmental audits. But, just because we have the competence gained from forty years of experience and education, it does not mean that we can stop working on our credibility and our authority to perform for our clients. None of us is competent just because we say we are.
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So, what is happening with the auto recycler today? It seems that there are those that are trying to portray the mod- ern auto recycler of today as a “junk yard” that sells secondhand junk parts. If you don’t believe that is what some are think- ing, then go watch some of the news reports and read some about the battles between the insurance companies and the auto repair industry. Our industry is suffering a major threat to its credibility. It is time for every one of us to step up.
Proving Credibility
One of the ways you prove your credi- bility is by not only portraying your com- petence in the subject matter (profession- ally dismantling cars and selling parts) but by displaying your competence as a busi- ness leader in your industry and your com- munity. You prove this credibility through some form of industry recognized stamp of leadership and public verification of your competence.
What is the ARA Certified Automotive Recycler Program (CAR) if not a stamp of
16 Automotive Recycling | March-April 2015
leadership and a public portrayal of your competency and your leadership in your industry. There is value in numbers when battling some of today’s issues. But, it is imperative for the survival of the industry that those numbers truly represent the best of the best. It cannot ever become a rubber stamp process to become certified. The industry’s CAR certification com- mittee is continuously improving, reviewing and changing what certification means. There will always be dissenters, telling us that the certification program is too tough or, worse yet, that it really means nothing because it is no big deal to get certified. But it should always be extremely difficult for the real junk yard that causes the negative publicity for everybody in the industry to be become certified.
Being certified is not an expensive proposition, yet it does require some work. It must be a badge of honor that displays your business not only as com- petent but as one with credibility. ARA maintains the CAR program in concert with the Gold Seal program. Some years ago, many of the recyclers with credibili- ty ran their businesses under what was called the URG 8000 program, originally modeled loosely after the ISO 9001. There is some conversation of a new form of certification for facilities may become available modeled after ISO 9001 again.
The Press Problem
I watched CNN reporter Anderson Cooper’s misrepresentation of an indus- try we all think is a pretty good place to work. It cannot be overstated that many of the certified facilities I know have the competency and, more importantly, the credibility to not sell a damaged headlight. Some years ago I needed a transfer case for a Nissan 4X4 for one of my sons. There is absolutely no way I would endan- ger my son’s life as portrayed in the report by purchasing a transfer case from a junk yard. I bought that part from a world class
auto recycler that was both CAR certified and URG 8000 certified.
So, what is the message here? The recy- clers representing the industry and demonstrating the penultimate of credi- bility “certification” are too few. Compe- tence is not enough. It is imperative that whether you are selling auto parts or safe- ty and environmental consulting that you have credibility as a provider of quality products. What are you doing in your community or state to change the per- ception of your credibility?
Get Engaged
One thing that you must do is you must be engaged. Make your affiliate chapter certification mean something. Be a part of the solution. Be certified. Be involved in the discussion of the phrase “Junk Yard.” In too many ordinances, this is the sole definition of a recycler. That phrase must be eliminated from the vocabulary of those writing the ordinances, or those passing the laws, or those buying quality parts. Help make the changes to bring your business’ status to credibility. We all have to face the facts. Two or three hundred certified recyclers is not even close to the number we must have in order to change the misrepresentation that has been thrown at us in recent months. Put it in high gear – if you have a quality problem, fix it. If your house- keeping is not good, fix it. If you are not certified, fix it. If your business lacks cred- ibility, fix it. If you will do all of that, today, the whole subject of competence can answered. Be a part of the solution!
Specializing in Automotive Recycling, Scrap Metal Recycling, and Oil and Gas Industries, Mike James, James Environmental (JEM), has over 20 years in Safety Program Development, Storm Water Compliance and Certification Pro-
grams including CAR, URG 8000, ISO 9001, and more. JEM works with 1,000+ businesses in 40 states. James has an MS in Civil & Environmental Engineering, an MBA, a BS in Elec- trical Engineering, completion of ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Cer- tification training, and OHSAS 18001 Lead Auditor training.
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