The program works by drawing together select franchise partners to join together and share best practices and procedures. These are captured, tested and the strategies that prove the most effective will be included in Carstar’s proprietary Quality Systems Program, CQS. The first session of Innovation through Cultivation focused on best practices for quality control.

 

Michael Macaluso, Director Quality Systems for Carstar, summed up the main idea behind the new program during introductory remarks at the beginning of the workshop. 

 

“We see so many great things at our stores,” said Macaluso. “Everyone in this room is doing great things, and we want to take it right across the country. We are happy that we now have the opportunity to host and present these initiatives and programs in our new Tech Centre and Carstar University.”

 

The new Tech Centre and Carstar University are part of the company's new headquarters, Carstar Vision Park, which opened its doors in November.

 

Macaluso then introduced special guest Wayne Loker of Aviva Canada. Loker gave a brief outline of some of the good – and not so good – practices that he has seen. 

 

Bill Davidge, Technical Manager for Carstar, served as facilitator for the remainder of the morning session, with franchise partners sharing their methods for achieving high levels of quality control. If there was a common overriding theme, it was that all work was being inspected, in some cases by several people. 

 

Carstar plans to run more of these sessions, each with a different focus. In each case, franchise partners will be selected from across the country, based on high performance in that particular area. 

 

For more information, please visit carstar.ca.