IDA Industry Standards Task Force Update

As our organization has continued to grow internationally, it has become apparent to IDA members that certain detailing terms vary by country around the globe. Indeed, some terms even vary between states across the U.S. For example, what detailers in one country call “swirl marks”, detailers in another country call “holograms” or “buffer trials”. To help clarify and document these varying detailing terms, the IDA Board commissioned the establishment of the Industry Standards Task Force (ISTF) in March 2022. 
 
Each stage of the task force’s work has involved global member surveys allowing IDA members to shape the content and clarify what is documented to help detailers globally to understand one another. A total of five global IDA member surveys have been carried out with the results collated, clarified, and documented on the website. Click below to find more information about each of the projects the ISTF has worked on so far.

#1 IDA Detailing Glossary

The initial focus of the task force was to develop and grow the existing IDA Glossary of Detailing Terms to include commonly used terms within the detailing industry. The ISTF used images of various paint defects to help describe the term with the help of the IDA’s global membership in the first Industry Standards Task Force survey. Following the feedback from IDA members, we then included global variances to each applicable term so that the glossary was truly representative of the IDA’s international membership. Finally, we worked with the Certified Detailer (CD) exam task force to ensure consistency across the IDA, and the final glossary (which is easily navigated by its alphabetical listing) can be found here. If you are thinking of taking your IDA CD exams, this is a must-read document to help you prepare for your exams.

#2 IDA Chemical Glossary

The next project was to further develop the IDA Detailing Chemical Glossary. This is also an easy-to-navigate alphabetical listing on the IDA website, and we engaged the global IDA membership in its updated content. Following feedback from IDA members, the final version includes the global variations for chemical terms used in other countries around the world. The updated IDA chemical terms glossary can be found here. This is an important read to help prepare you for the IDA CD exams.

#3 IDA Leather Glossary

Having published two extensive glossaries on detailing terms, paint defects, and chemical terms, the Industry Standards Task Force next turned its attention to a growing area within the detailing industry — leather care and leather repair. 

Working with two IDA member companies who specialize in leather — Colourlock and the  Leather Repair Company  — the Industry Standards Task Force created a brand new IDA Leather Glossary and used feedback from the third ISTF global membership survey to update the standard terms to include variances found around the world. If you want to expand your understanding of different leather types through description and explanation, the IDA Leather Glossary is a great source to learn more.

#4 IDA Motorcycle Glossary

Following the launch of the IDA Motorcycle Certification (MC), the Industry Standards Task Force undertook a poll in the members-only Facebook group to get members’ input on our next project: Motorcycle Glossary or Watercraft Glossary. 

IDA members overwhelmingly opted for the ISTF to focus on a motorcycle glossary for our next project. The terms, parts, and equipment used specifically for motorcycle detailing were compiled, and the IDA Motorcycle Certification (MC) exam consulted. The finished glossary was then sent out to IDA members globally for consultation via survey. This was the fourth Industry Standards Task Force global membership survey and canvassed IDA members’ knowledge, opinion, and feedback on the proposed motorcycle-specific terms to include. With feedback incorporated, you can find the new Motorcycle Glossary on the IDA website soon. If you are considering taking your IDA Motorcycle Certification (MC) then take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the IDA Motorcycle Glossary!

#5 IDA Watercraft Glossary

The latest project (and the fifth Industry Standards Task Force global membership survey) is focused on watercraft or marine related terms. An initial draft glossary of watercraft detailing-specific terms has been created. The final draft is due to be sent out to IDA members globally around mid-to-late August and will run through the end of August before results are reviewed and analyzed by the task force in September for finalization and publication. For any IDA members who have experience in or are interested in Watercraft detailing, we would very much welcome your feedback and comments when you receive this survey into your inboxes.

Want to Add or Update a Glossary Term?

If you have a specific term for the glossary you would like the task force to consider (either an update or addition to an existing term or a new term), then please send us your request using the online form.

What Would You – The IDA Members – Like the Task Force to Work on Next?

Your input, knowledge, experience, and dedication are essential to keeping these glossaries globally relevant and up to date. Currently, we have a few projects in mind for our future work; these include but are not limited to:

1. Orders of operation – What order to detail the exterior of a vehicle? Wash processes up to and including chemical decontamination, vehicle body including wheels/tires. – How does this process differ globally considering the environment, weather/temperature variances, differing contaminants, differing road conditions, etc.?
   
2. Following on from 1 above, expand to include variances in process/methodology for vehicles that have special considerations e.g, matte paint, soft-top convertibles, ceramic coatings, etc.
3. Engine compartment/undercarriage detailing orders of operation.
4. Interior detailing orders of operation.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Do you have a project you would like Industry Standards Task Force to consider? If so we want to hear from you – let us know by dropping an email to info@the-ida.com and in your subject line enter “ISTF Suggestion”; we may get back to you if we need further details or to discuss your suggestion.

Thank you for your support of the IDA, the industry, and the work of the task force. We look forward to hearing from you with your ideas.