Here is a finished tablet dashboard produced by Mobile Solutions and guests.
As we reported earlier, the aim of the tablet dashboard is to “push the boundaries in fabrication” to help move beyond fabricating sub boxes, doors and consoles, in the words of Mobile Solutions’ Bryan Schmitt.
The dashboard here is the results of a class for installers held this month by Mobile Solutions and the next class on the custom dash will be held in the spring. It will likely focus on a tablet center console.
“No one is addressing if you have an older style classic car and you want something for the dash,” said Schmitt.
The class also addresses another problem in fabricating–the actual sales presentation, not just the custom installation.
“If everybody just has boxes stacked and nice displays, there’s really nothing showing their craft. We’re showing guys how to become creative and different,” said Schmitt. He focuses heavily on creating the design for the dash, breaking down the job and itemizing the time and materials involved.
“That’s how everyone in the whole universe does it, but we’re cowboys saying, ‘just give me 5 grand and I’ll make something cool for your car.’ But if I give you a sketch and itemized list for time and materials, you as a customer would understand,” he said.
So the class includes taking out sketchbooks and learning 2D drawing and taking an idea from imagination and putting it into a full scale drawing.
About 30 people attended the first class in building a tablet dashboard. Guest teachers included Tom Miller, recently named Installer of the Year by ME Magazine and Jeremy Carlson, a past Installer of the Year, and Tracy Weaver an award winning upholsterer, and owner of the Recovery Room
The next class will be held over a 4-day weekend at Mobile Solutions in Tempe, AZ at a fee of about $1,200.
Source: CEoutlook
