A Perspective on the Value and Future of Technician Training.

Listen and learn from Ryan Kooiman, Director of Training at Standard Motor Products, Jeff Masterman, the Manager of Technician Training Development and Wayne ‘Jerry’ Bishop, well known instructor at Standard Motor Products.

Listen to a discussion on daytime training, augmented reality, the future of training, hands-on, case studies, course development and the importance of the fundamentals among others.

If you are a shop owner or technician and you on the fence about making a 100% commitment to obtaining 40 hours of training per year, this industry will pass you by. Maybe you already feel it. Ryan, Jeff and Jerry are going to serve up a very solid position on why you must be a lifelong learner and attend every training class you can get to.

The Dreaded Come Back: The Keys To Prevention.

Comeback prevention starts at the front door. It is all about communication. Writing enough information to the technician the better he/she can handle the diagnosis.

To improve the end product and to reduce comebacks, you must build quality into the repair process. Quality control checklists at the end of the repair can only do so much. Quality, not quota, is the strategy you need to adopt to reduce comebacks. You should always be looking to improve. Your processes will drive a well-managed quality program.

The quality of parts today is in question and you need to pay attention to comebacks so your costs and reputation are managed. Tracking every comeback is a necessity if you are going to reduce your comebacks.

Philanthropy on Steroids: CarFest – An Industry And Image Game Changer: Built With Hearts and Hands.

Mark Colaw has owned Seymour’s Garage since 1985. This episode is about Mark Colaw’s passion: Carfest. This is, by far, the most comprehensive philanthropic event I’ve ever had the pleasure to cover as a podcaster. This event goes miles and miles to improve the image of our automotive repair community and presents the industry in our most positive light.

Mark explains the impact Carfest is having on the community, automotive technology schools, suppliers and aftermarket vendors. This two and half day public event repairs 25 vehicles free for a select group of individuals. The vehicles are handpicked by community outreach groups such as Haven for Hope and The Battered Women’s Shelter.

When you change lives with heart and hands and bring unity in the community, it goes a long way to build trust in the automotive industry and professionalism in the trade.

Philanthropy on Steroids: CarFest – An Industry And Image Game Changer: Built With Hearts and Hands.

Mark Colaw has owned Seymour’s Garage since 1985. This episode is about Mark Colaw’s passion: Carfest. This is, by far, the most comprehensive philanthropic event I’ve ever had the pleasure to cover as a podcaster. This event goes miles and miles to improve the image of our automotive repair community and presents the industry in our most positive light.

Mark explains the impact Carfest is having on the community, automotive technology schools, suppliers and aftermarket vendors. This two and half day public event repairs 25 vehicles free for a select group of individuals. The vehicles are handpicked by community outreach groups such as Haven for Hope and The Battered Women’s Shelter.

When you change lives with heart and hands and bring unity in the community, it goes a long way to build trust in the automotive industry and professionalism in the trade.

Is The Industry Ready For A Diagnostician Learning Platform That Is Deeply Connected To The Industry?

Diagnostic Network, Scott Brown’s new venture, will be a learning platform and open a deep channel of communication for diagnosticians and aspiring diagnosticians while connecting the industry that provides the products, services, information and training to the marketplace.

If you earn your living in the aftermarket, and for that matter serving the motoring public, you’ll want to give this episode a serious listen as Scott unveils his plans for Diag.net that will focus on the diagnostician.

Scott shares his vision along with the industry collaboration he is building to create a very powerful repository of aftermarket intellect. Peer discussions and peer reviews will be part of this program to help refine the rich content.

There isn’t a clearly defined guideline as to the skill set you need to be competent in this industry. Scott sees the creation of the right building blocks for training and says it is time to break the mold and to improve engagement and transparency.

Is The Industry Ready For A Diagnostician Learning Platform That Is Deeply Connected To The Industry?

Diagnostic Network, Scott Brown’s new venture, will be a learning platform and open a deep channel of communication for diagnosticians and aspiring diagnosticians while connecting the industry that provides the products, services, information and training to the marketplace.

If you earn your living in the aftermarket, and for that matter serving the motoring public, you’ll want to give this episode a serious listen as Scott unveils his plans for Diag.net that will focus on the diagnostician.

Scott shares his vision along with the industry collaboration he is building to create a very powerful repository of aftermarket intellect. Peer discussions and peer reviews will be part of this program to help refine the rich content.

There isn’t a clearly defined guideline as to the skill set you need to be competent in this industry. Scott sees the creation of the right building blocks for training and says it is time to break the mold and to improve engagement and transparency.

The Rule of Holes: Know When To Stop Digging

Knowing your break-even point -- the point at which total cost and total revenue are equal is important to running a business. It is not just good enough to reach your daily break even, you must exceed it if you are to stay in business.

Knowing the break-even point is helpful in deciding gross margin on parts, labor rates, setting sales budgets and preparing a business plan. If you do not reach your daily break-even then there is a great chance that you had a loss of profit for the day.

This episode provides a worksheet download for calculating break-even. The numbers will come from your financial statements. Your accountant can also provide them. The key to knowing your break-even set the tone when you are reaching for your profitable sales goal. You’ll know what the minimum excepted number is without digging yourself into a hole.

Technology Talk, AAPEX, ADAS, CES and More.

Chris Gardner, MAAP, is the Vice President or Programs and Member Services for AASA, the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association. AASA is the voice for the Aftermarket Supplier Industry. Chris also manages all things technology for the association and that is where we spend most of our time in this interview.

An interview highlight is Chris’s view of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that he has attended for the last three years. He’ll give you a perspective on what he saw and the impact on the aftermarket as our future rolls out, as he sees it.

Among other discussion topics ADAS and the tech he saw at CES. Chris sees a convergence of telematics with the consumer, the service professional and the supplier. We even talked a bit about smart parts.

Technology Talk, AAPEX, ADAS, CES and More.

Chris Gardner, MAAP, is the Vice President or Programs and Member Services for AASA, the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association. AASA is the voice for the Aftermarket Supplier Industry. Chris also manages all things technology for the association and that is where we spend most of our time in this interview.

An interview highlight is Chris’s view of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that he has attended for the last three years. He’ll give you a perspective on what he saw and the impact on the aftermarket as our future rolls out, as he sees it.

Among other discussion topics ADAS and the tech he saw at CES. Chris sees a convergence of telematics with the consumer, the service professional and the supplier. We even talked a bit about smart parts.

You Cannot Ignore Your Role in The Automotive Technology Education System.

Go inside the Vision 2018 Studio with the Educators Think Tank. Join Rick Escalambre, Retired Instructor Skyline College, and educator of the year 2017, Scott Brown from Diagnostic Network, Matthew Shanahan Assistant Professor, Automotive Technology, College of DuPage and Tim Dwyer, from Consul Labs.

This is a great slice of what automotive education is today. A very open and transparent discussion that will help you understand the education process and gain knowledge of how to get involved. Also, learn about the challenges that post-secondary automotive technology programs have and how you can and must get involved.

A few key talking points: Automotive technology programs at all levels is expensive, independents must attend career fairs and speak to classes at all levels including middle school and Industry and education needs to come together stronger than ever. The industry has a depth of talent that can help the education system.