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[Podcast] RR 414: Elevating Our Industry’s Definition of Mechanic/Technician


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Jorge Menchu is President of AES WAVE.com, a company specializing in Automotive Diagnostic Tools for professional technicians, shop owners, and educators.

Jorge is also a well known automotive instructor and has found over the years a powerful method to engage his students to be better learners. He has written many articles from trade magazines to publication on his own company website. See link below.

Jorge’s goal is to help young folks to realize their own success and failure. As he developed his learning strategy, he realized that schools never teach the techniques of learning.

He’s taught at AAPEX, Vision Hi-Tech Training and Expo and Automechanika just to name a few venues. Many technicians have either seen Jorge in person or on video. Many who have seen his colored wiring diagrams and teachings in electrical circuits have made great strides in their diagnostic skills. Jorge is also engaged in the Vision Educator Think Tank and former member of NACAT foundation. Visit Jorge’s other episodes HERE.

Matt Fanslow is the diagnostic tech/shop manager at Riverside Automotive in Red Wing, MN.  His primary responsibilities are to diagnose driveability and electrical/electronic issues, and perform most programming, coding, initializing, adoptions, etc. Basically, if it needs to be figured out or has wires, it goes to Matt. He’s been a tech since 1996.

Matt is also a subject matter expert for ASE and has instructed at Vision Hi-Tech Training and Expo. He has participated on 18 ASE technical committees for the ASE Practice Test, A6, A7, A8, and L1 tests. He’s also done case studies for Standard Motor Products.

Fanslow’s goal is to do everything in his power to improve the overall level of professionalism within the automotive and light truck repair trade and also raise the level of its public image. Hear Matt in previous episodes HERE.

Scott Brown is President of Diag.net and an ASE Master Certified Automobile Technician with over three and a half decades of professional service industry experience. He and his wife own Connie & Dick’s Service Center Inc., a 57-year-old independent shop in Southern California.

With a strong focus on engine performance and electronics, Scott began collaborating with other industry professionals, online, beginning in the early ’90s. Since 1995, he has been an instrumental resource in the development of the largest online community of automotive service professionals, the International Automotive Technicians Network — iATN where he once served as company president. Additionally, he serves on the NASTF Board of Directors and is a member of the following associations: ASCCA, CAT, ETI, I-CAR, & SAE.

Find other episodes that have featured Scott HERE.

Justin Morgan is the tech support for LMV Bavarian and tech ambassador for AES Wave. 

 

Key Talking Points:

  • “Technician/mechanic” title to the outside world- does it properly represent the automotive field? Does it bring value?
    • Watered down term, is it strong enough term?
    • Change public perception, sell yourself and services for what it is
    • Varying range of experience and expertise
    • Cars more complicated, cost of repairs more expensive
  • Jorge says that mechanic/technician is an Automotive Scientific Investigator and a Diagnostic Reverse Engineer. They are Lifetime Learners
    • Expert is an honorable reference.
  • We are not trying to build a pecking order but to define the outcome of the investment in training and knowledge of technology necessary to work on today’s vehicles.
  • We share with our peers to help the industry get better at what we do. Nothing is wrong with sharing.
  • Like in the avionics industry and in the future; safety systems on vehicles that have been in a recall and not repaired or updated will require the recall be fixed or the vehicle could not leave your bay.
  • Changes with ASE here now or possibly in the works. Vehicle specific questions are being written for future consideration.
  • Establishing structure
    • Licensing, mandatory certification, trade schools  
    • ASC testing certification value
    • Promote from within- continuing education in shop, partners (parts/equipment suppliers and distributors) reward with a discount for the shop
  • Progress forward   
    • Take a small group and build proof of concept, lead by example
    • Marketing- redefine the industry and be active  

Resources:

  • Thanks to Jorge Menchu, Scott Brown, Justin Morgan, and Matt Fanslow for their contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
  • AESWAVE Website Link HERE.
  • Diag.net website link HERE.
  • Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
  • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.

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This episode is brought to you by AAPEX, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. AAPEX represents the $740 billion AAPEX_logo_CMYK_with_tagline-1440x621.jpglobal automotive aftermarket industry and has everything you need to stay ahead of the curve. With 2,500 exhibiting companies, you’ll see the latest products, parts, and technologies for your business. The event also offers advanced training for shop owners, technicians, warehouse distributors (WDs) and auto parts retailers, as well as networking opportunities to grow your business. AAPEX 2019 will take place Tuesday, Nov. 5 through Thursday, Nov. 7, at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas. More than 48,000 targeted buyers are expected to attend, and approximately 162,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from 135 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX 2019. For information, visit aapexshow.com

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         3 comments
      Got your attention? Good. The truth is, there is no such thing as the perfect technician pay plan. There are countless ways to create any pay plan. I’ve heard all the claims and opinions, and to be honest, it’s getting a little frustrating. Claims that an hourly paid pay plan cannot motivate. That flat rate is the only way to truly get the most production from your technicians. And then there’s the hybrid performance-based pay plan that many claim is the best.
      At a recent industry event, a shop owner from the Midwest boasted about his flat-rate techs and insisted that this pay plan should be adopted by all shops across the country. When I informed him that in states like New York, you cannot pay flat-rate, he was shocked. “Then how do you motivate your techs” he asked me.
      I remember the day in 1986 when I hired the best technician who ever worked for me in my 41 years as an automotive shop owner. We’ll call him Hal. When Hal reviewed my pay plan for him, and the incentive bonus document, he stared at it for a minute, looked up, and said, “Joe, this looks good, but here’s what I want.” He then wrote on top of the document the weekly salary he wanted. It was a BIG number. He went on to say, “Joe, I need to take home a certain amount of money. I have a home, a wife, two kids, and my Harly Davidson. I will work hard and produce for you. I don’t need an incentive bonus to do my work.” And he did, for the next 30 years, until the day he retired.
      Everyone is entitled to their opinion. So, here’s mine. Money is a motivator, but not the only motivator, and not the best motivator either. We have all heard this scenario, “She quit ABC Auto Center, to get a job at XYZ Auto Repair, and she’s making less money now at XYZ!” We all know that people don’t leave companies, they leave the people they work for or work with.
      With all this said, I do believe that an incentive-based pay plan can work. However, I also believe that a technician must be paid a very good base wage that is commensurate with their ability, experience, and certifications. I also believe that in addition to money, there needs to be a great benefits package. But the icing on the cake in any pay plan is the culture, mission, and vision of the company, which takes strong leadership. And let’s not forget that motivation also comes from praise, recognition, respect, and when technicians know that their work matters.
      Rather than looking for that elusive perfect pay plan, sit down with your technician. Find out what motivates them. What their goals are. Why do they get out of bed in the morning? When you tie their goals with your goals, you will have one powerful pay plan.
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