Top shop technician stories of 2021
How important is recruiting, training, and retaining technicians to the success of a vehicle repair shop? Are technicians seen as your most valuable tools, the ones that give your shop a competitive advantage? Or are they components you grind down and simply replace when worn out?
The answer to that question likely indicates how successful your shop is and how satisfied your customers are. Because you are reading this, we’ll assume you get how critical your employees are and congratulate you on your success. We’re sure you also get how difficult finding and keeping good technicians can be.
That’s less challenging the more you pay them, but you have to keep technicians engaged in the job and on a cycle of continuous improvement, just as the vehicles they work on are. It also doesn’t hurt to provide them with cool new tools like augmented reality devices, or simply the proper diagnostic tools to aid them in troubleshooting.
There’s not one “right” strategy, but the article below should provide a good framework of the current issues and schools of thought to help any shop succeed in employing the best talent available.
How to get ahead of the growing technician shortage
With 42% of technicians leaving the industry within the first two years on the job, it’s important to develop successful recruitment and retention strategies that will combat the inevitable lack of maintenance professionals.
What’s the difference between a technician and a mechanic?
As vehicle technology has evolved, so has the role – and title – of those who service vehicles.
Technician shortage toolkit
The automotive industry needs to put in the work to help ease the shortage of qualified technicians in the workforce.
How to build an apprenticeship program
Five steps to help shops find and train maintenance technicians who can be ready to conduct preventive maintenance checks the first day on the job.
Technician training in 3D
Leveraging technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality can elevate the capabilities and proficiencies of technicians.
Check out the original article from our sister publication, Fleet Maintenance, for more fleet-specific guidance on recruiting, training, and retaining technicians.
