Source: Chief Automotive, part of Dover's Vehicle Service Group (VSG)
“Do it right the first time.”
That’s the philosophy of all of the employees at Chief. And it’s one that we are committed to sharing with our collision repair partners through Chief University. A variety of programs are available to help collision repair shop owners and technicians get the training they need to complete repairs to OEM standards. Chief University provides the most up-to-date information and hands-on learning opportunities in cities across the United States, with a variety of schedules to fit individual and shop needs.
Why does training matter?
Having well-trained technicians is critical, both from a safety standpoint and a productivity standpoint. With the increasing complexity of today’s vehicles, there are innumerable technical considerations that can be better understood and mastered through training, including:
The direction impact forces will travelHow a vehicle will react following realignment of the structureImpact absorption, and where to look for structural misalignmentSufficient knowledge of the diverse metals, fibers and plastics used, and the methods of reforming and joining these more advanced materialsThe assurance of correct height, length, width, and structural integrity
But there are also some other benefits of training that might not be quite as apparent.
Providing employees with training resources can increase satisfaction and retention. FenderBender recently profiled New York shop manager Dominick Passarella’s strategies for motivating employees, one of which is, “paying for training courses for any technicians or painters that seek to expand their skillsets.” Above-average employee engagement can put the brakes on turnover, which as Franchise Times magazine predicted a few years ago, is going to be a growing problem for shop owners.
“With a persistent image problem (think ‘grease monkey’) and a greater focus on four-year colleges rather than technical or vocational schools, auto repair and collision repair franchises are being impacted by a widespread shortage of technicians, leading to upward pressure on wages, benefits and other perks.” Integrate training into your benefits and perks packages, and you can increase your appeal as an employer.
Training you can trust.
Our training curriculums have been certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for compliance with the Continuing Automotive service Education (CASE) Standards. Chief University is also among a select few programs that have achieved ASE CASE Certification and recognition as a member of the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance. More than 32,000 technicians and 22,000 estimators and appraisers have advanced their industry knowledge through Chief University.