Diagnostics and training are king in our industry

The best news is that with technology moving on, we are able to get in front of suppliers and understand what the best repair methodology and parts for our Australian fleet is. This brings me back to where diagnostics is king. By way of example, the IAME AATR (Australasian Automotive Transmission Rebuilders) Division has the national Automatic Transmission Seminar and Exhibition coming up in May and I have had the need to ring many workshops. The level of frustration through the lack of parts still reigns supreme.

I have learnt it on some vehicles a common fault needs a speed sensor, which sits in a lead plate, to be replaced. These parts have been unavailable worldwide for many months and the cars that require these parts are sitting dormant in workshops. When you think about it, most of these cars have in excess of 150,000km and the valve body the lead plate bolts to has definite signs of wear. The valve bodies are readily available with the lead plate and speed sensor already attached. Would we not suggest to a client that the valve body is constantly working, and it would benefit greatly to get the car back on the road with a brand-new valve body?

At our upcoming seminar and exhibition, we also have Garrett Motion turbo as a guest speaker. Again, nearly every diesel produced will be turbo assisted and there are numerous times the transmission has been blamed, stripped down, and a rebuild ordered, when it was finally learnt it was a turbo problem all along. Garrett is not attending to teach us how to bolt turbos on and off, but how to diagnose whether they are working effectively and/or causing the fault in the vehicle. We, as an industry, need to constantly learn. We need to follow through with the latest diagnostic tips and tricks and learn to communicate with the client so we don’t have cars sitting around for unnecessarily lengths of time and money not being banked.

There is great advantage in attending courses which are known now as NNRUC (Not Nationally Recognized Units of Competency). These courses have great value in keeping our knowledge current and alive.

As we approach June, I know a lot of our older members are wondering whether they will go through for another financial year. There is no doubt there is a lot of stress and knowledge needed to run a sustainable business, and in a lot of cases being a good practitioner does not make a successful businessperson.

The point I wish to make is you must have a succession plan is place.

This always comes up around the end of financial year when the older generation contemplate whether to stay in the industry or retire. Again, with our seminar, I have spoken to many transmission rebuilders who are at this point. It is when I enquire about their succession plan I find that nothing has really been done or considered. The thought to leave has certainly been hatched and grown, but very little consideration has been given to seeing if any folk within the workshop would care to take on the business.

There seemed to be very little encouragement given to a 2IC to take the step and buy the business. The IAME offers business-services coaching which covers succession plans. We help you prepare your business for the next chapter, be it yours or someone new. I, too, believe in constant training. For example, I just completed a training course on ESG (Environment Social/Cultural and Governance), three key factors that make a business sustainable today. If you would like to learn more about our Business Services Division or our business mentoring services, please contact IAME at inbox@

The next generation

Training in Australia is on the cusp of fairly significant change. Although this will take time for resources to develop and new training methodology to be developed, it will need to happen. If things progress the competencies we know today that make up a qualification will probably change to what will be known as a Skills Standard.

I believe with the technology change in the automotive vehicle it is time a change this reform may not be the total answer, to continue to train in the old form is not conducive to the best outcomes for our apprentices and people wishing to upgrade their skills. It’s early days and as you know the IAME follows the VET sector strongly. I will keep you up to date with the changes as and when they come, but be aware there are changes afoot and with new terminology and new performance outcomes.