 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Continuing Automotive Service EducationPosted 2/12/1999By Don Dew
ASA members certainly know that today's automotive technicians have the greatest challenge ever to be master of their chosen profession. There are few occupations where change occurs as rapidly, and as broadly, as in the automotive industry. At times, it seems that the Information Revolution and the Technology Revolution converge in the service bay. Not only are technicians challenged to stay abreast of the evolutional changes of existing technology (annual model changes and normal product improvement efforts), but they must be prepared to adopt brand-new technologies and service procedures. New-generation scan tools, digital storage oscilloscopes (DSOs), electronic noise and vibration analyzers, computers for accessing electronic service information, and Web-based technician information networks are all part of the technician's day-to-day life. Compliance with federal, state and local environmental regulations have also placed new burdens on shop owners and their technicians (CFC regulations, hazardous waste, emissions inspection and repair, etc.). How does anyone keep up with it all and when will it end? The truth is, of course, that it will never end. Technology is growing at an exponential rate and it is likely that the challenges will only get tougher. Keeping up with it all requires a commitment by the technician, and his or her employer, to continuing automotive service education. The good news is that there are many training providers in various sectors of the automotive industry who are committed to making quality training available to meet the technician's continuing educational needs. Also, many employers are doing an excellent job of investing in their technicians' professional development and keeping their team of technicians at the forward edge of technology. The not-so-good news is that identifying the right training activity and training provider, at the right time and location, is not always an easy task. Finding quality training that meets current training needs is a significant concern to technicians and business owners alike. So much so that the automotive service industry has drawn together to develop a national certification program for training providers. The program, CASE, short for Continuing Automotive Service Education, sets standards specifically developed for the automotive industry by the automotive industry, and provides for ASE-certification of training providers. This certification program is designed to help ensure that training providers are responsive to identified training needs, their instructional methodology is appropriate for the intended audience, and that the information prospective participants need to adequately determine whether the training activity is appropriate for them, is provided. Not only does CASE establish a common foundation for quality training providers, but perhaps equally as important, CASE is providing a starting point for other industry initiatives. For example, many training providers have already started taking steps to use CASE as a means to equate training from one source to another, thus minimizing redundant training requirements. Other efforts are under way to develop a voluntary national database of training providers, showing not only who the training providers are, but listing their course offerings and descriptions as well. Although CASE is still considered to be in its infancy, ASA members making plans to fulfill their future training needs should look for training providers who have met the CASE standards and are ASE-certified. For those training providers who have not yet achieved certification, they should be encouraged by ASA members to complete the certification process and join the ranks of other training providers who are leaders in the industry.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright (c) 1996-2008. Automotive Service Association. All rights reserved.
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
