Diagnostic Processes – Matt Fanslow and Scott Shotton – Part 2 [RR 578]
Diagnostic Processes – Matt Fanslow and Scott Shotton – Part 2 [RR 578]
There are different approaches to every situation and problem, especially in automotive repair problem-solving. My guests bring their different approaches in solving diag issues to the podcast. They did it before in episode 544, but this time they take it to the next level.
Matt Fanslow and Scott Shotton once again prove their own points in this second part episode. They may not agree on the processes but their approach to diagnose and solve problems are undeniable. They are relentless but their individual approach works. Matt and Scott are fine-tuned by years of experience diagnosing problems under the hood. In the end, we can pass the decision to you, the listener. Which pathway do you prefer? Possibly a hybrid of the discussion?
Both Matt and Scott agree that The customer supplies important data. The service consultant must write it all down so the tech has as much information available. Find the show notes at https://remarkableresults.biz/e578.
Listen and view episode notesDiagnostic Pathways vs. Silver Bullets [RR 544]
Scott Shotton has over 25 years of technical experience in automotive repair shops. As the owner of The Driveability Guys, Scott performs mobile diagnostics and reprogramming for local repair shops in the DeKalb Illinois area as well as industry training around the United States and Canada. He was also one of the four trainers for…
Listen and view episode notesTechnician Round Table – Part 9 OUTSPOKEN on Training – Heipp – Landry – Fanslow [RR 528]
RR 528: OUTSPOKEN on Training
Now Tech Talk 9 with Bob Heipp, Peter Landry and Matt Fanslow. This outspoken trio ponders training in a big way since we recorded this at vision. It was a perfect topic since Vision of the Premier training event. As it is typical with this trio they didn’t hold back and we had some fun.
We cover what it takes to be a trainer, what type of student are you, hands-on, play or research and critical thinking just to name a few.
Find the show notes and talking points at remarkableresults.biz/e528
Listen and view episode notesBecoming a LEAN Technician [RR 520]
Jarrod Alexander from BG Automotive, Fort Collins, CO. Jarrod shares his experience with his first-ever training seminar on becoming a ‘LEAN’ technician. Key Talking Points: Technician to trainer at ASA ColoradoAlways strives to be efficient technician, servicing customers Started to have health issues- forced to slow down and work smarter not harder Owner signed…
Listen and view episode notesIn Search of Silver Bullets – Scott Shotton [RR 513]
Scott Shotton has over 25 years of technical experience in automotive repair shops. As the owner of The Driveability Guys, Scott performs mobile diagnostics and reprogramming for local repair shops in the DeKalb Illinois area as well as industry training around the United States and Canada. He was also one of the four trainers for…
Listen and view episode notesMatt Fanslow – Kobayashi Maru – Lessons From Star Trek [FTR 77]
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 all 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…
Listen and view episode notesRR 492: YouTube – Benefit or Burden Part 2
RR 492: Youtube – Benefit or Burden Part 2
Welcome to the second installment of Youtube: Benefit or Burden Part 2. As you go through this episode you’ll discover the stimulus for this discussion. There are many passionate people on both sides of the value of YouTube as it relates to auto repair.
The episode’s expert guests include: Paul Danner, ‘Scanner Danner’ fame, Brin Kline, shop owner and member of Trained By Techs, Shop owner and Technician Michael Broccolo, from Rochester, NY Sara Fraser from Hass Performance Consulting and Matt Fanslow shop manager and lead diagnostician Riverside Automotive.
You’ll hear some sparks fly as the passion for training and quality diagnosis was front and center. The debate over the words diagnostic vs testing was prominent and the real facts that many shops are not really diagnosing they are retrieving a fault code and using statistical diagnostics therefore shooting the parts cannon and in many cases not doing right by the customer.
Listen and view episode notesTechnician Round Table – Part 8 – Loyalty – Heipp – Landry – Fanslow [RR 490]
RR 490: Technician Talk – Part 8 – Loyalty
This outspoken trio ponders on how loyalty is defined, how it can be earned and how it can be supported. M guests for Tech Talk 8 are Bob Heipp, Peter Landry and Matt Fanslow.
Loyalty is not limited to the team, they say, it goes way beyond to the customers, stakeholders, suppliers, and even the community. They give their thoughts on creating loyal customers. They even talk about getting a label of being dis-loyal.
This is a long one but well worth the listen even if it takes you a couple of sessions.
Listen and view episode notesFTR 073: Bob Heipp – Stop Enabling the 80% Who Are Not Committed to Training
FTR 073 Bob Heipp – Stop Enabling the 80% Who Are Not Committed to Training
Listen and view episode notesRR 464: YouTube – Benefit or Burden Part 1
RR 463: YouTube – Benefit or Burden
As you go through this episode you’ll discover the stimulus for this discussion. There are many passionate people on both sides on the value of YouTube as it relates to auto repair.
My panel is Paul Danner, ‘Scanner Danner’ fame, Brin Kline, shop owner and member of Trained By Techs, Shop owner and Technician Michael Broccolo, owner with his dad in Broccolo Automotive & Collision and 2006 SkillsUSA 1st place winner for NYS (in collision repair) and attended the national competition. Listen when Michael heaps a load of compliments on Scanner Danner and also Shop Manager and Diagnostician at Riverside Riverside Automotive, Redwing, MN, Matt Fanslow.
I believe the panel surmised a single theme. Don’t trash the professional. I know you’ve used YouTube to help you understand a home project. I have, and never has the presenter ever based a professional plumber, carpenter, electrician, etc. you get the drift that they were ripping me off. No doubt there is a lot of great information available on the internet, especially YouTube. It will not go away, however, this team did a very objective job of bringing a professional discussion on the Benefit or Burden of YouTube.
Listen and view episode notesRR 450: Michael Eilbracht – Becoming an Industry Trainer
Michael Eilbracht – Becoming a Trainer
Many in the industry have the yearning to give and teach. Think about how many professional teachers found their calling.
Michael knows he has found his calling to be an industry trainer. He has presented at Vision and will parlay his career as a Full-Time Transit Bus Technician, and owner of MJE Diagnostics into a professional Heavy Duty Electrical and Driveability Training Business.
This is a ‘real story’ on finding your groove and sticking to it. Listen to the depth of his experience and for his passion to help people.
Listen and view episode notesRR 444: Technician Round Table – Part 7 – Professionalism and More – Heipp – Landry – Fanslow:
Technician Talk 7 – Professionalism and More
This outspoken trio wonders how professionalism is bred, how it starts and how it can be compartmentalized. Everyone must step up and set the bar high for others to emulate and follow.
My guests for Tech Talk 7 are Bob Heipp, Peter Landry and Matt Fanslow. These guys also wonder why shops that are not equipped to service certain vehicles advertised that they can. Some shops lack professionalism. Let’s face it, some shops advertise what they can do even if they are ill-equipped to do it.
They say that Shops need to get OE level service information to best understand how to repair the most common brands that they see in their bays.
Listen and view episode notesTHA 120: How Can We Provide Our Technicians a $100K Yearly Pay Package?
How Can We Provide Our Technicians a $100K Yearly Pay Package?
We covered a large swath of reasons to review technician pay and to create a fair and adequate compensation plan based on criteria that is a win, win, win for the tech, the owner and the customer.
Our panel consists of Seth Thorson, shop owner at Eurotech Auto Service New Brighton, MN, Jerry Kezhaya, shop owner at The Auto Shop in Plano, TX, Frank Scandura shop owner at Frank’s European, Las Vegas, NV and Matt Fanslow, Shop Manager/Lead Diagnostician at Riverside Automotive, Red Wing, MN.
You’ve heard of the struggles and have most likely had your own issues with losing and hiring technicians. Our discussion is not the scientific answer however it goes a long way to helping you make decisions to retain, create loyalty and ward off the loss of our smart and talented technicians to other shops and other industries.
Listen and view episode notesRR 414: Elevating Our Industry’s Definition of Mechanic/Technician
Elevating our Industries’ Definition of a Mechanic/Technician
The mechanic/technician is more than just the person who repairs and maintains machinery. He is an automotive professional.
As we discuss bringing a new definition to the automotive mechanic, 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. Is today’s mechanic an ‘expert’, a ‘diagnostician’, or an Automotive Scientific Investigator? Does it matter?
I am joined with AES President, and Trainer Jorge Menchu, Scott Brown from Diag.net, Shop Manager and Diagnostician Matt Fanslow and LMV Bavarian Support Specialist Support and Tech Ambassador, Justin Morgan.
Listen and view episode notesRR 408: Scott Shotton – Straight Talk on Entry Level Technicians, Tips on Becoming an Aftermarket Trainer and Post-Secondary Automotive Education
Scott Shotton: Straight Talk on Entry Level Technicians, Tips on Becoming an Aftermarket Trainer and Post-Secondary Automotive Education
Scott and I dig into automotive education at the college level. We talk about the knowledge level and experience that our automotive graduates have and what their expected career path can be. Any seasoned technician knows where he started and what it took to get where he/she is today. That hasn’t changed, however, we may have higher expectations of our new grads and that is why each needs to have a career path set for them that includes an ongoing training program
Scott gives accolades to our top aftermarket trainers and gives advice to aspiring trainers.
We also get into the grow your own technician issue, the A,B,C technician designation, and mobile as a career path.
Listen and view episode notesRR 394: What Quality Employees Really Want – Results From a Technician Survey
What Quality Employees Really Want – Results From a Technician Survey
Join Tom Ham from Auto Centric and Automotive Management Network (AMN)as we talk about the results of a few surveys from AMN that deal with the technicians perspective on their satisfaction and needs of their job and employer.
We dive into technician related surveys about common reasons for techs to be fired, what quality employees really want, why technicians quit and why would techs change jobs and finally technician complaints.
Listen and view episode notesRR 377: Gary Smith – The Knowledge Of Electricity Is The Basis Of Every Solution To A Diagnostics Problem
The Knowledge Of Electricity Is The Basis Of Every Solution To A Diagnostics Problem
Gary Smith has been fascinated with electricity his whole life and understands that the more you know of electricity’s core fundamentals, the better diagnostician you’ll be.
He says many technicians have never been to a basic electric class so how will survival in today’s repair environment keep pace with the ever enhancing tech, circuits, and modules. Gary like so many other trainers I’ve interviewed can’t say it enough. You must continually train, invest in yourself and get to a basic automotive electrical class every three years.
Ham radio enthusiast, Gary Smith, tells the story of Edward Weston who invented a tool in circa 1893 that you still use today.
Thanks, Gary, for the reminder that you must be curious if you want to solve diagnostic challenges today. He reminds technicians that after a training class, they must go back to educate the rest of the team. When you teach you learn.
Listen and view episode notesRR 375: Trained By Techs – Creating a Training Commitment Inside All Shops
Trained By Techs – Creating a Training Commitment Inside All Shop
Recorded at ASA-PA’s the panel is Keith Perkins, Richard Falco, Tomi Oliva and Mario Rojas. We discuss the loss of our talent, that being a lead diagnostician can be profitable, that techs do side work because they are not being compensated properly, and how to get a training commitment started in a shop that doesn’t. And finally, do our shop owners really know what is going on in training classes? Think that one through.
In such a short time the Trained By Techs group has made some incredible strides. They appear at a lot of events, by spending their own money to get the word out. Their enthusiasm and dedication is exactly what our industry needs and this talented group of volunteers is sharing their passion for education in the automotive training industry.
They are diagnosing cars every day and are LEARNING new things. Watch their videos and the conversation and start your learning from there.
Listen and view episode notesRR 372: Edwin Hazzard – Training is the Responsibility of the Technician
Did You Know That Training is the Responsibility of the Technician?
A hard-hitting interview on technician training with trainer, writer, and mobile diagnostic tech Edwin Hazzard, Owner of Southeast Mobile Tech who has a lot to say about the responsibility of training in the aftermarket.
Edwin Hazzard owns a mobile diagnostic company in South Carolina. He contributes articles to Motor Age and has instructed in many different capacities over the years. Edwin has been a dealership technician and taught at the high school level.
He enjoys what he does for a living and sees diverse age group in classes. He says investing in training is important just to be relevant and up to date with the recent technology. If you don’t update, you evaporate.
Listen and view episode notesRR 371: Technician Round Table at ASTE – Griffin-Reynolds-Steele
Technician Talk: Retention, Aftermarket Training vs. Dealership Training And How To Handle And Fix Mistakes In The Shop.
The panel consists of Mike Reynolds, Mobile Automotive Service Solutions in Charleston, SC, Shane Steele, Hoover Dodge located in Summerville, South Carolina, and Robert Griffin, Owner and technician at Griffin Transmissions, North Charleston, SC.
Listen and view episode notesRR 362: Technician Round Table – Part 6 – Heipp – Landry – Fanslow
Technician Roundtable Part 6
Our continuing Tech Talk series is back for another go at some intense thinking. Join Matt Fanslow, the diagnostic tech/shop manager at Riverside Automotive in Red Wing, MN, Peter Landry, ASE L1 Master Automotive Technician from Brookfield, WI and Bob Heipp from Mobile Auto Solutions, LLC (MAS) and lead tech and Technician Manager in the Chicago metropolitan area and northwest Indiana. Both Peter and Bob work for MAS.
They are talking Valuing Techs, Marketing your diag capabilities, building a personal network, improving your diagnostic skills, ADAS, and a lot more.
Listen to their thoughts about using a mentor to help receive the max benefit from training events.
Listen and view episode notesTHA 083: What Separates the Outstanding Technicians
What Separates the Outstanding Technician
Outstanding shops attract outstanding technicians. Outstanding technicians want to work for outstanding shops.
Listen in on a great dialogue that covers qualities and attributes like Passion, Precision, Pride, Perseverance, and Humility. This episode is not about being an A, B or C tech it is about all other traits that make for an outstanding technician. The discussion relates to just about any other job in a professional service center today.
With Carm Capriotto for this Academy is Matt Fanslow, Shop Manager, Diagnostician, and Trainer, at Riverside Automotive, Red Wing, MN, Wayne ‘Jerry’ Bishop, PTS Instructor, Standard Motor Products and Kevin Eckler, Shop Owner, Foreign Car Specialists, Poughkeepsie, NY.
Listen and view episode notesRR 351: Paul Danner – Educator, Diagnostician and You-tuber ‘ScannerDanner’
Paul Danner. Educator, Diagnostician and Youtuber ‘ScannerDanner’
Paul Danner is an ASE L1 Certified Master Technician with Twenty-Four years of field experience in electronics, electrical and drivability diagnostics. For eighteen years he has been employed as an instructor at Rosedale Technical College where he has taught Engine Performance Diagnostics and Basic Electrical Systems. Eleven years ago, he opened his own mobile diagnostic business which performs electrical and electronic diagnostic services for over Twenty Garages in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.
He fell into mobile diagnostics and case studies by stopping in and helping his friends on the way home from work. He called it diaper money to help pay the bills. He is thankful that God has graced him with the ability to troubleshoot.
He is wired for variables and loves ‘What Ifs’. Paul stresses that your learning curve comes from the ‘good parts’ drawer and from the mistakes you make. You have to be in a shop that gives you a steady diet of diagnostic work to become good at diagnostics.
He teaches his student’s field diagnostics and has written a field manual about it and his youtube channel is a very popular place to learn.
Listen and view episode notesRR 346: Matt Fanslow of Riverside Automotive – Improving the level of professionalism within the aftermarket industry
Improving The Level Of Professionalism Within The Aftermarket Industry
Matt Fanslow is an expert Diagnostic Technician and Shop Manager at Riverside Automotive, Redwing, Minnesota. He specializes in diagnosing automotive failures and is very well versed in using diagnostic equipment and is a PICO trainer.
Since he took his first job out of college, he has dedicated his efforts and training towards improving his abilities to efficiently and accurately diagnose automotive driveability, electrical and electrical failures.
It is his goal to improve the overall level of professionalism within the automotive industry and light truck repair trade while raising its public image level which can boost more professional tech to get into the industry.
Listen and view episode notesRR 344: Technician Roundtable – Brin Kline, Tanner Brandt, Pedro De La Torre
Technician or Diagnostician, What’s the difference?
Technician Roundtable episode with Brin Kline, Tanner Brandt, and Pedro De La Torre share their passion for their craft and talk scheduling and selling diagnostics. We get into apprenticeship/mentorship to younger techs, and what training and education are necessary to be top diagnostic tech. This episode will benefit technicians and diagnosticians in a lot of ways.
They share their views on constant improvements that build the strength of a team and creates satisfied customers. Areas like IT, Quality Control, Business Education and top training for techs. This episode tackles the differences between techs and how to improve their skill through training. It is important to show a pathway of continuing education for the industries young techs to emulate and follow. The industry will benefit in the long run.
Listen to a diagnostician’s point of view only here at your premiere aftermarket podcast.
Listen and view episode notes