Are You Fixing Hybrids Cars? [THA 221]
Are You Fixing Hybrid Cars? [THA 221]
If you’re waiting for a sign to get into hybrid repairs then consider this your wake-up call! You can either sit back and let a specialization opportunity pass you by, or take action and embrace hybrid repairs whose cars have been around for 21 years. Our lineup includes Craig Van Battenburg, Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC), Cameron Lee, Ernie Lee’s Service Center, and Raleigh Hybrids and Eric Carlson.
They are here to help guide you through hybrid repairs, marketing, tooling, and training. The key talking points for this episode on Hybrids reside at remarkableresults.biz/a221
Listen and view episode notesSpecialization with Tom Palermo and John Anello [THA 220]
Specialization with Tom Palermo and John Anello [THA 220]
We are here to talk about specialization. Ever wonder what are the pros and cons to being a specialist in a certain field of repair? In this episode, we discuss fleet business with Tom Palermo, Preferred Auto Specialists, and the world of being a mobile diagnostician/programmer and ADAS calibrator from John Anello, Auto Tech on Wheels.
Listen to their approach to specializations and how they’ve adapted to the changes in our industry. This is Knowledge you need to have as you continue to learn what makes our aftermarket tic.
The key talking points for this episode reside at remarkableresults.biz/a220
Listen and view episode notesScan Tools Part 1 [RR 629]
Scan Tools Part 1 [RR 629]
Scan tools…who should be the one investing in scan tools? The owner? The technician? How often are you turning away jobs because you don’t have the right tool? Does a journeyman plumber need to buy their own tools to do a job? I don’t think so! These are all questions we cover in this episode with Matt Fanslow, Keith Perkins, and Bill Nalu. A wide-open panel discussion you will enjoy and learn just one thing.
The key talking points for this episode reside at remarkablersults.biz/e629
Listen and view episode notesHow to Become a Thermostat Instead of a Thermometer- Dave Hobbs [RR 601]
Become a Thermostat Instead of a Thermometer – Dave Hobbs [RR 601]
Dave Hobbs, the lead technical trainer and course developer for Delphi Product and Service Solutions, Dave Hobbs is back. Dave has graced us recently with his episode 592 talking about how to avoid comebacks with tech talks. He is now offering you his insights on ADAS training virtual classes on how to become a thermostat not a thermometer.
You can find Dave’s other episodes and the key talking points for this episode at remarkablersults.biz/e601
Listen and view episode notesAvoiding Comebacks with Dave Hobbs [RR 592]
Avoiding Comebacks and More with Dave Hobbs [RR 592]
I’m with the lead technical trainer and course developer for Delphi Product and Service Solutions, Dave Hobbs. Dave has graced the podcast in the past and we are going to do a series of thought-provoking shows just for you.
Dave is tackling comebacks — a real part of doing business. Prevention or minimizing them comes from quality control, high standards and training. He also talks about the Right To Repair, Access to Data.
You can find Dave’s other episodes and the key talking points for this episode at remarkablersults.biz/e592
Listen and view episode notesDiagnostic 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 notesTraining 2020 and Beyond – Future Techniques and Strategies [THA 173]
THA 173 Training 2020 and Beyond: Future Techniques and Strategies
The challenges we have now and into the future, regarding training, are so apparent in this episode. Will you shift and adapt to the many ways of acquiring training into the future. Will we be changing how we deliver knowledge? Do we need to let some of our old training techniques die? Will we embrace career pathing? And will shop owners be more supportive and pay for training? Some of the answers are here now.
Rich Falco came to me with this Academy topic and I was hooked. Who wouldn’t want to listen to a discussion on ‘Training 2020 and Beyond: Future Techniques and Strategies. He brought along Jim Cokonis and Matt Fanslow. You know me I’m a very curious person and I want to learn something new every day. This episode brought out both of those traits. In Fact I got more than I anticipated and so will you.
Talking points for a great meeting agenda at https://remarkbleresults.biz/a173
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 notesSurvey Says! [RR 501]
John Burkhauser is currently employed at BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY as the Director of Education, a job that allows him to use a lifetime of learning experience day in and day out. John dreamed of being a meteorologist but found out college wasn’t for him. When his car failed the state inspection, that was the day his…
Listen and view episode notesMatt Fanslow – Helping Local Shops [FTR 080]
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 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 476: Chris Cloutier and Scott Brown – Productivity Hacks
Chris Cloutier and Scott Brown – What does it take to become more Productive and Efficient?
There are a lot of ways to become productive and efficient. There are a lot of strategies and systems that can be followed by just hearing this episode. Follow the process, improve communication, leverage to software technologies, learn to improve diagnostic methods and a whole lot more!
The experts: Chris Cloutier and Scott Brown. Chris is the co-owner of Golden Rule Auto Care in Dallas Texas and CEO of Auto Tex Me. He spent many years in the software industry developing solutions for companies. And Scott is an ASE Master Certified Automobile Technician with over three and a half decades of professional service industry experience. He and his wife own Connie & Dick’s Service Center Inc. Together they are the productivity and efficiency duo that bring results.
Listen and view episode notesRR 475: Dirk Fuchs and Jeff Bly – Will System Training Impact a Technicians Ability to Diagnose and Improve Shops Profits
RR 475: Dirk Fuchs and Jeff Will System Training Impact a Technicians Ability to Diagnose and Improve Shops Profits
Why do we shun training? It is a huge industry problem. Our trainers know that the same people show up time after time. Not many new faces. What does that say about the state of our industry? Why do we ignore the power of training? Do you know that it supports your efficiency?
In this episode, Dirk Fuchs Technical Training Manager at ZF Group and Jeff Bly NAPA Autotech Curriculum Developer say that many young industry techs want and need training. But why aren’t they getting it? Why do Canadians show up for training at greater numbers than in the US? What are regarded as preferred training methods in the US versus European; knowledge-based or solutions based training? All of these questions will be answered in this podcast.
This episode will open your eyes to possibilities for you and your future in the industry.
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 notesFTR 055: Matt Fanslow – We Should Take The Same Skill Set For Automotive Diagnostics And Apply It To KPI Management
FTR 055 Matt Fanslow – We Should Take The Same Skill Set For Automotive Diagnostics And Apply It To KPI Management
Matt Fanslow has an interesting view of analyzing KPIs. He says if your a shop owner that started as a tech, you have the foundation to take what you know about diagnostics and apply it to improve your business.
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 notesRR 426: Supporting Technician Training with Technology and Partnerships – Paul Louwers – AVI On Demand
Supporting Technician Training with Technology and Partnerships – Paul Louwers – AVI On-Demand
Paul Louwers, CEO and CO-founder of the Automotive Video Innovations and the driving force behind the concept and execution of AVI. He has been in the training business for over 25 years.
Paul explains that on-demand training is just one tool for a shop owner and technician in their training arsenal. Because of the online learning management system, and I can’t stress that enough, when you add in leader-led training, and hands-on, the power of networking; the learning is compounded. Find your learning combination.
AVI is a technology company that excels at creating training for the automotive industry. They are producing relevant content for, Service and Repair Centers, Parts Manufacturers, Parts Distributors, and Automotive Schools.
Listen and view episode notesTHA 110: Charging What We Are Worth
Charging What We Are Worth
We talk professional courtesy, labor rates, training, having the right value proposition for your customer so you can charge accordingly, the labor rate spread in our communities, and why you shouldn’t be afraid to charge what you are worth. You’ve invested a lot in your business and need to be paid for this. Listen to why confidence in your skills and abilities will help you charge accordingly.
With me on this Academy panel is Tom Palermo, Preferred Automotive Specialties, Philadelphia, PA and former NAPA ASE Technician of the year in 2015, David Justice, President Repair Shop Of Tomorrow, Asset Management Technology and Mark Colaw, Seymours’ Garage, San Antonio, TX and founder of Carfest.
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 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 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 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