J&S Automotive is set to take automotive technical training in Ireland to a whole new level, with the introduction of the Eure!Car Certified Master Class training initiative. This is a totally new concept for the Irish independent aftermarket, providing hands on interactive training for garage owners and Mechanics on a local basis.

 

 The key element of the training, which has already made it a Europe wide success, is that it is based totally on actual vehicles which have been specially adapted to simulate technical issues. This means problems can be practically diagnosed and resolved during live training sessions.

 

 

 

Progressive garages now recognise the need for effective technical training, as automotive technology moves on a pace. Without appropriate training, a technician’s knowledge base and skill sets can quickly become out of touch with the technology being seen on cars entering a workshop. It can mean a garage has to operate in a fast reducing pool of vehicles, where it is competent in diagnosis and repair, or that the type and number of jobs garages can do on particular cars will continue to reduce.    However, if a garage is up-to-date with technical training, it opens up a wealth of new business opportunities and allows them to become acknowledged local experts in particular fields.

 

In short, technical training has the capacity to mean more jobs, more business and to secure an independent workshop’s future.

 

J&S have long been advocates of the need for effective aftermarket training and some time ago, set up a special team to investigate the best way to deliver this to the Irish market. By researching training in other European countries, it quickly became clear that the scale of the resources and commitment required to deliver the type of training needed, was beyond any single national distributor or motor factor group, even in some of Europe’s largest countries.

 

It was through the identification of the need for a Europe wide training initiative, that J&S became involved with ADI (Automotive Distribution International), a leading automotive distribution network, with partners throughout Europe, North Africa and Central Asia. J&S is now the Irish partner of ADI, which offers access to a complete range of parts, products, tools and equipment, as well as a comprehensive portfolio of support services, including the Eure!Car initiative.

 

Six years in development, and with many millions of euro invested in the project, Eure!Car is now successfully providing a high level of technical training in many European countries, together with a full technical support programme for garages. It is backed by the global resources of AD International, as well as a number of leading OE and aftermarket parts manufacturers.

 

The J&S team were able to see the Eure!Car training programme in action and visit the extensive AD Technical Centre in Northern Spain, and from this, tailor programmes to suit the Irish market. The result is a training initiative that is totally different in scale and concept to anything seen in Ireland before.

 

A key point of the training development, is that it has been designed not only around the needs of progressive garages, but also the J&S nationwide network of motor factors, recognising the vital role they play in serving the independent aftermarket in Ireland. As such, the whole training concept has been developed so that it can run on a local basis, in factor premises or another suitable venue. This also means that travel time for garages is minimised and training is more accessible and convenient.

 

To undertake this massive training undertaking, J&S will employ an initial specialist team of 5 technical trainers in Ireland. These are all fully qualified Mechanics, who are not only up to date with the latest automotive technology, but also have the appropriate training skills to interact with the attending Mechanics and deliver the vital information in a highly informative and accessible way.

 

The next vital element of this unique training approach is the all important car. There will actually be a fleet of 25 specially adapted Eure!Car vehicles used in the Irish training programme. This allows trainers to cover common system problems on not only specific makes and models, but because of common engine use and platforms, which is an increasing trend in automotive manufacture, a significant percentage of the vehicle car parc.

 

Each car is equipped with a unique device called a Ged Box, which is capable of simulating faults on vehicle systems. The car is presented as if it has a genuine fault and training can therefore be built around a practical session with fault diagnosis, tracing and fix.  Eure!Car trainers have found this is the most effective way of building technician knowledge and experience, with the practical and interactive hands-on training far more effective than any classroom based approach.

 

Local training sessions will be strictly limited to 12 mechanics, so that all have the chance to interact with the trainers and get hands-on with the vehicle. At each training session, those attending will also be given a comprehensive vehicle work book, which includes detailed wiring diagrams. They also receive an interactive CD, which allows them to refresh their knowledge at any time.

 

Mechanics will sign up to a series of training sessions, all of which will be held at a local venue in evenings, out of normal business hours. Each session is fully certified and by attending the series, Mechanics can quickly increase their system knowledge and practical diagnostic skills.

 

Those attending courses will also have access to ongoing technical support including a helpline number. This will be operated from a new Eure!Car Technical Centre near Dublin airport, which will also serve the UK market. Mechanics will be able to ring the helpline for advice and support from the technical training team, who have access to a huge library of technical information, including original manufacturer data.

 

For more information on Eure!Car training, contact Mark Ralph at J&S Automotive on 087-263-0962.