Automotive » automotive career

Rising Through the Ranks as a Company Secretary

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:32:52 +0000

The importance of company secretaries in the automotive industry cannot be understated. Secretaries for executives, managers, and supervisors are invaluable to maintaining the organisation and communication of the entire firm. In fact, the network of company secretaries throughout a firm can help make or break a company within the automotive industry. Highly sensitive materials, important appointments, and crucial organisational tasks are met ably by company secretaries. From the front office and the service counter, company secretaries are key parts of any leading automotive firm.

However, many young professionals entering the automotive industry fail to see the potential of rising through the ranks as a company secretary. This oversight can be damaging to those who want to rise quickly up the corporate ladder to management or supervisory positions. Indeed, administrative assistant and secretary positions are great ways to rise through the ranks of an automotive firm for the right candidate.

One reason why company secretary positions are great launching pads to advanced positions is the connections these professionals establish. Company secretaries speak with executives and other professionals throughout the industry, in addition to professionals in other industries working with automotive firms. As such, secretaries with the right skills and ambition already have the requisite knowledge to rise to other positions in the firm. The references they build by these regular interactions are integral to future success.

As well, company secretaries have to exhibit the skills necessary for management or supervisory positions. Clear communications, as mentioned, are a part of any secretarys repertoire. As well, the ability to organise multiple tasks at one time and delegate to temporary workers or assistants prove invaluable in future positions. Finally, company secretaries are intimately familiar with the various departments within the firm.

However, the most important aspect of a company secretarys job is the dissemination of information to their supervisors. Secretaries learn a lot about the inner workings and politics of a firms executive board just in the commission of their daily tasks. As well, company secretaries are often asked to summarise reports, write letters, and updated website information on behalf of an executive. By simply doing their jobs, company secretaries build a comprehensive knowledge of the automotive industry and the firm that they work for. Company secretaries in automotive firms build a strong reputation within their department and the general firm simply by fulfilling job expectations. Graduates and young professionals need to know that company secretary jobs are a great spring board to advanced positions.

Rising Through the Ranks as a Company Secretary is a post from: Automotive

All You Need To Know About Heavy Equipment Training Programs

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:42:01 +0000

The heavy equipment industry is on the rise and is constantly in search of skilled and well-educated personnel. The industry has many career opportunities to choose from. The need for manpower will also see a rise in the near future as the construction; mining and automotive companies are rapidly growing. The industry that was once not considered prosperous from the career point of view has today emerged with good opportunities both in management and labor section.
To work in heavy equipment industry is a challenging task and need determined and well-qualified personnel. To acquire skills and get in depth information regarding the various machines, you need a sound training program that can well prepare you for the job opportunities and tasks. If you browse the Internet, you will come across many schools that provide you with various training programs. However, to make the most of the training, you need to choose the right Institute.
There are some experts and professionals from the Industry, who have come up with the heavy equipment training programs for the youth. These training programs give you insight of the industry and also prepare you for the department or equipment you would like to work with. There are also many online training programs that run throughout the country of United States. These online or distant programs help you to educate yourself from the comforts of your own home. Apart from the knowledge of equipments, you are provided with safety tips and are taught to take precautions in the time of crisis.
Once you are done with the basic course, you are bestowed with good information concerning the heavy equipment industry. After the introductory part of the training program, you can choose the subject of your choice with an opportunity offered to make a career in any department of heavy equipment industry. There are various requirements in this industry, like sales-in-charge, technical repairer, manufacturer, maintenance of the equipments and so on. You can also choose to work on automotive parts or on construction or mining equipments. Once you choose the subject of your choice, you can move on to complete a course, where you would be needed to finish certain assignments related to your subject.
The heavy equipment industry is looking out for experts and skilled workers, who are well versed with the technology and machine is their passion. This job is not for all, since it requires people who can spend hours together to work on these heavy equipments. Apart from the subject knowledge, the trainers also guide and help you take safety measures and offer you certificate at the end of the training program. Mishaps can happen anytime and you need to be cautious and be aware to take proper steps to safeguard both yourself and your co-workers.
When choosing a training program, you need to check, if it is genuinely recognized and accepted in the heavy equipment industry. Do reference check and ask for recommendations from the passed out candidates. It is beneficial to enroll in a training course program that offers job placement and assist you to find a job. It is good to know the profile of the person running the training program. A person from the same industry proves more beneficial and others, who have the practical knowledge, can assist you better. So, if you are longing to make a career in heavy equipment industry, waste no time and enroll in one of the best institute with the best training programs to make you become a part of the great and heavy equipment industry.

All You Need To Know About Heavy Equipment Training Programs is a post from: Automotive

Resources for Students at Auto Tech Schools

admin — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:44:16 +0000

If you are seeking a career in the automotive industry, going to school is an excellent way to break into the field. Auto tech schools offer a number of resources for students, helping them to find a job after graduation, or even while still in school. Read on to discover a few of the benefits you will enjoy as a student at an automotive school.

Experienced teachers
Most auto tech schools hire only the best teachers. In order to ensure their teachers really know the subject material, they look for those with automotive degrees and/or real working automotive experience. As a result, you can rest assured that your teachers are some of the best resources available to you as you learn the ropes of the field.

Strong mentoring programs
Many automotive programs understand the value of a mentor as a student gains an education and work experience. Therefore, many schools will set up a mentoring program, between new students and more experienced students, or simply between students and experienced members of the industry.

Broad availability of internships
Another advantage offered by auto tech schools is the availability of internships. Most automotive schools maintain ongoing working relationships with local automotive businesses, enabling them to quickly and easily place students in internships. Internships benefit students by providing valuable on the job training, and some even give students credit toward their degree.

Guaranteed job placement
Many programs will guarantee job placement after graduation. Job placement services are one of the many benefits a high quality, established automotive school can offer. Between the connections the school has with local shops, garages, and dealerships, and the aid of the school’s best resume writers, students should have no trouble finding work in this competitive field.

Solid school reputation
One of the benefits to attending one of the top auto tech schools is that you carry with you the value of their reputation, every time you present your resume or tell a customer where you learned your trade. The presence of a top school on your resume could even make the difference between landing a job and losing it to another candidate. Therefore, a school’s reputation must be counted among one of the resources it offers you as a graduate.

Financial aid
Going to school is a financial burden for many people, but it doesn’t have to stop you from getting the education you want and need. Many facilities will offer financial aid for students who cannot easily afford to put themselves through school. Financial aid is therefore a resource that makes an education possible for many people for whom it would not have been otherwise.

There are many more resources that auto tech schools can offer to their students, but the above resources are the most common. If you are unsure what resources a certain educational program can offer to you, the best way to find out is to browse the school’s website or contact them directly.

Resources for Students at Auto Tech Schools is a post from: Automotive

Whos Firing? Layoffs for week ended 10-23-09

admin — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 18:18:24 +0000

Who’s Firing is a weekly survey of organizations announcing (or rumoring) layoffs for the week ended 10-23-09. Not only is this valuable for job seekers, but for business analysts, corporate strategists, marketers, salespeople, investment analysts, financial advisers, and others who are interested in companies that are contracting. Layoffs announced and rumored this week were in the Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical, Financial/Banking, and Publishing sectors. Inclusion on this listing doesnt mean the entire industry is down, as many from the same sector appeared on the Whos Hiring article published 10/19/09. It is interesting to note that while Federal hiring is on the rise, a number of State and Local governments have continued to see cutbacks for over the past month. Health care organizations were laying off such as Valley Mental Health, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Cook County Health System, Oak Forest Hospital, Pfizer, Carestream Health, Navilyst Medical, Eli Lilly, Smith Medical. Publishers continued to shed jobs as Time, The New York Times, The Charlotte Observer, and McGraw-Hill announced layoffs, while rumors swirled all around Conde-Nast about which units would face job cuts. Job seekers: You might want to look in greener pastures than these companies. Organizations announcing or rumored layoffs week ended 10/23/09:

Alstom Transport, Hornell NY (500) Electrolux, Webster City IA (850) Valley Mental Health, Salt Lake City UT (up to 125) Time Inc, NYC (approx 600) Sun Microsystems, National (3,000) International Paper, National (1,600) Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Evansville & Mt Vernon IN (115) Cook County Health and Hospitals System, Chicago IL (335) State of Iowa (793) Oak Forest Hospital, Oak Forest IL (200) Emerson/Schneider National, Bridgeton MO (330) NCR Corporation, National (2200) Modine Manufacturing Company, Harrodsburg KY (110) Nautilus, Independence VA (173) Expedia, Tacoma WA (200?) New Page Corp, Whiting WI (100?) Pilkington Automotive Glass Plant (NSG Group), Clinton MI (130) Sallie Mae, National (1-2K?) State of Massachusetts (726) Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto CA (150) Pfizer, Overland Park KS (200) Regions Financial Corp, Birmingham AL (1700 YTD) Sullivan County, NY (100) Lexmark International Inc, Lexington KY (825) Mohawk Industries, Waynesboro VA (120) Jakks Pacific Inc, Malibu CA (100+) Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago IL (1000+) Missouri Department of Natural Resources (Division of State Parks) (100+) BAE Systems, West Manchester PA (130) City of Chicago, IL (220 positions eliminated) New York Times, NYC (100) Workforce Solutions, East Texas (50) Standard Chartered Bank, Miami FL (72) Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, National (57) Forum Health Inc, Youngstown OH (52) Carestream Health Inc, Windsor CO (70) State of Iowa (791) Kronos Inc. (Stromburg), Lake Mary FL (70) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach FL (21) General Shale, Spring City TN (19) Navilyst Medical, Glens Falls NY (51) Sacramento County, CA (76) Pilkington Automotive, Clinton MI (130) LHI Enterprises Inc, Hartland WI (80) Georgia Pacific, Fordyce AR (300) Extreme Networks, Santa Clara CA (70) Lockheed Martin, Archbald PA (50) Goss International, Dover NH (unknown) Eli Lilly, National (unknown) Freescale Semiconductiors, Austin TX and National (unknown) Shuttle America, Honolulu HI (74) CNH Global, International (10-12%) Child Protective Services, Sacramento CA (76) St. Joseph County, IN (54) Estes Express Lines, Knoxville TN (unknown) 21st Century Insurance, Vestal NY (54) State of Pennsylvania (unknown) Mothers Against Drunk Driving MADD, National (unknown) The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte NC (unknown) Arizona Department of Public Safety (unknown) Smith Medical, Waukesha WI (104) Wausau Paper, Appleton WI (55) Tree Top Inc, Rialto CA (75) Assurant Specialty Property, Santa Ana & Tustin CA (74) The McGraw-Hill Cos, Woodland Hills CA (85) West Marine Products, Watsonville CA (325) Curtiss-Wright Controls, Integrated Sensing, Long Beach CA (81) Kavlico, Moorpark CA (169) Baker Hughes Incorporated, Houston TX (62) Fluor Enterprises, Inc, Sugar Land TX (617) Redcats USA, Universal City TX (490) Big Stick Media, National Sports Services, Las Vegas NV (unknown) FormTech Industries, Minerva, OH (68) Coca-Cola Enterprises, Havre de Grace MD (50) Faurecia Automotive Seating Inc, Walton KY (68) Farmers Group Inc, Vestal NY (54) The Really Cool Food Company LLC, Syosset NY (78) Matrx (Midmark Corporation), Orchard Park NY (87)

Source: Google, Twitter, AllPinkSlips.com, Telonu.com, TechCrunch.com, CoStar.com, Gawker, Screwedd.com Readers If you know of employers announcing significant layoff plans, or employers reducing large numbers of employees, please comment below to add to this list. Trackback: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2009/10/whos-firing-week-ended-10-23-09.html

Whos Firing? Layoffs for week ended 10-23-09 is a post from: Automotive

Do Traffic Situations Infuriate You ?

admin — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 18:11:11 +0000

Can it be said that in your daily weekly or monthly driving along the roadways, streets and highways of your community that “traffic situations make you angry”. Well it can be best said “Welcome to life and the life and times of being an automobile driver!”
It can be said that the best answer to the question – that is to a traffic policeman or the judge should be charged with poor or dangerous driving skills – then the best answer may well be “never ” or “seldom ” “some of the time perhaps”. However anyone who has been stuck in traffic for long periods of time can well understand why “Sometimes” may well be a fair answer to this question for most motorists who drive the highways and streets of the USA and Canada.
Anger behind that automotive steering wheel – be it car , SUV, truck camper or van – may well come out of the woodwork – or perhaps from behind that car steering wheel in many dangerous ways and means. Most people trapped in slow moving or even stopped in traffic “jam”, often more than not feel frustrated. This frustration can well lead to personal anger. Most of the time it’s all nothing more than frustration with no dire results. However some of the time people can direct their anger at other people and drivers on the road or highways, instead of at the traffic itself. Of course this can lead to inappropriate actions and reactions – such as honking horns, yelling at other drivers, cutting others off in traffic, blocking intersections or playing one game with other drivers.
It can be said that when drivers become emotional, all out of proportion to the direct situation that is at hand, this is a clear sign that other emotions are the true cause. In essence driving their vehicle or vehicles has become an outlet for expressing their anger and angers at life and the many situations in life that they encountering, dealing with and perhaps stressed out with. Many emotions can turn into anger and situations of expression of anger. For example fear of other drivers. Anxiety over being late being another. As well anxieties at other situations in their personal life’s may well be another/ All of these emotions can work singly or alone to provoke and stir up unwarranted anger. It’s like giving kerosene to an arsonist. The sad truth is that when it comes to traffic situations stirring up anger in a person that is very angry with the world to begin with – this is all more than counter productive.
The worst part of this anger can well be how drivers express it. If you find yourself driving too fast, or tailgating someone to “teach them a lesson”, then you need to first stop and ask yourself if “It’s really worth it?” On top of that if you have health conditions – such as heart or cardiac trouble – these expressions of anger can be downright bad for your personal health.
What can be said about driving situations and the inherent frustrations that may be involved that we all come across at some point in our driving “careers ” ? It is best to accept the fact that anger itself will do nothing at all to get you out of irritating traffic situations. On the contrary, it may well get you into needless trouble, and even collisions if not police tickets and fines.
All in an all the simplest advice that can be given is that when it comes to frustrations on the road and other irresponsible, foolish or even dangerous drives on the road is to “take it easy”. Relax, take a few deep breaths and even force yourself to smile. Drive on. It will be bound to better off as you drive your automobile further down the road.
Can it be said that in your daily weekly or monthly driving along the roadways, streets and highways of your community that “traffic situations make you angry”. Well it can be best said “Welcome to life and the life and times of being an automobile driver!”
It can be said that the best answer to the question – that is to a traffic policeman or the judge should be charged with poor or dangerous driving skills – then the best answer may well be “never ” or “seldom ” “some of the time perhaps”. However anyone who has been stuck in traffic for long periods of time can well understand why “Sometimes” may well be a fair answer to this question for most motorists who drive the highways and streets of the USA and Canada.
Anger behind that automotive steering wheel – be it car , SUV, truck camper or van – may well come out of the woodwork – or perhaps from behind that car steering wheel in many dangerous ways and means. Most people trapped in slow moving or even stopped in traffic “jam”, often more than not feel frustrated. This frustration can well lead to personal anger. Most of the time it’s all nothing more than frustration with no dire results. However some of the time people can direct their anger at other people and drivers on the road or highways, instead of at the traffic itself. Of course this can lead to inappropriate actions and reactions – such as honking horns, yelling at other drivers, cutting others off in traffic, blocking intersections or playing one game with other drivers.
It can be said that when drivers become emotional, all out of proportion to the direct situation that is at hand, this is a clear sign that other emotions are the true cause. In essence driving their vehicle or vehicles has become an outlet for expressing their anger and angers at life and the many situations in life that they encountering, dealing with and perhaps stressed out with. Many emotions can turn into anger and situations of expression of anger. For example fear of other drivers. Anxiety over being late being another. As well anxieties at other situations in their personal life’s may well be another/ All of these emotions can work singly or alone to provoke and stir up unwarranted anger. It’s like giving kerosene to an arsonist. The sad truth is that when it comes to traffic situations stirring up anger in a person that is very angry with the world to begin with – this is all more than counter productive.
The worst part of this anger can well be how drivers express it. If you find yourself driving too fast, or tailgating someone to “teach them a lesson”, then you need to first stop and ask yourself if “It’s really worth it?” On top of that if you have health conditions – such as heart or cardiac trouble – these expressions of anger can be downright bad for your personal health.
What can be said about driving situations and the inherent frustrations that may be involved that we all come across at some point in our driving “careers ” ? It is best to accept the fact that anger itself will do nothing at all to get you out of irritating traffic situations. On the contrary, it may well get you into needless trouble, and even collisions if not police tickets and fines.
All in an all the simplest advice that can be given is that when it comes to frustrations on the road and other irresponsible, foolish or even dangerous drives on the road is to “take it easy”. Relax, take a few deep breaths and even force yourself to smile. Drive on. It will be bound to better off as you drive your automobile further down the road.
Can it be said that in your daily weekly or monthly driving along the roadways, streets and highways of your community that “traffic situations make you angry”. Well it can be best said “Welcome to life and the life and times of being an automobile driver!”
It can be said that the best answer to the question – that is to a traffic policeman or the judge should be charged with poor or dangerous driving skills – then the best answer may well be “never ” or “seldom ” “some of the time perhaps”. However anyone who has been stuck in traffic for long periods of time can well understand why “Sometimes” may well be a fair answer to this question for most motorists who drive the highways and streets of the USA and Canada.
Anger behind that automotive steering wheel – be it car , SUV, truck camper or van – may well come out of the woodwork – or perhaps from behind that car steering wheel in many dangerous ways and means. Most people trapped in slow moving or even stopped in traffic “jam”, often more than not feel frustrated. This frustration can well lead to personal anger. Most of the time it’s all nothing more than frustration with no dire results. However some of the time people can direct their anger at other people and drivers on the road or highways, instead of at the traffic itself. Of course this can lead to inappropriate actions and reactions – such as honking horns, yelling at other drivers, cutting others off in traffic, blocking intersections or playing one game with other drivers.
It can be said that when drivers become emotional, all out of proportion to the direct situation that is at hand, this is a clear sign that other emotions are the true cause. In essence driving their vehicle or vehicles has become an outlet for expressing their anger and angers at life and the many situations in life that they encountering, dealing with and perhaps stressed out with. Many emotions can turn into anger and situations of expression of anger. For example fear of other drivers. Anxiety over being late being another. As well anxieties at other situations in their personal life’s may well be another/ All of these emotions can work singly or alone to provoke and stir up unwarranted anger. It’s like giving kerosene to an arsonist. The sad truth is that when it comes to traffic situations stirring up anger in a person that is very angry with the world to begin with – this is all more than counter productive.
The worst part of this anger can well be how drivers express it. If you find yourself driving too fast, or tailgating someone to “teach them a lesson”, then you need to first stop and ask yourself if “It’s really worth it?” On top of that if you have health conditions – such as heart or cardiac trouble – these expressions of anger can be downright bad for your personal health.
What can be said about driving situations and the inherent frustrations that may be involved that we all come across at some point in our driving “careers ” ? It is best to accept the fact that anger itself will do nothing at all to get you out of irritating traffic situations. On the contrary, it may well get you into needless trouble, and even collisions if not police tickets and fines.
All in an all the simplest advice that can be given is that when it comes to frustrations on the road and other irresponsible, foolish or even dangerous drives on the road is to “take it easy”. Relax, take a few deep breaths and even force yourself to smile. Drive on. It will be bound to better off as you drive your automobile further down the road.

Do Traffic Situations Infuriate You ? is a post from: Automotive

Why You Need an ASE Certified Auto Repair Shop in Sarasota, Florida 34233

admin — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:25:44 +0000

Anyone who owns a vehicle is all too familiar with the need for an auto tune up or automotive repairs. There is the regular need for oil change service, the need to check engine light from time to time and, of course, the need for auto AC repair ever so often. Much more serious than car AC repair, though, is the need for brake repair which should not be ignored when necessary. Every vehicle owner in Sarasota, Florida 34233, therefore, needs an ASE certified auto repair shop to rely on for all automotive repairs and auto tune up services.ASE stands for Automotive Service Excellence. ASE certification is given by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, an independent non-profit entity which was founded in 1972 for the sole purpose of improving the quality of vehicle service and repair in the United States. This is done through voluntary testing and certification of automotive service professionals and technicians. Testing is administered through ACT, another independent non-profit institution that offers various tools for assessment, research, information, and program management in the development of the workforce.ASE certification is categorized into industry-driven specialties covering all segments of vehicle servicing. In order to achieve ASE certification, an individual needs to have documentation for at least two years of relevant work experience and pass a minimum of one specialty test. Once certification is achieved, it must be renewed every five years by undergoing retesting. Testing is made convenient with written tests scheduled twice a year with a choice of more than 750 testing sites all over the US. Some computer-based tests are conducted at 200 locations also twice a year.Automotive service professionals and technicians who are ASE-certified are authorized to wear the blue and white ASE insignia. Their employers can also display their credentials in the shop and use the ASE signage. Auto repair shops are qualified for the elite ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition Program (BSRP) if they have at least 75% of their automotive service professionals and technicians ASE-certified, and if every service they offer is represented by a minimum of one ASE-certified technician. The ASE Blue Seal of Excellence comes with a wall plaque, counter mat and a promotional kit. The repair shop will also be listed in the BSRP shop locator of the ASE website. All ASE certified auto repair shops with the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence are evaluated annually so that certification credentials are always updated and maintained.Vehicle owners can, therefore, be assured of excellent service provided by well trained and highly skilled professional technicians when going to an ASE certified auto repair shop. The ASE website lists the following top 10 benefits that automotive service professionals and technicians get from being ASE-certified:1.ASE certification proves professional credentials covering both knowledge and experience. 2.ASE certification shows commitment to the highest standards of automotive service and repair.3.ASE certification enhances the image of automotive service professionals.4.ASE certification shows achievement of excellence in the field of automotive service.5.ASE certification boosts the self-esteem of automotive service professionals.6.ASE certification improves the career opportunities and advancement of automotive service professionals.7.ASE certification gives automotive service professionals more earning potential.8.ASE certification continually develops the growth in skills and knowledge of automotive service professionals.9.ASE certification prepares automotive service professionals for greater job responsibilities.10.ASE certification gives automotive service professionals peer recognition.All of the benefits mentioned above result in better auto tune up and automotive repairs service for the customer. So do you have an ASE certified auto repair shop you can trust for your automotive repairs and auto tune up needs in Sarasota, Florida 34233?

Why You Need an ASE Certified Auto Repair Shop in Sarasota, Florida 34233 is a post from: Automotive

Auto Mechanics salary

admin — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:47:53 +0000

The general public has a misconception that automobile mechanics make a lot of money, more so than most trades are paying. This article will explain that this is not so. In fact for the high technology of today’s vehicles, the amount of training required, the tool investment, the poor labor rate provided by the manufacturers and the plan a technician gets paid with makes him in my opinion grossly under paid. Read on.

This article about auto mechanics salary may be a little long but it is something that has been in the back of my mind for some time now.

A little about myself to justify that I know what goes on in the automotive business. After graduating high school in 1962 I went on to a technical school for training in the automotive field. I started as an apprentice in a gas station. After a two year hitch in the army I started working in a front end repair shop, and then went to a new car dealer as a mechanic. I spent my entire working career in four dealers and six years in an independent transmission shop as the head transmission rebuilder. I have now been at the same dealer for 24 years and retirement is just around the corner.

So, the question is, are automotive technicians making large amounts of money? The rest of this article pertains to mechanics/technicians that are working for the “MAN” and not pertaining to repair shop or dealer owners.

Years ago back in the 60′s or so the auto mechanic was perceived as a dumb looking chap with a dirty overall on with an oily rag sticking out of his back pocket. His face and hands were dirty and grease was all over the wrench in his hand. Not to mention the cigarette clenched in his lips as he acted as though he were above you. If you happen to run into this character today when trying to get your car repaired run away as fast as you can to get away from him. Today’s auto mechanics are now auto technicians and rightfully so. Again, read on.

Most all trades’ people get paid either by the hour or on a yearly salary. Not so an auto technician. He/she only gets paid for what they do and if the problem, no matter how complicated it may be, is not resolved the first time this technician may work hours to correct it for no pay at all whether or not it was their fault. I will explain how ridicules this is as I go on.

The car of today not only has to get you from one place to another but in doing so also has to have; a stereo system, dual climate control, duel heated seats (don’t want your tushi to get cold), garage openers, GDS system, Onstar, automatic windshield wipers turning on (too much trouble to turn a knob?), Automatic parallel parking, automatic headlights, etc, etc, etc. Wow, are we getting lazy!

Sure all these systems make life easier and I will be the first to say I also enjoy some of them. The problem here is that besides the engine, transmission, traction control, anti lock brakes, air-conditioning and all other essential components which require on-board computers (one to six computers per car depending on make) plus numerous smart boxes we now have another dozen features requiring smart boxes which are monitored by the half dozen or so computers. Most of these systems are running using not the normal 12 volts but are reduced to volts for many components. The connectors, wire harnesses and grounds are not located at convenient places. They are behind the engine by the firewall were no fingers can reach. They are between radiator and grill, between fender and fender well, under rocker moldings, under seats, under dash, under center or upper consoles, above headliners, behind “A” “B” and ‘C’ pillars and any other inaccessible place you can think of. Try tracing these circuits for the half hour manufactures pay for diagnose. Yes, hour diagnoses for almost anything is all most auto manufactures want to pay the technician. With all this technology this is kind of ridicules but it is a way of life.

This brings me to what we call heavy metal work. This would include engine and transmission removal, overhaul and replacement. This work is hard on the back after years of doing it plus if not working at a feverish pitch there is no way to make a decent salary working under manufacturer’s time allowances. The times are based on the fact that after finishing one job you move on to the next one working at this same feverish pitch just to try and make a half way decent pay check by the end of the week. No wonder there are fewer and fewer trained and experienced technicians in this field. Most middle aged technicians are worn out and discouraged and are looking for a less strenuous way to make a living. The people who came up with the labor operation time limit for these repairs have obviously never worked in the repair field nor have they ever seen the inside of a shop. Quite frankly I don’t think they know the difference between a box wrench and a left handed tweeker pin. How they can dictate a technician’s time allowance for certain jobs is beyond me. This time allowance I will explain at the end of this article.

Again, if a drivability problem is intermittent it is very difficult to find and repair it. Often this will require a second or third visit to repair yet the manufacturer and/or the customer will only be willing to pay for this repair one time meaning the technician is expected to do any follow up repairs for free. This can result in hours of work at no pay even if the technician is not at fault. How do you set the standard of where the pay starts and stops? With heavy metal the labor rates are equal to about half the time it actually takes to do the job at a normal work speed. Most manufacturers don’t allow for extra time if bolts are rusted and require extra time for removal using the torch. If these engine and transmission jobs are rushed and a simple mistake is made by doing so it could lead to hours of unpaid and heavy work the technician will be expected to do for free.

So, how does this pay system work? The technician gets paid per flat rate hour. Meaning, the “book” gives X amount of time to do a job. Half hour to diagnose a drivability or electrical problem is not feasible. Six hours to remove and replace a transmission? In most cases this can’t be done. Again, eight hours to replace an engine is ridicules. These times are off the top of my head to set an example. Times do vary as to make and model but the times are still well below normal working speeds of the best technicians.

With all these electrical components the technician has thrown away his dirty overalls and oily rags and has to have extensive training to repair the complicated vehicles on the market today. Doing this with the pay rate given is a very taxing situation.

Depending on what part of the country you live in the average labor rate is $90 to $100 per hour. This is what the owner charges and the technician will only receive approximately $20 to $30 per flat rate hour. Not exactly “big bucks” by any means. Also every technician is required to have their own tools which can come to as much as $30 thousand dollars.

I know what some people who are reading this are thinking. If you no longer like the business, get out! This is easier said than done. By the time a technician is getting tired of this he/she is middle aged and has a family and house to support not alone the large investment in tools. The salary in the automotive field is just barely enough to get by but starting a new career for less income is for most too difficult.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and that I shed a little light on a subject many people did no know about. Thank you for letting me vent. Bottled up for 40 years and now ready to retire.

Auto Mechanics salary is a post from: Automotive

A Hands-On Approach to Solving Problems Helps a Distance Learner Spring into Engineering Management

admin — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 09:07:24 +0000

When Gundolf Schmidt was born in 1969, his parents and older brother lived with his maternal grandmother in Germany. Until Mr. Schmidt was six that family closeness continued: His father was busy building a home in his nearby hometown, and that’s a slow process . . . but a rewarding one.
Emulating this parental example, Mr. Schmidt also built his own home after he was grown. Naturally, he got a fair amount of advice and help from his family.
That family tradition of hands-on interest in how things work has been the basis for a very successful technical career that recently led to a management position. He now serves as the engineering manager at a big Tier1 automotive supplier for a team of 31 located in Germany, the Czech Republic, and India. Throughout his explorations of learning and building, he has been blessed by having a beautiful wife who is very patient with his projects and hunger for knowledge.
This career success wasn’t completely planned. To some extent, it just happened.
After high school, Mr. Schmidt developed an interest in electronics and computers. To learn more, he enrolled in a school to prepare for work as an Informationselektroniker (which is similar to an electronic technician). Upon finishing the program, he had planned to attend the technological university. Opportunity intervened when his boss offered Mr. Schmidt an attractive job in the electronic design department of the company.
After two years, it was time for service in the German army’s signal corps where Mr. Schmidt learned a lot about communications technology. When he left the army, his employer was experiencing financial difficulties.
As a result, Mr. Schmidt took a job as a service technician for medical systems at another company. After a while, he was promoted to representative service manager. Although he was doing well, the job was wearing due to heavy travel across Germany.
Mr. Schmidt next decided he wanted to try his hand in the software environment and joined a small software systems house that was active in producing automotive applications. The company’s founder, Dr. Sammel, gave Mr. Schmidt the chance to work as a software engineer without formal qualifications.
Over the five years he was with the company, Mr. Schmidt took many courses to build his effectiveness and became quite knowledgeable about software development, programming languages, and quality assurance in software projects. He became a SPICE (ISO15504, Software Process Improvement and Capability dEtermination) assessor and an ISO 9000 internal auditor (European organization for quality — Quality Management Technician).
He also passed several training sessions in the CMM/CMMI (Capability Maturity Model / Integration) model. This education involved eight semesters of distance study while he was working that provided the equivalent of a Bachelor of Science degree.
In 2003, Mr. Schmidt joined Visteon, the former auto parts subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company. He was the software validation leader for a big automotive multimedia project developing Digital Audio Broadcast tuners for several car manufactures. In this role, he spent most of his time performing the validation process, analysis of errors, defect management and writing of software tools for automated testing, and in customer meetings.
In November 2004, Mr. Schmidt finished an important training course and qualified as an International Software Testing Qualifications Board certified tester (Foundation level). During recent years, he used his spare time to further improve his knowledge by learning some new software-languages e.g. C, C++, Java and Visual Basic and reading books about different bus-systems (e.g. CAN-BUS and so on) which are used in the automotive environment. For him, continuous improvement and learning new technologies are key factors in daily work.
Mr. Schmidt’s next foray into distance learning came in 2005 when he began a Master of Science program at Rushmore University. His goal for this education was to prepare for becoming a manager in the company. He found teaching people to be very interesting and was interested in how he could help his software group to improve its processes.
He selected Rushmore at this point in his career development because it offered distance learning, enabled him to study parallel to his daily work, and gave him the chance to earn his Master of Science degree in an acceptable amount of time. Another advantage was being able to take 12 credits in non-science courses so he could learn more about management practices while improving his English language skills. Rushmore also allowed him the freedom to take the specific courses of his own choice.
While at Rushmore, Mr. Schmidt was able to explore complex issues related to his work. For example, his American company developed software for European companies. As a result, both the CMMI and SPICE assessment models were of interest.
For one course, Mr. Schmidt mapped how CMMI translates into a SPICE perspective to help his company better understand its maturity and to save money. The result was a tool that helped improve his department’s processes.
In another course, Mr. Schmidt described powerful ways of performing software testing to be sure the new systems operate as intended. He further explored how quality staffs and software development teams can cooperate in more effective ways.
Rushmore professors also remember receiving frequent photographs from Mr. Schmidt showing progress reports while building his lovely new backyard pond as he worked on these tough courses. Obviously, the desire to build and learn is never ending for Mr. Schmidt.
Pushed by his professors, the technical work he accomplished exceeded Mr. Schmidt’s expectations. Through intensive work with Rushmore’s editing staff, Mr. Schmidt also felt that his English skills improved.
How did he feel about this distance learning experience?
“I feel proud and satisfied to have completed my M.Sc. while concurrently doing my job and building my house. I’ve learnt many valuable reading and writing techniques and also usable skills in the different environments based on my self-crafted course structure.
“The Rushmore program has provided me with what I expected: practical online learning, flexibility in terms of time, choice of courses and advisors, convenient payment options, visible progress, academic support and one-to-one mentoring.
“Maybe in the future I will start my PhD . . .”
Before graduating in 2006, Mr. Schmidt joined TRW in 2005 where he gained the position he now enjoys leading a global team of 31 as an engineering manager.
As he continues to learn and build, it’s clear that Mr. Schmidt’s best days are ahead of him.

A Hands-On Approach to Solving Problems Helps a Distance Learner Spring into Engineering Management is a post from: Automotive

Where To Find The Perfect Job For Mechanics

admin — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:15:25 +0000

Congratulation! You have just got your mechanic degree and looking forward to start a new career. But where exactly will you find a job that fits your satisfaction. You might start looking at the newspapers or general job sites. But the best advice would be to stop wasting time searching there as an online job board only for mechanic jobs would help you to find the auto mechanic job that you desire anywhere in the world. If you want to earn a generous salary, then you owe it to yourself to find out the kind of auto mechanic job that would satisfy you. Why mechanic job board is better than any other job board or any classified ads for jobs? To start, the mechanic job board is only dedicated to the technicians and mechanics. The mechanic job board will connect employers with technicians and mechanics. There are thousands of mechanic jobs, auto repair jobs, store manager jobs and automotive technician jobs listed on the online mechanic job board. These specially designed job portals offer jobs that focused on specific trade as well as choice of various companies. They dont offer just one or two mechanic jobs but hundreds of auto mechanic jobs across multiple industries all over USA and even abroad. Most of these agencies do have a close connection with the companies who employ mechanics or technicians. The mechanic job boards will match your skills with the right employment. You will find abundant car mechanic jobs options. They would offer expert guidance, career options, benefits and jobs. They are dedicated to your kind of trade and offer placement throughout all phases of mechanic jobs from management related position up to apprentice. You would also be lucky to get an access to the kind of job opportunities that are never made public. They would also spread awareness of enhancing your career opportunities that match with the skills you have. To find the kind of mechanic jobs is easy as they regularly update their job postings. If you are looking for auto mechanic jobs or automotive technician jobs, you only have to register for a free account so that the employers would be able to find you. The online mechanic job board is much much better than any other means. You would definitely get the kind of opportunity that is right for you and your future. Just log on and go for it!

Where To Find The Perfect Job For Mechanics is a post from: Automotive

Oona Scheepers: A Woman Who Sees The Beauty In Car Design

admin — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 05:28:20 +0000

If you have not heard of a woman by the name of Oona Scheepers, you should definitely Google her right now. Oona grew up on the farms of the Karoo and was a typical young Afrikaans girl with big dreams and even bigger ideas. Born in Preska, Oona went from a farm girl to a respected automotive designer who is now world renowned for her intelligent design and keen eye for motor vehicle beauty. If you want a car that is so beautiful and well designed that you wont have a need for roadside assistance because strangers will offer to help, then have a look at some of the cars that Oona has helped design.

From a young inquisitive girl from Preska, to a free spirited youth at her boarding school in Kimberly to a talented graphic designer at Cape Technikon, Oona was born to design. She started off her automotive design career in the UK and finally after a number of freelancing jobs, Oona started working for Ford and the rest, as they say, is her-story.

Oona has not done things on a small scale and during her colourful career, she has been a part of some of the most respected automotive design teams in the world. She has previously worked on super cars such as the Porsche Cayenne as well as the Carrera GT, two cars that most of us would kill to drive, even for one day. Other car design initiatives that Oona has been involved in include the design for the powerful Audi R8, TT and A5.

Currently, Oona is an integral part of the Volkswagen team where she is an automotive designer for them at their Germany headquarters. Oona is responsible for the colour and trim of the vehicles and is in charge of dressing the car up. The exterior design of a car must convey a certain look and image and Oona makes sure that this image is sparkling. Oona is all about what you can see and touch when experiencing a car and she makes sure the tiniest details down to the carpet pattern inside the car – is a part of this designers dream.

Even though she has not lived in South Africa for many years, Oona still is still very fond of her home town and the country that she grew up in. She loves the freedom and beauty of South Africa but knows that her professional career currently lies in Germany at present. Oona is a talented and respected automotive designer and bases her work on the motto of every line has a function.

Oona Scheepers: A Woman Who Sees The Beauty In Car Design is a post from: Automotive