Honda trains Joeten Motors technicians

Joeten Motor Company, Inc. wrapped up Friday a five-day comprehensive training program for its service technicians and service managers conducted by American Honda Motor Co. assistant manager for export training Danilo Aranaga.

Joeten Motors general manager Joe C. Guerrero said the program aims to introduce their service technicians and service managers to training now available online, called remote or distance learning.

“It’s a self-paced learning and the beauty of this program is it records all the tests that are taken by these technicians,” said Guerrero.

He said the training would certify a lot of their technicians in various aspects of repair of Honda vehicles.

Aranaga said he was very impressed with the dedication and commitment of the local dealer toward employee training. He said he would even send good remarks to California-based American Honda, touting the cooperation of Joeten Motors.

“We asked the dealers to have at least one computer for training. Here we have more than what we asked for, with separate rooms for training,” Aranaga said.

Aranaga said that, to keep up with the changing technology, one has to have trained technicians.

He said his training is in line with Honda’s service motto, which is to “Fix them right with first visit.” He said Honda is very much concerned with customer satisfaction so when someone buys a Honda vehicle, the service experience begins. “We want our customer to have that joy when they buy our products.”

The five-day technical training program was structured around a standardized performance-based, modular curriculum of individualized skills training, said Aranaga.

He said the self-paced training modules in the IST curriculum are divided into two categories, which are Knowledge Modules and Skills Modules.

Knowledge Modules are self-study modules that would provide the service technician with the information needed to understand the construction, function, operation, and fundamental diagnosis procedures of the various components and systems found in Honda automobiles.

The other module, said Aranaga, is the Skills Modules, which guides the technician through hands-on practice of the testing and repair procedures necessary to service or fix the vehicle in high quality and efficient manner.

He said technicians must pass their online tests to complete each module. The tests are found at the Online University. Results are given back right away, said Aranaga, and training records are updated to be viewed online.

Aranaga left Saipan Friday to meet with the training management of another Honda car dealer in Tokyo, Japan.

He said his 12-year experience with Honda has given him the opportunity and advantage to meet a lot of different people around the world.

Guerrero said they are very happy that Honda is really taking the lead in helping them become better in repairing Honda vehicles.