11 Sources of free or low cost training

I found this article and thought you guys may be interested in the contents. Read the article here: http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/to...ng-julie-rains

[swstout]

Lawn care business tips

I am a big proponent learning from your employees. A while back (about 35 years), I worked for the Overhead Door Company as Quality Supervisor. We had many complaints of our steel commercial doors with porthole windows leaking. After about 2 months of researching the processes, we found that not one door manufactured on the night shift leaked. 　 So for the next week we (myself and the head engineer) were going to work the 3rd shift. The man assembling the doors on that shift was Bob Dumond (some people you never forget). The engineer after watching him for about 30 minutes stopped him from working and scolded him for not following the written procedure. He looked at the engineer (who's name I can't remember) and said, "If I follower those instructions, the doors would leak like sieves!" That engineer was the one who wrote the procedure! 　 While still in high school, I worked at a Tupperware plant my 10th and 11 years. My next door neighbors were Art and Alice Herrington (91 and 86 respectively) The both worked at Tupperware every Friday. Tupperware hired many older people like that and I wondered why. All they did was walk around and tested the various products. When I asked my supervisor why, he said the company wants to see how older people who invariably have arthritis and other "disabilities" to see how to better make products to be used by people like them". It's not learning from their employees but it was suggested by one. These and other similar events shaped my outlook and gave me a different perspective of where improvements can be developed. Steve

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Originally Posted by swstout

While still in high school, I worked at a Tupperware plant my 10th and 11 years. My next door neighbors were Art and Alice Herrington (91 and 86 respectively) The both worked at Tupperware every Friday. Tupperware hired many older people like that and I wondered why. All they did was walk around and tested the various products. When I asked my supervisor why, he said the company wants to see how older people who invariably have arthritis and other "disabilities" to see how to better make products to be used by people like them". It's not learning from their employees but it was suggested by one.
These and other similar events shaped my outlook and gave me a different perspective of where improvements can be developed.

Steve
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This reminds me of something that I have always told people, and that is, we need to learn from others' mistakes since we do not have time enough in our lives to make all these mistakes ourselves......

[Steve]

The article talks about

1. Vendor-sponsored training.

Do any of the equipment manufacturers offer training on how to repair their equipment, especially if you want to start a repair shop one day? Or do you have to learn it all on your own?

Originally Posted by Steve

The article talks about


Do any of the equipment manufacturers offer training on how to repair their equipment, especially if you want to start a repair shop one day? Or do you have to learn it all on your own?

Yes, most manufacturers provide training. Some of it is free (matter of fact, I am attending some free training on Monday or Tuesday (I have to check my calender). But then other manufacturers charge liek crazy for their certification training. I know for example, with Briggs, you can spend THOUSANDS of $$$ just getting trained and certified and this has nothing to do with your knowledge level about the product. So needless to say, the brand I work on the most, will be one of the last ones for me to get my certification on...

[Steve]

But then other manufacturers charge liek crazy for their certification training. I know for example, with Briggs, you can spend THOUSANDS of $$$ just getting trained and certified and this has nothing to do with your knowledge level about the product. So needless to say, the brand I work on the most, will be one of the last ones for me to get my certification on...

Isn't that freakin amazing??? They charge people to learn how to fix their product and get 'certified.'

Wouldn't you figure, make the training free and more would want to sell the product and more would want to fix it? Does everything have to be a profit center?

Originally Posted by Steve

Isn't that freakin amazing??? They charge people to learn how to fix their product and get 'certified.'

Wouldn't you figure, make the training free and more would want to sell the product and more would want to fix it? Does everything have to be a profit center?

Apparently so. Part of the cost comes with the parts stock that is required but also, the school is like a week long just for initially becoming warranty certified. Then to become a Master Technician... I don't even wanna know...

Like said, tomorrow (12-15-09) I will be attending a Honda update school that is free (with free lunch included!). I have been certified as a Warranty Tech with Honda for about 2 years now I think. Their requirements are much more dealer friendly. I will try to get Kohler and possibly Kawasaki certified this summer if I can.

[Steve]

Part of the cost comes with the parts stock that is required but also, the school is like a week long just for initially becoming warranty certified.

I can see why manufacturers want you to stock as many parts as possible. But wouldn't it be cheaper to just have a loaner on standby and then order parts as needed?

Originally Posted by Steve

I can see why manufacturers want you to stock as many parts as possible. But wouldn't it be cheaper to just have a loaner on standby and then order parts as needed?

Not necessarily. Because then you would have to have one of each engine, with each option there. This way, I can stock one part that may fit several different engines. One good example is spark plugs, oil filters, etc. These are obviously fast moving parts. I stock 5-10 oil filters at all times and anywhere up to 100-150 spark plugs for a variety of engines (perhaps up to 40-50 of one part # of plug).

I tell people I have several Thousand invested in parts but I could fit them all in the trunk of my car..... Its crazy....

[Steve]

Not necessarily. Because then you would have to have one of each engine, with each option there.

Well what I mean is, initially when you are getting all it started and money is tight, would it make more financial sense to have a loaner and buy yourself some time with that to order the part and get it repaired?

Say for instance, someone comes in with a mower that has an issue. If it's a 21" push mower, what would it take to have a used push mower loaner they could take with them while you work on the mower for them?

I can understand stocking some high volume items but I bet there are a ton of items you don't use regularly that might be easier to order than to stock?