It’s no secret that the vehicle repair and maintenance industries are suffering from a skilled labor shortage. But managers can find one solution to mitigate the imbalance in the labor force in equipment used in the shop.
According to an industry overview by Stertil-Koni, today’s technicians—in addition to seeking higher compensation—also are demanding better working conditions. Why? Many of today’s shops are still poorly lit, unorganized, and lack modern equipment to help technicians work efficiently and safely.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
Enter highly engineered shop equipment designed to boost tech performance, safety, and job satisfaction. Explains Dr. Jean DellAmore, president of Stertil-Koni, “The scope of the labor challenge confronting many of the industries we serve—from transit agencies and school bus fleets to trucking companies and utilities—is massive. In fact, some industry experts predict there will be a shortage of more than 640,000 shop technicians by 2024.”
Continued DellAmore, “While there is no single solution, we have found that choosing the right equipment for specific vehicle service and repair functions does indeed help attract and retain qualified technicians by improving their safety, workplace morale, and overall performance.”
Several examples stand out. Notably, Stertil-Koni transitioned to full-color touch screen controls on all its major vehicle lifting systems. As a result, the systems deliver real-time information on the lifting process to the busy tech on the shop floor. Additionally, all of the lifts manufactured by Stertil-Koni use durable, reliable hydraulic technology—for safe lifting and lowering every time.
“What’s more,” DellAmore adds, “we build our lifts with high tensile Domex steel and provide a mechanical locking system on our lifts as standard. And because these locks engage precisely on established tight parameters when a vehicle is being raised or lowered—preventing unintended descent—the technicians operating them can literally hear our distinctive ‘ker-thunk’ sound every time they operate our products. We call that the ‘sound of safety.’”
MORE THAN LIFTS
But job satisfaction and safety initiatives don’t stop there. Stertil-Koni also advocates the use of robust shop equipment and accessories to further ease the burden on today’s hard-working techs. That’s why the Stertil-Koni motorized high lift wheel dolly has become such a runaway favorite. It simplifies the task of hub, wheel end, and tire maintenance using full hydraulic operation to lift vehicle wheel assemblies. The dolly is operable with buses, trucks, vans agricultural equipment, military gear, and even industrial machinery.
Motorized transmission jacks and air over hydraulic jacks can also help alleviate strain associated with tasks shop technicians encounter daily. They can also provide an ergonomically sound approach to regular operations.
DellAmore concludes, “At Stertil-Koni, we appreciate that there are many factors that have led to a shortage of skilled techs at this point in time. That said, we also recognize that those shops and maintenance facilities that select the right mix of equipment for specific functions can help attract and retain qualified technicians—particularly by improving their safety, efficiency, and sense of self-worth.”
Find out more, visit www.stertil-koni.com.
