Dedication To Fundamentals Like Training Is Formula For Success
By Gary Molinaro | January 29th, 2010 | Category: Perspective | No Comments »One of the simplest things even a novice sports fan realizes is that fundamentals are vital to success. See how far Peyton Manning and the Colts or Drew Brees and the Saints would get without their teams effectively blocking and tackling. It may not be what gets the headlines, but it’s what gets the job done. Since this is Super Bowl season, a football metaphor is not too much of reach.
Well, for my money, the fundamentals of this industry — especially at the point of transaction — involve training and cataloging. I learned this business through my work with the National Catalog Managers Association and the Automotive Training Managers Council. I still hold tight to what I learned through that association.
That’s why I am excited by the news out of AAIA concerning the launch of an online directory for aftermarket training and education, designed to be a one-stop resource enabling the industry to easily locate available training and education information, material and programs. The project — the Directory of Resources for Industry Valued Education (DRIVE) — will launch with offerings from more than 75 aftermarket entities and more than 300 pages of listings. Those that have already submitted listing material include manufacturers, distributors, private training organizations, associations, technical schools and other organizations delivering training and education throughout the aftermarket.
Utilizing the Google search format — with visitors entering keywords and a preferred training format type (online training, installation or technical bulletin, for example) into the designated Google search box on the DRIVE web page — the search generates a list of resources from those included in the listings. The user can even further refine the search.
This project came out of the efforts of the AAIA education committee, a group of industry volunteers guided by Sue Kalish, senior director for education for AAIA and staff liaison to the committee. It is testimony to the type of accomplishment that can be achieved by industry volunteerism.
Now, the only thing missing is a complete commitment to this project from the industry in general. That includes a total buy-in from training and education providers throughout the aftermarket to list their offerings — and for those looking for appropriate training opportunities utilizing this resource. To coin a phrase, if you list it, they will come
“Aftermarket companies have invested in developing training and education resources for customers and their employees,” said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. “Sometimes, it is difficult for people to find the information they need to finish a task, make a decision or increase their knowledge to improve their career. DRIVE is designed to make it easier to find the information and tools needed. And, since the directory is in Google format, DRIVE’s content will be updated when the participating organizations update their company websites.”
It would be easy to be cynical about this type of project and to see it as just another association effort that won’t amount to very much in the end. But, in this case, a dedicated effort to a fundamental principle of our industry could create a formula for success for all.
Editor’s Note: To access the directory, go to www.aftermarket.org/DRIVE. At the site is a link to a form for submitting training and education resources. For more information, e-mail Sue Kalish at sue.kalish@aftermarket.org or call 240-333-1047.
