Understood, and I take your point. I was once a spannerman too, although it was a different world then. Pre picking parts wasn't really heard of and I can remember having cars for days! Guess there wasn't the urgency so much then or we hadn't yet raised customer expectations to the heady hights they are today. I still work in 'the trade' but for one of the manufacturers now and rarely mention the old days as so much has changed. A half day slot is a good way of working, the dealers I work with are still asking customers to come at 8 and pick up at 5 regardless, and then they moan about lack of parking on site! We introduced a day minus 1 call to help overcome the no shows, it helps. All good fun eh...
Sounds like we had similar backgrounds ;-), started my apprenticeship in 1968, joined BL in 1977 at the Midland Service Centre (where warranty 'problem cars' went) from there to Jaguar Experimental as a test driver (not as glorious as it sounds) before joining the training school as a Product Instructor. Stayed there until the school moved back to Cowley then worked for a main dealer group as training manager and service manager for a year when apprenticeships collapsed. Then went to Volvo Cars UK where I stayed for 14 years ending up as European Training Manager before starting my own company of training consultants so we supplied trainers to Volvo, Jaguar, LR, Aston Martin and Ford, also worked for the MAA (became the RMIF) as Operations Manager for 6 years in there somewhere. Having my own business allowed me to pull the plug early after 30 years of not being here and missing the kids growing up. No regrets stopping, more time for Morgan's
