INSTALLER TRAINING AT OCALA
Day 1: Employee must come to work with a basic set of tools. He/she is given an MECP Basic Study Guide and told that a requirement for em- ployment is to complete the guide within the first 60 days in preparation for MECP certification.
First 30 days: Employee is under the direct supervision of the lead installer. Specific lessons depend on the level of experience; however, at the end of 30 days, every candidate must know:
• Location of all shop tools, accessories and resources • Proper operation of most tools and resources used in day-to-day work
• Cleanliness standards and duties in the installation bay • Security and safety standards in the bay and throughout the store • Means of communication within the store (bulletin boards, meetings, etc.)
In addition, the employee should know these installation duties: • Wire harness prep • Basic vehicle disassembly • Wiring relays for specific purposes (a relay guide is provided) • Drop-in speaker installation • Head unit installation with harness and installation kit • Wire routing for amplifiers and processors. • Amplifier installation and determining appropriate fuse protection
The employee is allowed to work on the study guide during work hours when there is downtime. Periodically, the manager asks questions about information within the guide to determine the employee’s absorption of the materials.
30 – 60 days: The employee is put into more of a regular work flow to im- prove his skills and get more hands-on instruction from the lead installer. During this time, he or she is continually evaluated in interactions with other staff and customers on demeanor, personality, willingness to learn and enthusiasm to determine if he or she is a good fit for the staff.
After 60 days: Employees are provided a summary evaluations, and the de- cision is made to continue employment or let the person look for work else- where. In addition, the employee must take and pass MECP certification. Also, based on the shop’s current and future needs, the employee is pushed in a certain direction to become more skilled in specific installation practic- es such as vehicle security, OEM integration or autosound installation.
56 Mobile Electronics May—June 2013
structures. What Tanner truly appreciates about the MECP certification system is that it provides a standard and a clear path for installers to follow, which ultimately benefits them as well as the shop where they work. For several years it seemed installers were fixated
on custom fabrication, and in Tanner’s view, the technical side got lost. The MECP program helps to restore that, he said. However, certification without experience is worthless. Tanner emphasizes that installers need to have both. Beyond MECP, employees at OCA have
materials available to guide them through all of the different types of installation work they perform. Tanner maintains binders with information he’s compiled covering all of the necessary subjects. For example, binder topics include alarm prep, remote install basics, speaker installation and more. Having printed material available gives everyone a reference manual to ensure tasks are completed in the proper way. In addition, every week, Tanner holds staff
meetings to cover any issues that have come up. OCA also participates in training events. Recently, OCA employees attended a workshop program put together by Del Ellis and manufacturer reps with the support of companies like Kenwood and others. During the program, Ryan Pepsin and Bryan Schmitt of Mobile Solutions presented tips on fabrication. These outside training days are an excellent way to spark creativity and enhance an installer’s level of craftsmanship.
When the Shop Wins, Installers Win For Tanner, the bottom line is that
certification and off-site learning allow the
» New installers are required to bring a basic set of tools on the first day. Part of their first month of training includes knowing where things are in the bay, as well as instruction on proper use and care of the shop’s larger tools: table saw, air-driven hand tools saws, woodworking mate- rials and templates.
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