AUTOMOBILE TECHNOLOGY

The modern Light Vehicle Automobile Technician is likely to be employed in a workshop that is closely associated with one major manufacturer of light vehicles. Their expertise may be greatest with that manufacturer’s vehicles; however, depending on the situation and range of services offered by the workshop, they may also handle other manufacturers’ vehicles. Automobile Technicians also work in garages and workshops that are not associated with particular manufacturers. Where this is the case they may experience a wider range of light vehicles and use alternative equipment, parts and materials.

The trained and competent Light Vehicle Automobile Technician will service and repair a range of light vehicles. For diagnosis, repair and replacement, depending on the nature of the workshop, they may use the manufacturers’ equipment, parts, materials and procedures. Therefore, according to a workshop’s relationship with manufacturers, the Technician’s experience may be deep or broad, or both. In every garage and workshop success is measured in time, correct fault finding and repair, and repeat business.

Most garages and workshops are small businesses or cost centres that work to tight financial parameters. The light automobile sector is volatile, being dependent on the wider economy and heavily affected by technological advances and environmental concerns. The highly skilled Automobile Technician keeps abreast of continuous changes in the sector, whether these are to do with performance, safety or green energy sources. They will deeply understand vehicles’ electrical and electronic systems and their integration; have physical stamina, coordination and kinaesthetic skills, and be versatile. They will be assigned the more complex diagnostic tasks, the most advanced vehicles, and those incorporating the latest technologies. This person may rapidly progress to more senior roles as trainer, supervisor, planner and/or manager.

THE WORLDSKILLS STANDARDS SPECIFICATION (WSSS) 

GENERAL NOTES ON THE WSSS

 The WSSS specifies the knowledge, understanding and specific skills that underpin international best practice in technical and vocational performance. It should reflect a shared global understanding of what the associated work role(s) or occupation(s) represent for industry and business. The skill competition is intended to reflect international best practice as described by the WSSS, and to the extent that it is able to. The Standards Specification is therefore a guide to the required training and preparation for the skill competition. In the skill competition the assessment of knowledge and understanding will take place through the assessment of performance. There will not be separate tests of knowledge and understanding. The Standards Specification is divided into distinct sections with headings and reference numbers added. Each section is assigned a percentage of the total marks to indicate its relative importance within the Standards Specification. The sum of all the percentage marks is 100. The Marking Scheme and Test Project will assess only those skills that are set out in the Standards Specification. They will reflect the Standards Specification as comprehensively as possible within the constraints of the skill competition. The Marking Scheme and Test Project will follow the allocation of marks within the Standards Specification to the extent practically possible. A variation of five percent is allowed, provided that this does not distort the weightings assigned by the Standards Specification.