Volvo's VISTA comp begins

This month sees the start of the Volvo International Service Training Awards (VISTA), which will see top teams and technicians from the manufacturer's global aftermarket truck and bus service network battle it out over the next 12 months to determine the best of the best.

Held every two years, Volvo says it's the largest aftermarket competition of its type in the world, with the 2012/13 instalment involving over 17,000 personnel from 93 countries.

According to the President of Volvo Group Australia, Peter Voorhoeve, the competition also develops participants' knowledge and inspires employees.

"VISTA is much more than a competition," he says.

"It is a mass competency-training event. Our technicians are the backbone of Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses – making us the best business partner for our customers, throughout the lifecycle of our vehicles.

"This is why we invest heavily in competence development, establish a structured approach to our aftermarket personnel upgrading, and provide support for further education.

"VISTA is a simulation of the workshop environment that builds skills and shares expertise, in addition to motivating and fostering teamwork and collaboration among our employees. The competition emphasises the importance of being pro-active and pre-emptive when diagnosing issues and providing solutions to problems."

Registrations for VISTA are now open, with the competition to commence in September with three rounds of theoretical questions conducted by teams in their own workshops.

The best-performing local teams will proceed to the Asia Pacific Finals in Bangkok, Thailand, in April 2016, ahead of the World Final at Volvo's headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden in June 2016.

For a brief insight into the competition, take a look at the video clip below…