AKRON—The Tire Association of North America and Smithers Scientific Services Inc. have announced plans to provide a comprehensive training program for tire dealers and tire makers, beginning in the second half of this year. In a joint statement, TANA Executive Vice President David Poisson and Smithers President and CEO J. Michael Hochschwender said they have ``come to terms on an exclusive three-year agreement that will benefit the whole tire industry.''
Courses, including hands-on training, will be offered to independent tire dealerships and their employees as well as to tire manufacturing company personnel.
The anticipated curriculum could range from the basics of tire mounting and demounting to the more complex variations of tire making, with Smithers personnel serving as course instructors.
Cost and funding details for the program were not disclosed. However, tire makers will be invited to participate through corporate sponsorships, according to the organizations' May 3 announcement.
TANA and Smithers said they conducted an extensive survey in March to confirm the demand for training courses in the tire industry, both from a retail and manufacturing standpoint.
``Members consistently rate training as the No. 1 service they want from our organization,'' said TANA President Jim Shook. This agreement, he added, will provide training solutions for the entire industry.
Smithers, an Akron-based research and consulting firm specializing in the rubber and plastics industries, will use the survey's findings to formulate the first group of training modules.