Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      Cover-up: More retailers requiring face masks to curb COVID
      USW alleges COVID-19 violations at Kumho plant
    • GM banking on 'BrightDrop' EV to build commercial van business
      Stengel promoted to president of NAPA parent Genuine Parts Co.
      Former auto exec Tyrone Jordan joins Cooper board of directors
      Bridgestone crafts virtual city to showcase sustainable-mobility initiatives
    • New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      H&H broadens precure OTR business with Continuum mold acquisition
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand, effective March 1
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
    • GM banking on 'BrightDrop' EV to build commercial van business
      Gary Price to head Love's Truck Care operations
      TA opens 6th Oregon location, bringing 50 jobs to area
      Love's opens Speedco shops in Ariz., Calif., Ga.
    • New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
      Wireless auto data debate continues
      World rubber demand in 2021 to recover to 2019 levels — IRSG
    • General Tire Canada renews sponsorship deal with Raceline Network
      GRI expanding ag tire capacity at 3-year-old Sri Lanka plant
      Point S Canada adds 61 stores to network in 2020
      New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
    • General Tire Canada renews sponsorship deal with Raceline Network
      Indy Autonomous Challenge: High-speed, head-to-head, no drivers
      TGI secures Cosmo-brand naming rights at Fla. race track
      Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg postponed until April
    • Kumho launches commercial LT, performance tire lines
      The new One: Nokian unveils all-season passenger tire
      Ford, Hyundai earn 2021 top North American vehicle honors
      BKT expanding its ATV/UTV lineup with Sierra Max Pro radials
    • WTC hosting webinar Jan. 20 on load-capacity standards
      Bauer Built completes expansion at Neb. facility
      Point S Canada adds 61 stores to network in 2020
      J.D. Power survey: Quick greeting key to customer satisfaction
    • Shocks/struts maker KYB unveils video training series
      Bauer Built completes expansion at Neb. facility
      Marinucci: Basic steps to email efficiency
      Point S Canada adds 61 stores to network in 2020
    • WTC hosting webinar Jan. 20 on load-capacity standards
      Denver's Brian Sump named AAPEX Shop Owner of the Year
      DUB, TIS Wheels founder Myles Kovacs is SEMA Person of the Year
      AAPEX: Using social media to promote your business
    • Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      2020 Review: PPP loans give boost to small businesses
      Latest COVID relief bill includes $325B in small-business support
      AAPEX: Do more cars in the shop mean more profit?
    • General Tire Canada renews sponsorship deal with Raceline Network
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand, effective March 1
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
      Kumho launches commercial LT, performance tire lines
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      Safety tips for wheel balancing
      An introduction to wheel balancing
      Wheel weights: Balancing form with function
    • Video: Demounting
      Tire changer types, tips and trends
      How to clear rim rust and corrosion
      An introduction to demounting, mounting and inflation
    • Video: Safety
      Customers
      Considerations for shop safety policies
      Introduction: Creating a culture of safety
    • Video: Tire Repair
      Essential tools, materials and equipment for tire repair
      An introduction to tire repair
      How to properly patch a puncture
    • Video: TMPS Service
      The life-saving work of TPMS
      An introduction to TPMS service
      The importance of proper relearn procedures
    • Video: Training
      Internship ideas to attract tech talent
      Choosing the right auto service tech school
      Intro: Finding and training technicians
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      The gravity of proper lift points
      Safety essentials when using jack stands
      An introduction to lifts and lift safety
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      The importance of torque specifications
      Introduction to proper wheel installation
      Torque check and recheck recommendations
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
July 08, 2014 02:00 AM

AR&D opens training site geared to hybrids

William Schertz, Tire Business staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Automotive Research & Design photo
    Automotive Research & Design offers technicians under-hood training to learn how to service hybrid vehicles.

    FITCHBURG, Wis. (July 8, 2014) — Consistency, interactivity and immersion.

    These were the core goals set forth by advanced vehicle technology firm Automotive Research & Design (AR&D) in the development of its new dedicated aftermarket hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) training center, which the company said is the first brick-and-mortar facility of its kind.

    Located in Fitchburg, the 6,500-sq.-ft., state-of-the-art center opened for business May 15 with an exclusive one-day training event and reception. In a press release, Mark Quarto, chief technical officer of AR&D, said the new facility is a means of closing the gap between OEMs and the aftermarket.

    “This training center environment will be the first of its kind in the automotive aftermarket, to educate and train students by bridging the complex OEM hybrid and electric systems technology with innovative aftermarket diagnostic and service engineering solutions that are powered by AR&D,” he said.

    Automotive Research & Design photo

    Mark Quarto, chief technical officer of AR&D.

    Jeff Minter, executive director of technical training for AR&D, told Tire Business that the training industry has often promoted the misconception that information equals knowledge. This training center, he added, is designed to equip students with the latter.

    “The reality is that simply providing people with lots of information does not automatically mean they have gained more knowledge,” he said. “Our focus at the training center is to ensure that participants in our classes will actually gain knowledge, not just be supplied with information. That requires the learner to be actively involved in their learning process, both in the classroom and in the hands-on shop activities.

    “Having a fixed-location training center incorporating various interactive technologies in the classroom allows us to really ensure that we can offer that to those attending training here,” he added.

    Up to this point, the center has been used primarily to provide exclusive setup training to current and prospective members of The Hybrid Shop (THS), an international network of dealers specializing in the maintenance and repair of hybrid vehicles. Mr. Quarto is a co-owner of THS, and AR&D provides the franchise business with HEV battery reconditioning equipment as well as technical support.

    Technology

    AR&D's dedicated training facility addresses some of the shortcomings of on-site training, which has been the industry norm, according to Mr. Minter.

    “To this point there has not been anything with a brick-and-mortar (building),” Mr. Minter said. “Most of the advanced technology stuff in general has been people doing what we were doing in the past — going into schools, using their facilities or, you know, the groups that typically rent a room in a hotel and do a lecture-style mini-class. There hasn't been anything in the industry in the aftermarket strictly dedicated to doing the advanced technology vehicles.”

    Automotive Research & Design photo

    Jeff Minter, executive director of technical training for AR&D

    One of the primary advantages of a brick-and-mortar location is that it allows for an interactive classroom setup, Mr. Minter said.

    The classroom in the company's new facility is equipped to support 24 participants and was designed to provide a fully interactive environment, complete with interactive projection screen and tablet PCs at each participant's training station. Training center students have the ability to share files between computers, submit questions to the instructor and take quizzes in real time, Mr. Minter said.

    An adjacent 4,000-sq.-ft. shop area was built to support up to six vehicles for hands-on training purposes. It features an array of equipment, such as OEM and aftermarket scan tools, thermal imaging cameras and AR&D's own HEV battery and electric transmission diagnostic and repair equipment kits.

    According to Mr. Minter, the small classroom size is meant to help foster interactivity.

    “If it was all lecture-based, obviously we could kind of expand (the size) out indefinitely, but to maintain a good quality hands-on environment, the smaller groups are better,” he said. “So our plan to serve needs as they become larger and larger will be to run classes more frequently rather than expanding the size of the classes.”

    A dedicated training center also offers a level of consistency not typically seen in on-site training, which can be impacted by the types of available equipment and vehicles, along with the environment itself.

    Lastly, Mr. Minter said one of the biggest advantages of a dedicated training center is immersion in the material, something that's difficult to achieve at a real automotive service business, where day-to-day activities can often create interference.

    “One of the things we're really trying to do with this is immerse the guys in the technology,” he said. “So we want the techs to come in here and not be distracted by what else is going on in their shop…. We're trying to get it where they really come in and can be focused on the technology for the entire class.”

    Expanding coursework

    Mr. Minter added that having a dedicated HEV training facility has allowed AR&D to focus on reviewing its existing curriculum and “make modifications to take advantage of classroom technology in on-site training classes.”

    “While this technology may at first glance seem to be a novelty, it's going to be used to employ new techniques to improve retention of the highly technical content,” he said. “We are beginning to incorporate the principles of accelerated learning into all of our training.”

    Mr. Minter said the center will run its first non-THS course on July 8.

    The training schedule at the facility features a variety of course offerings, including the SAE International Advanced HEV Diagnostics Certificate of Competency — the first and only recognized industry HEV credential requiring four days of hands-on training with both practical and written proctored final exams on day five, according to AR&D.

    A full schedule of courses offered, description of courses and registration information can be found on AR&D's website.

    Beginning in 2015, the company plans to expand its course offerings further with an instructor workshop.

    “This will focus on providing instructors with a more in-depth look at various hybrid-electric vehicle systems and components, along with providing them information on how to construct training aids they can use at their schools,” Mr. Minter said.

    Also beginning next year, AR&D intends to hold mini-conferences — each open to about 50 attendees — at its facility twice a year to focus on other advanced vehicle technologies, like compressed natural gas and fuel cell energy, he said.

    “What we want to do is kind of expand out our area, not so much our owner area of expertise, but to use the training facility as a way to help expose the service industry to those other advanced technologies and leverage people that are the experts in those areas,” Mr. Minter said.

    __________________________________________

    To reach this reporter: [email protected]; 330-865-6148.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • List Rental
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION