This week I've been looking into the laws which affect workshop business operation. The laws that were researched and discussed during the previous assignment are also applicable in this current assignment.
This is because they establish and provide a structure that the workshop can practice in. For example, with the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and Fair Trading Act 1986, they ensure that the workshop operates in the interest of the consumer with fair, honest and high standard of services. This can help protect both the customer and the workshop itself as guarantees and warranties will help ensure that both sides are in mutual understanding and agreement with one another of services rendered before a transaction takes place.
This whole process subsequently helps establish an ethical and professional framework that the workshop can practice in which then in turn provides a quality service. The next week, the aim is to look into other potential factors that also affect the successful operation of the workshop. These include education and advertising.
Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Monday, 1 June 2015
22/05/15 - Blog Entry #9
Not so much learning this week other than reading more into the financial requirements and responsibilities of a business. I will look more into laws of starting a business in the coming week to understand how a business works in the New Zealand context.
15/05/15 - Blog Entry #8
Just a short entry this week as further research is still being made on how the workshop functions in more detail. It has been of worthy note though, that I am slowly getting to know how difficult it is to operate a workshop. This is not because of the technical skills required to carry out diagnostics, servicing and repairs, but it is the financial side and how a business operates as a whole.
The plan in the next few weeks is to gain more insight into how the model workshop functions in being a viable and sustainable business.
The plan in the next few weeks is to gain more insight into how the model workshop functions in being a viable and sustainable business.
25/04/15 - Blog Entry #7
Today was the handing in of the group written assignment and the panel discussion session. It was great to finally get a sense of how the industry currently functions and how it can improve to further consolidate it as an established and sought after profession.
What me and my partner learned theoretically and observation-wise during our group work was just one example of an automotive workshop, and a good one at that which adheres to all that is needed to promote responsible automotive practice.
However, upon hearing other people's experiences, it can be seen that not all workshops practice in such a strict manner. Some other workshops have either cut corners or not adhere to professional protocol. This was found to be both intentional and un-intentional. Some workshops have been found to knowingly cut corners in the way they dispose of their wastes or carrying out their servicing in order to make or save money. Meanwhile some workshop owners, coming from other countries are not aware of the local industry practices and this is further exacerbated with the relatively lax laws.
It is therefore our responsibility to help put into practice the professional principles we have learned so far when we eventually take over the helm of the automotive industry. Further exploration is being made still on how the workshop case study and industry functions in more detail in the coming weeks.
What me and my partner learned theoretically and observation-wise during our group work was just one example of an automotive workshop, and a good one at that which adheres to all that is needed to promote responsible automotive practice.
However, upon hearing other people's experiences, it can be seen that not all workshops practice in such a strict manner. Some other workshops have either cut corners or not adhere to professional protocol. This was found to be both intentional and un-intentional. Some workshops have been found to knowingly cut corners in the way they dispose of their wastes or carrying out their servicing in order to make or save money. Meanwhile some workshop owners, coming from other countries are not aware of the local industry practices and this is further exacerbated with the relatively lax laws.
It is therefore our responsibility to help put into practice the professional principles we have learned so far when we eventually take over the helm of the automotive industry. Further exploration is being made still on how the workshop case study and industry functions in more detail in the coming weeks.
Sunday, 19 April 2015
15/04/15 - Blog Entry #6
Upon completing the research for this project, I have found that to operate a workshop, there is an intricate mix of environmental and consumer laws that an owner must abide by.
On the waste management front, there are many guidelines on how to practice environmentally responsible waste management. However, there is no specific law for automotive workshops that addresses it directly. Therefore there is a need to abide by the local district zoning plan, the Resource Management Act 1991, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, and Local Government Acts 1974 and 2002. These cover most of a workshop's duties including waste management of parts and used oils.
Similarly, I have also found out first hand that for end of life tyres, there is no specific law that governs on how it is to be disposed of. While the minimum requirement is that they be disposed in landfills, it can generate leachate albeit in small quantities. This can be avoided if the tyres were shredded finely. However, new specialist organisations have been formed which cater specifically to tyre disposal and management. These groups are able to maximise the use of the tyres by giving them to farms or other places that use tyres for other purposes such as safety barriers or small structures.
In addition, there is no law or body that requires automotive technicians to qualify or register in order to practice in the trade. It is only preferred as only workshop experience is really required. The exception to this is when people wishing to be warrant of fitness (WOF) inspectors, they must have minimum 5 years experience in the trade to be able to register and attain a practicing certificate.
This can lead to many workshops operating with un-qualified or inexperienced technicians which can adversely affect the industry standards. Perhaps if a proper qualification and registry system can be implemented in this trade, the field can become more standardised and organised with lesser grey areas. A higher standard of knowledge and workmanship is achieved as well.
On the waste management front, there are many guidelines on how to practice environmentally responsible waste management. However, there is no specific law for automotive workshops that addresses it directly. Therefore there is a need to abide by the local district zoning plan, the Resource Management Act 1991, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, and Local Government Acts 1974 and 2002. These cover most of a workshop's duties including waste management of parts and used oils.
Similarly, I have also found out first hand that for end of life tyres, there is no specific law that governs on how it is to be disposed of. While the minimum requirement is that they be disposed in landfills, it can generate leachate albeit in small quantities. This can be avoided if the tyres were shredded finely. However, new specialist organisations have been formed which cater specifically to tyre disposal and management. These groups are able to maximise the use of the tyres by giving them to farms or other places that use tyres for other purposes such as safety barriers or small structures.
In addition, there is no law or body that requires automotive technicians to qualify or register in order to practice in the trade. It is only preferred as only workshop experience is really required. The exception to this is when people wishing to be warrant of fitness (WOF) inspectors, they must have minimum 5 years experience in the trade to be able to register and attain a practicing certificate.
This can lead to many workshops operating with un-qualified or inexperienced technicians which can adversely affect the industry standards. Perhaps if a proper qualification and registry system can be implemented in this trade, the field can become more standardised and organised with lesser grey areas. A higher standard of knowledge and workmanship is achieved as well.
Wednesday, 8 April 2015
8/04/15 - Blog Entry #5
On Saturday (4/04/15), me and my partner once again visited the workshop to observe how it operates. We were shown the different areas of the premises which included a small reception area, waiting area, workshop servicing bays, and a storage area for both parts and items that are to be disposed. The workshop operated on an appointment basis and once again the workload was flooding in for the staff. We then set up a time during the following week with the manager to interview him as we could get better thought-out answers if we all had a dedicated time to sit together and discuss.
We set up the date to today (8/04/15) and interviewed him and got more answers to how the workshop operated. It is now getting clearer with how the workshop uses the laws and its own policies to help enhance and promote the way it practices automotive services professionally. Keeping in line withe prescribed timeline, we have commenced the writing process and will piece together the information gathered from the workshop constituents as well as pieces from our research.
We set up the date to today (8/04/15) and interviewed him and got more answers to how the workshop operated. It is now getting clearer with how the workshop uses the laws and its own policies to help enhance and promote the way it practices automotive services professionally. Keeping in line withe prescribed timeline, we have commenced the writing process and will piece together the information gathered from the workshop constituents as well as pieces from our research.
Thursday, 2 April 2015
29/03/15 - Blog Entry #4
This week, me and my group mate commenced the workshop observations. Due to commitments, me and my group mate worked out our scheduling and this week he went to observe the workshop on his own while I will join him the following weekends.
We briefed on the activities of the weekend on Tuesday and upon visiting the workshop, my partner found it to be a very busy environment with all staff full-on with their work on 3 vehicles. This session was then used to just observe how the workshop ran which we now know to be very busy.
Because of this, the following weeks, we shall use the workshop observation sessions to take notes and describe while for more direct and detailed information, we will arrange meetings with staff and the manager/owner of the workshop at more convenient times. This scheduled approach will help allow us to get more detailed information as the constituents of the workshop can concentrate and reflect on their experiences and thoughts better during a dedicated session rather than be distracted by us during their working hours.
The next observation session will be this coming Saturday again with planned and scheduled interviews to be conducted during the weekdays for the workshop's staff.
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