I guess the major drawback with blogs is the amount of typing you have to do. Its especially tough for people like me who type with two to four fingers (My excuse for not making an entry until now).
Anyways, this entry is about the importance of training and education in the Jamaican Automotive industry. Overall I would say that we are in a bad position, but thats only my opinion. The Jamaican-German Automotive School (JAGAS) is doing a lot in terms of training, however the lack of support from other stakeholders within the automotive industry constrain good intentions, specifically as it relates to setting minimum quality and environmetal standards.
I am especially concerned about how mechanics dispose of used oil and other chemicals that they recover from the vehicles they service. These used chemicals can damage the environment or endanger the health of mechanics and other individuals who come in contact with the substances. I would like to see Used Oil Recycling Centers being set up accross the country instead of us puring thousands of gallons of used oil in our soil and waterways.
My interest in Automotive Maintenance started in 1999 when I bought my first car. It was a 1992 Suzuki Swift (I think its the same as the Geo Metro); a clean little car. It was a company car so I guess its safe to assume it was properly maintained. However my nightmares started about six months into ownership. First the water pump went and the radiator fan followed. The Radiator was next and then I had an accident and trashed my transmission. After spending thousands Jamaican dollars on a car that was valued at 150K and depreciated rapidly I promised myself I would never buy a car older than five years again.
I guess one of the lessons I learnt is that it doesn’t matter what you drive or how much it cost, its how you maintain it. Yep, its all in the maintenance. Any car can become a nightmare if left to its own devices as all the component systems are subject to constant wear and tear. Now that I look back and assess what happened I understand that I was also a victim of my own lack of knowledge as well as exploitation by greedy semi-literate mechanics.
I am now enrolled as a part-time student at JAGAS completing two customised courses, Engine Systems and Air-Conditioning. I have already completed courses in Automotive Electronics (Auto Tech Institute) and Preventive Maintenance Management (National Tools & Engineering Institute). After all these hours of learning I understand why I spent so much trying to keep up with frequent breakdowns.I could have saved a lot of money if I tried to prevent my problems instead of correcting them when the jumped out at me.
Much needs to be done in order to raise awareness about these and other issues relating to the development of the Jamaican Automotive Industry. lets see what happens…
