Vehicle maintenance supervisor

Vehicle maintenance supervisors assume responsibility for the day-to-day operation of a service station.

Vehicle maintenance supervisors typically do the following:

• Supervise and coordinate activities of assigned personnel.
• Assign, supervise and participate in major and minor mechanical repairs on vehicles, diagnose internal combustion engine maintenance problems.
• Diagnose, supervise and participate in repairs of mechanical defects in vehicles.
• Determine priority of work orders and their assignment to personnel; plan, organize and schedule work flow of employees as assigned; advise and assist assigned personnel; assure timely completion of work.
• Maintain records and reports as necessary.
• Conduct in-service training programs for employees with equipment suppliers for new techniques in mechanical repairs.
• Assist in the selection of new employees; train, supervise and evaluate assigned employees; recommend disciplinary action or promotion as appropriate; review completed work and provide feedback as necessary.
• Initiate requisition for materials and equipment; authorize purchases from local vendors; maintain adequate inventory of parts, equipment and supplies used in repairing and servicing motorized vehicles.
• Monitor tools, tool room equipment, maintenance and safety practices.
• Establish and implement prudent shop safety policies and procedures.

Service technicians stand for most of the day, and they typically work in well-ventilated and well-lit repair shops. Although technicians often identify and fix automotive problems with computers, they commonly work with greasy parts and tools, sometimes in uncomfortable positions.

Most service technicians work full time, and many work evenings or weekends. Overtime is common.

Automotive service technicians and mechanics frequently work with heavy parts and tools. As a result, workplace injuries, such as small cuts, sprains, and bruises, are common.

The following job titles also refer to vehicle maintenance supervisor:

service station manager
bus maintenance supervisor
fleet maintenance manager
automobile servicing manager
heavy vehicle maintenance supervisor
LGV maintenance manager
bus and coach maintenance supervisor
coach maintenance supervisor
fast-fit service manager
automobile repair shop manager
PCV maintenance manager
bus maintenance manager
fleet maintenance supervisor
coach maintenance manager
PCV maintenance supervisor
bus and coach maintenance manager
light vehicle maintenance supervisor
heavy vehicle maintenance manager
light vehicle maintenance manager
LGV maintenance supervisor

A high school diploma and an extensive experience (at least 4 years) in the repair or maintenance of vehicles are generally required to work as a vehicle maintenance supervisor. A valid driver’s license is also required.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Vehicle maintenance supervisor is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to vehicle maintenance supervisor.

vehicle electronics installer
vehicle maintenance attendant
checkout supervisor
roadside vehicle technician
restoration technician

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of vehicle maintenance supervisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of vehicle maintenance supervisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

performance rental technician
department store manager
desalination technician
domestic appliances shop manager
medical goods shop manager

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of vehicle maintenance supervisor.

• Car controls: The functioning of specific car equipment such as how to operate and handle the clutch, throttle, lighting, instrumentation, transmission and the brakes.
• Types of vehicles: Field of information which distinguishes rental agency classification systems, containing types and classes of vehicles and their functioning and components.
• Teamwork principles: The cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.

These skills are necessary for the role of vehicle maintenance supervisor.

• Guarantee customer satisfaction: Handle customer expectations in a professional manner, anticipating and addressing their needs and desires. Provide flexible customer service to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Follow control of substances hazardous to health procedures: Adhere to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) procedures for activities that involve hazardous substances, such as bacteria, allergens, waste oil, paint or brake fluids that result in illness or injury.
• Drive vehicles: Be able to drive vehicles; have the approapriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.
• Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
• Maintain records of financial transactions: Collate all the financial transactions done in the daily operations of a business and record them in their respective accounts.
• Ensure compliance with warranty contracts: Implement and monitor repairs and/or replacements by the supplier in compliance with warranty contracts.
• Order supplies for vehicle maintenance and repair: Order supplies and tools for vehicle repair and maintenance.
• Managing a business with great care: Detailed and thorough treatment of transactions, compliance with regulations and supervision of employees, safeguarding a smooth running of daily operations.
• Plan employees work in vehicle maintenance: Schedule work schemes for employees in vehicle maintenance. Plan and assign work in order to make sure agreements and deadlines are met.
• Provide customer information related to repairs: Inform customers about necessary repairs or replacements, discuss products, services and costs, include accurate technical information.
• Monitor vehicle maintenance activities: Supervise and perform vehicle maintenance activities, which can be either mechanical, electrical or computerized. It consists of replacing a number of vehicle parts and checking instrumentation and liquid levels.
• Manage claims process: Manage the relation with an insurer related to its obligation to receive, investigate and act on a claim filed by an insured.
• Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.
• Provide customer follow-up services: Register, follow-up, solve and respond to customer requests, complaints and after-sales services.
• Monitor vehicle repairs: Schedule and oversee activities of care and repair for vehicles.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of vehicle maintenance supervisor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Electrical wiring plans: Pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. It shows the components of the circuit as simplified shapes, and the power and signal connections between the devices. It gives information about the relative position and arrangement of devices and terminals on the devices, to help in building or servicing the device. A wiring diagram is often used to troubleshoot problems and to make sure that all the connections have been made and that everything is present.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of vehicle maintenance supervisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Maintain vehicle records: Maintain vehicle records by accurately recording service operations and repairs.
• Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
• Operate cash point: Count the money; balance cash drawer at the end of the shift; receive payments and process payment information; use scanning equipment.
• Maintain work area cleanliness: Keep the working area and equipment clean and orderly.
• Show confidence: Demonstrate degrees of maturity by fully understanding one’s own qualities and abilities which can serve as sources of confidence in different situations.
• Think proactively: Take initiatives to come up with improvements.
• Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
• Keep stock records: Keep written records of the amount of stock in storage, incoming and outgoing products required for the proper operation of services, repairs and maintenance tasks.

7231 – Motor vehicle mechanics and repairers

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References

1. Vehicle maintenance supervisor – ESCO
2. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Featured image: Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels