ZF Aftermarket has embarked on its first fully-immersed Spanish training week in Puerto Rico. The technical training team spent time in the Spanish-speaking region, visiting workshops and educational centers teaching the technology and innovation behind ZF products. Bringing ZF technical training to this region offers more technicians an opportunity for advancement and continuing education, as well as the chance to work directly with ZF Aftermarket.
Hopes for the Future
“The decision to take technical training to Puerto Rico was simple; the automotive market in this region is continuing to grow, thus the number of technicians continues to grow. In such an expansive market, it is important to support the education and training of technicians,” said Francisco Moreno, ZF technical trainer.
“As a whole, our goal of the week was to provide out-of-region technicians with the same education we are providing technicians in the states with. Being off the mainland, Puerto Rico workshops do not have the same access to educational training opportunities that those in the states do. Our hope is to continue our work in the region with annual technical training visits to further the education of technicians.”
In the Field
From Aug. 20 through Aug. 28, the ZF Aftermarket technical training team, in coordination with DIMA International, visited three different areas of Puerto Rico, including San Juan, Ponce and Mayagüez. ZF Technical trainers provided technicians in more than 50 workshops with hands-on educational training on TRW-branded shocks and chassis.
While in the region, ZF Aftermarket also had the opportunity to host a training seminar for technicians. In coordination with Puerto Rico’s Colegio de Técnicos y Mecánicos Automotrices and TransMart, a TranStar company, Moreno hosted a five-hour seminar on the ZF 6HP transmission for more than 200 technicians. Attendees who participated in the seminar also were rewarded with two credit hours toward continuing their education.
Becoming Accessible
Incorporating Spanish into the ZF Aftermarket technical training department began in March of 2016 with the introduction of Spanish webinars hosted by trainer Francisco Moreno. The initial visit to Puerto Rico continues ZF Aftermarket’s efforts to incorporate more training material and experiences in Spanish.
“ZF Aftermarket strives to provide every technician with the opportunity to further their technical training and knowledge of the automotive industry; and that requires us to provide our material in a manner that is most accessible to all technicians,” said Moreno.
For more information on trainings hosted by ZF Aftermarket or to view the available webinars, visit zf.com/us/trainings.
