Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt.
Ltd (YMIS) recently felicitated Meenakshi Sundaram Subramanian from Alagendran
Autos, Madurai who won the No. 1 Technician Title in the Commuter Class at the
Yamaha World Technician Grand Prix 2014 (WTGP) that was held between September
30 and October 1, 2014. Around 20 of the best technicians from 18 countries who
had won their national level qualifying contests (NTGP) gathered in Japan for
the 6th Yamaha World Technician Grand Prix during these days. WTGP motivates
dealers to achieve higher levels of customer satisfaction that translates into
customer delight.
Masaki Asano, Managing
Director, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd, said that Yamaha Motor Company
organises the WTGP contest in Japan once in two years to select the world’s No.
1 Yamaha service technician. It was earlier dominated by European countries
winning the top spot in the championship. “This was the second time Yamaha
Motor India was a part of WTGP 2014 and this win by Meenakshi Sundaram
Subramanian makes us very proud indeed,” he said.
This time too, the 6th Yamaha
WTGP continued the tradition of raising the bar higher for YTA technicians, who
render one-to-one service for customers every day. The contest includes the
element of ‘Time-Commitment Service’ based upon ‘maintenance knowledge, trouble
shooting and customer relations’ from the perspective of customer contact
points, said a press release from Yamaha.
Ravinder Singh, Vice President
– Strategy and Planning, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd said this year,
Yamaha Motor India participated in WTGP 2014 by sending winners of its India
edition of the ‘National Technician Grand Prix’ (NTGP) 2012 and 2013. Contests
such as these certainly help in raising the service technician’s consciousness
of their importance in the Yamaha business, stimulate the desire for
improvement and strengthen the Yamaha Service, he said.
The Yamaha Technical Academy
(YTA) plays a key role in the group’s global education and training programme
for motorcycle technicians. YTA’s content and standards of education and
training programmes have been developed specifically for each country. As of
2013, the number of YTA-trained and certified technicians was around 4,000 in
India alone. Contests are held in each country under National Technician Grand
Prix Title for these certified technicians. The winners then compete in the
Yamaha World Technician Grand Prix held at YMC, Japan.
In India, YMIS organised the
National Technician Grand Prix in 2012 and 2013, the winners of which were sent
to compete in WTGP 2014. In 2012, 850 technicians participated from 375 dealers
and in 2013, 726 technicians participated from 375 dealers. The contest had 3
stages of competition for technicians until they could achieve National
champion title. The 1st stage (Regional level) has written and practical
examination which is conducted by field service team at each dealership. From
regional contest, 100 technicians (20 from each region) are picked for the next
stage. The 2nd stage (zonal contest) is conducted by zonal training team
supported by head office training team at zonal YTA in 4 locations. NTGP final
is then conducted by YTA Headquarters. Winners were Sunilkanta Singh Hemam of
Pakhamba Motors (2012) and Meenakshi Sundaram Subramaniam of Alagendran Auto
(2013).