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BELGIUM
Bridgestone European Education Centre – Brussels
selling tyres, but we’re offering our customers a full package of solutions covering direct and indirect tyre related worries and needs.
“The 4,5 day MasterCraftsman aimed at the retreader focuses on the process steps to ensure that we get an effective and efficient process that produces high quality end products. Every franchisee has to agree to send two people to the retread training scheme, usually the production manager plus one other. The training certificate is valid for five years and then we expect our franchisees to revalidate their training.
“If trainees wish to gain their certification, required for the franchise operation to continue, then they must reach the benchmark pass level in the training course.
Bandag has always been a name synonymous with high standards and a widespread equality in standards of production. However, with the Bridgestone takeover there was an added impetus given to Bandag’s requirements for the highest possible standards. Training has been refined, developed, fine tuned and the concept of retreading has been taken to a much more holistic approach in order to drive business. With the Bridgestone takeover in 2010 the Bridgestone European Education Centre – Brussels became the central point for training all aspects of commercial tyres (truck and bus, agricultural and OTR and light truck training). Bridgestone European Education Centre – Rome) deals with training all aspects of consumer tyres (motorcycle, passenger).
instructions and procedures, but there is a universal fact about training. If people are trained how to do something, they often go back to their workshops or offices and revert to their original practices, the training is wasted, it has become a box ticking exercise. However, if you train them not also in the how, but the why, they have a greater propensity to adopt to the newly instilled practices.
Rudi Lambrechts, Senior manager commercial tyre training said. “It is important that the students understand the why. Many of the trainees will have been working in the tyre trade for some time and will have developed habits and skills that may have been best practice in the past, but with the latest technology and understanding of the industr y, they can improve performance and quality by
fault and these casings are used to help train the retreaders, by having them identify the fault, and identify the cause of the fault – there is little point in making good a repair if the
The Bridgestone European Education Centre uses the latest technology, such as this laser engraver. Seen in use at LLB in Hasselt, and showing the engraved markings below
cause of the damage is actually a mechanical fault or poor practice by the driver. “Casing Classes are an important element and is considered a “next level training” following the MasterCraftsman.” Continues Rudi, “The 4-day Casing Class training includes casing inspection; i.e. identification of injuries, abnormal wear patterns and also trying to identify the cause of the problems discovered and so developing and proposing preventive actions. Of course, the question, ‘can I repair and/or retread this’ is a key element of this course.
“We also look at complaints analysis and use the feedback to put improvements (corrective and preventive actions) in place – a continuous improvement technique that any franchisee should be knowing, understanding and using too.”
Rudi Lambrechts, Senior manager commercial tyre training
In Europe, Bridgestone and Bandag, have a training centre of excellence in Zaventem, Brussels, where the company develops the skills of every level of its team, and also of its franchisees, Truck Point & First Stop Network as well as for end- customers. As would be expected the Bridgestone European Education Centre (EUEC-Brussels) is fully equipped with the latest Bandag retreading equipment, plus a range of older equipment to ensure that the staff brought on retreading courses are shown how to make the best use of the equipment that they are likely to actually have in their workshops. Of course, show piecing the latest technology and the advantages of having modern equipment can drive franchisees attending the training centre to upgrade their equipment. The equipment though is only part of the picture, people can be trained to use the equipment and how they should carry out a work
understanding why doing it this way, as opposed to that way, is so much more beneficial. Having understood the why, their performance will improve.”
Some 80 per cent of the training at Zaventem is based on the truck and bus business, including retreading. The centre covers all areas of training, technical, sales and marketing being the key areas of focus. Even when operating technical training courses there is always an element of sales and marketing included in the package. Rudi adds, “It is useful if the operator also understands how his work fits in with the overall marketing and sales operation (general tyre business and ultimately transport business). Participants should have a basic understanding how their operation influences the “general picture” of the tyre business and even going as far as the end-customers transport business. Bridgestone is not only
“The next step is out repair training. Repairs are ver y important and we offer three levels of repair training: a 1.5 day truck and bus repair training course oriented to retreading audience; a minor repairs course and a third course deals with major repairs using presses to vulcanise the repair. The latest two courses oriented to “outlet station” audience.
“The repair training is to Bridgestone standards and has been developed in partnership with Rema Tip Top. Bridgestone certifies Rema Tip Top trainers all over Europe using the “Train-the-trainer concept. “It is our experience that
repairing is a huge contributor to the quality of retreading due to of repairs being carried out in most of the commercial business transport applications. In order to continuously update their knowledge and understanding of latest tyre
developments, it is
imperative that our
retreaders receive on
regular basis latest
evolutions and
standards on tyre
repair procedures
and limitations.”
The wall of the
training hall is lined
with casings, most
have some type of
30 Retreading Business