Technician Tom off to Japan
Tom Sanders has been chosen to represent New Zealand at the Subaru World Technical Competition (SWTC) in Japan next month.
Subaru Corporation hosts the biennial event featuring staff from around the world who have qualified for selection from their regions.
Sanders, who works for Southern Motor Group in Dunedin, faced a rigorous process to be selected.
Subaru Australia supplied an online entrance exam, which Subaru of NZ’s technical department developed and deployed across its dealer network here.
Sanders achieved the highest score among all participants on our shores and his scores were compared with those of counterparts across the Tasman. This revealed his skills were on par with many leading technicians in Australia.
Tim Barns-Lawton, general manager of Subaru NZ, says: “Following his performance in our local pre-selection exam, Tom was nominated for the next stage – an online and interactive diagnostics exam designed by Subaru Japan. He passed and was invited to the Subaru World Technician Competition.”
Since then, Subaru’s Kiwi team has taken extra measures to support Sanders’ preparation. This has included assessing historic SWTC case studies, logical diagnostic path flow, assessment conditions and working practices.
“Based on Tom’s initial assessment results, we understand his strengths and have opportunities to support and pinpoint further development in those areas,” adds Barns-Lawton.
Sanders says: “I’m looking forward to meeting and competing against top technicians from around the world. I’ve heard about previous SWTCs. I’m keen to see how well I can perform in Japan.”
The 41-year-old’s interests are cars and “tinkering around getting things to work”. This hobby led to his current role as technician. He had an older model, twin-turbo Legacy he liked working on, which inspired him to apply for the job at Southern Motor Group.
