Taking the long-term approach to recruitment

Glacier FarmMedia – Nobody needs to tell farmers that today’s agriculture equipment has gone high tech, making modern equipment capable of remarkable efficiencies that improve a farm’s bottom line.

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However, it also means that the days of expecting to fix a breakdown with a small toolbox full of wrenches and a tube of grease have mostly gone by the wayside.

Late model, computer-controlled machines are so sophisticated that even many minor faults can only be corrected by a trained technician who has access to a computer loaded with the right software. So getting broken machines back in operation now often means waiting in the field for a dealership service truck to arrive.

That has put pressure on dealership service departments during peak seasons, stretching them to the limit responding to on-farm breakdowns. Finding enough skilled mechanics to handle all those service calls has become difficult for dealers of all brands, according to Pete Steiner, program manager for Case IH’s Top Tech program.

Top Tech is a brand initiative at Case IH that aims to help its dealer network identify potential hires and get them the mechanical training they need to become qualified service technicians.

“We’re facing the same shortage of technicians,” says Steiner. “Case IH is looking to address that by helping our dealers with their recruitment efforts, and also getting into the tech schools and helping them with their curriculums and making sure they’re teaching students about the technological advancements we see today.”

Top Tech works with technical training schools in Canada and the United States, providing them with training materials and other assistance. Those will help familiarize students with proprietary Case IH technologies and it can help get junior technicians up to speed quickly. That will allow them to walk right into the shop at a red brand dealership able to get to work.

“We have technology to troubleshoot fault codes that show up on a machine,” he says. “That requires a technician that’s able to take advantage of that technology. They need laptop or computer skills in order to diagnose the electronics we have on machines.

“Every machine uses hydraulics. Every machine has electrical systems on it, but we do it a little bit different. So it’s making sure that that technician can use our electronic service manuals, they can use our electronic service tools, and all those things that make our machines a little bit unique but are still on that generic platform.”

Helping build an early relationship with students and making them comfortable with Case IH equipment might steer them to a career with that brand, rather than see them walk down the street to a competitor’s shop.

“That’s a key part of it,” Steiner acknowledges.

Local dealers can play a major role in helping with the brand’s efforts too, by identifying potential hires and helping them get into a training program at a school that works with the Top Tech program.

“That’s the part we’re working on with our dealers,” says Steiner. “They’re out there looking for these students and getting comfortable with them, and we can help have a lifelong relationship with them by building teamwork and a family environment. So students can get to know our brand and our dealers.

“For individuals that want to stay in their community there is good opportunity there. For individuals that want to do more, there is opportunity to move up to service managers or service writers or consultants in other areas. So there are advancement opportunities.”

Most dealership networks are large companies able to offer stable employment in many smaller communities along with competitive wages and benefits.

For Steiner, the focus on working with technical schools is key.

“The school is where it starts,” he says.

“In Canada, we have the apprentice program where students can take the pre-employment course and develop skills by working up through the program (and with a local dealership).

“I always say for those who are interested, go talk to the dealership and find out if there are ways they can help them with employment or sponsorship to go through school to get them on a career path and develop those skills.”