“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin penned this famous quote over 250 years ago and it still rings true today.
Employees are the greatest asset to any business and today’s successful organizations recognize the value of investing in their training. While many businesses still see training as an optional expense, there is significant research contradicting this notion. Employees who receive training and development are able to identify their long-term career path and goals. These employees have higher morale and job satisfaction and stay with the organization longer. Additionally, the business benefits from higher sales and greater customer satisfaction, as these employees are more productive and provide better customer service.
At AAMCO we believe in the value of training employees and have made a significant investment in this initiative with AAMCO University, a state-of-the-art facility located in Newnan, Georgia. In addition to the brick-and-mortar location, “AAMCO U” offers online courses and conducts in-market training seminars. AAMCO University and our dedication to training is just one component of our long-term growth strategy. For more than 52 years, we have been a legacy brand known as the leader in transmission repair and total car care, and believe that our employee and franchisee training through “AAMCO U” and our online learning management system will keep us at the top of the category, while also expanding our area of expertise to total car care.
AAMCO University offers a wide range of programs through four schools: Technical Excellence, Management, Franchise Ownership, and Franchise Support. Our technicians are at the heart of our organization, and we have created a technical curriculum designed to reward proficiency and achievement in entry level modules as part of a path toward more advanced technical status, such as a master technician. Career paths are designed to advance general technicians into certified technician, master diagnostician, and even master rebuilder roles. With each course the technical expands their skills and knowledge, making them a valuable asset to the organization.
AAMCO University not only gives attendees new tools to “sharpen the saw” in their daily work environment, but also ongoing opportunities for career development. Our management career paths offer successful customer service managers the opportunity to train for general manager positions, franchise, and eventual multi-franchise ownership. For our center owners, there are more than 250 hours of training, as well as more than 300 online courses focused on comprehensive business ownership principles and procedural applications. Each independent AAMCO franchisee is positioned to be a leader in their community and industry with an eye on establishing, developing and growing steady income and long-term business value for every location. We recently celebrated the first graduates of AAMCO University’s School of Franchise Ownership, with nearly 10 franchise owners successfully completing our newly expanded curriculum, and have continued to enroll both new and existing owners into the program.
This commitment to training and investing in our technicians, managers, and franchisees can be seen, touched and experienced at AAMCO University, where we provide ongoing training and support. Traditional classroom courses are held in an auditorium, and specialized technical courses are taught in a full-service auto shop located on campus.
Our training facility is highly connected. Utilizing advanced video and recording technology, we are able to offer over 300 interactive courses live or on-demand via an online learning management system. This allows us to record detailed, hands-on “how to” videos for the thousands of employees that may not be able to attend a class at any given time. Additionally, AAMCO partners with vendors to offer in-market expert training for employees at all levels of the organization.
The fourth school, the school of Franchise Support, is just as important as the first three, because it trains the team that supports our center owners. Focused on topics of brand excellence, career paths and our company culture, this training is vital in building current and future leaders.
Growth does not happen without investment, and this investment in education and training is helping AAMCO fuel franchise development. Our brand is targeting cities across the U.S., including Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., among others.
Many people believe the only thing constant is change. There is truth to that principle in the auto industry, where waves of changing technology and style continue to revamp the automobile. To remain at the forefront of any industry, do not forget the most important constant of all: a lasting commitment to excellence in every phase of performance and customer satisfaction. That’s an investment you can take to the bank.