Study Reveals 200 percent Return on Investment from irtec Inspection Accreditation

An independent study by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has revealed that significant performance increases have been achieved by businesses that have adopted the IRTE irtec inspection accreditation. Areas covered by the study included MOT first time pass rates, productivity and financial benefits and meeting customer needs such as OCRS, as well as technician confidence, competence and professional recognition.

The IMI study demonstrated benefits for all three organisations involved. In particular, one company has profited from an eight-fold increase in achieving 100 percent monthly MOT first time pass rate, commensurate with a 66 percent reduction in PRS, as well as a 200 percent return on investment (equating to three pounds returned for every pound invested). The benefits and return were achieved directly from performance gains in the 12 months during which technicians went through the process of gaining their irtec Inspection Technician licence.

The research was undertaken by the IMI to demonstrate the value of training, in this case, leading towards achieving recognition of current competence in the heavy vehicle sector. According to its findings, the heavy vehicle sector is least likely to agree that investment in training will help businesses to survive, with just 53 percent sharing this view. Furthermore, the IMI also found that only 19 percent felt that investing in training had an impact on productivity, despite 28 percent reporting skills gaps in their work force.

Paul Spear, Head of the IMI’s Return on Investment Programme, commented: “The aim of the IMI’s Return on Investment project is to compile compelling case studies about automotive companies generating tangible benefits from their investment in technical training and staff development. The irtec study has provided perfect examples of this and we believe that the information it provides will be of great value to the future success of the heavy vehicle sector, as well as delivering a powerful message about the benefits of investing in skills.”

The IMI’s irtec return on investment research is the first of four such studies part funded by UKCES that examine investment in training in the automotive sector. The other areas covered are apprenticeships, management & leadership and the accident repair sector. For more information and to view the irtec ROI video, please visit www.theimi.org.uk/roi or contact research@theimi.org.uk.

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Notes

Put Right at Station (PRS)

PRS refers to the practice of undertaking minor repairs during the MOT process which would otherwise have led to a failure.

Operators Compliance Risk Score (OCRS)

OCRS is used to calculate the risk of an operator not following the rules on roadworthiness relating to the condition of a vehicle.

About the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI):

The IMI is the professional body for individuals working in the motor industry. Its vision is to ensure that the automotive retail sector has a skilled, competent and professional workforce that is fully equipped to keep pace with the demands of new technology and changing markets while remaining competitive in the global market. The IMI is also the industry’s government licensed Sector Skills Council, the ruling body of the Automotive Technician Accreditation and Automotive Management Accreditation schemes, as well as the authoritative source of retail motor industry careers information, standards and qualifications.