Automotive Service Management Training

An automotive service manager oversees a service shop and its employees.

Automotive service managers play an important role in a service shop, regardless of size. She may work for a dealer or a small shop but must manage the service employees to ensure customer satisfaction and proper vehicle repairs.

Time Frame

A service manager may train for months before achieving his title. Usually, the service manager is promoted over time and should have plenty of knowledge and experience to do the job. Training for experienced service managers are short, usually as long as it takes to get to know the staff, dealer or shop procedures and paperwork.

Function

The service manager makes sure the shop runs smoothly. He is trained by another manager or shop owner to follow existing procedures. The manager should have experience as a previous service adviser or technician in quoting labor times and working with technicians to get repairs completed, but will train to learn his specific shop procedures and guidelines.

Pay

Service managers usually make a base salary and commission from shop profits with an opportunity to reach bonus programs. During training, the salary may be set higher without opportunity for extra profit until training is complete. Hourly wages are sometimes paid in small shops without an opportunity to earn extra income.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics