Volvo’s ‘workshop personnel world championship’ attracts 12,000 entrants

The world’s biggest competition for workshop personnel – has now commenced. The competition has attracted no less than 12,000 participants from over 1,000 workshops in 68 countries. VISTA will take place in several stages and will conclude with a World final in June 2007.

For fifty years a competition for workshops has existed in Sweden, but it became global in 1977 when it took on its current form and the name ‘VISTA’. Its purpose is to develop the competence of personnel working in the service workshops. The competition is decided through theoretical and practical exercises in which the participants’ skill and knowledge of trucks and heavy engines are put to the test.

VISTA involves a large number of people around the world from organisers Volvo Trucks, as well as from Volvo Buses. Over 3,000 teams of 3 to 4 truck or bus mechanics, parts or administrative personnel, will take part in this year’s competition. In addition to the 12,000 participants, a large number of competition leaders will be involved.

“This year’s entry is a record and is almost 30 per cent higher than the last occasion,” comments Volvo Trucks ‘VISTA director Åke Hansson. “In fact, in some countries, almost every Volvo mechanic and parts employee has entered !”

“One of our aims is to assure the competence of our personnel and ensure that our customers continue to enjoy the services of the best mechanics in the business in the future,” he adds.

Commencing in mid-October, the competition is first decided on a national level in three theoretical rounds of 30 theoretical questions, plus two tie-breaker questions, before the winners go on to regional semi-finals at nine locations in six regions around the world.

A new feature, in conjunction the competition’s 50th anniversary - including 30 years under its present name - is the global final that will be held in Gothenburg in June, 2007. Here thirty competing teams, of two to four participants each, will battle it out through both theoretical and practical competitive tests for the title.