VISTA enters the final leg

VISTA - Volvo Trucks’ and Volvo Buses’ worldwide competition and training initiative for workshop personnel - has now moved past the semi-finals and into the final leg. So, after eight months of intensive competition, the last 28 teams from 26 countries remaining in the competition will now battle it out in the world finals in Gothenburg on June 11th.

Amongst them will be two teams representing the UK after they successfully negotiated the semi-final stage, held at Volvo’s Warwick headquarters recently. The winning teams were ‘Return of the Mmak’, representing M C Truck & Bus from Hythe, Kent and ‘Carrot Crunchers’ from Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia’s depot in Felixstowe.

Volvo has been arranging competitions for its workshop personnel for more than 50 years. The worldwide competition – VISTA – is aimed primarily at mechanics, parts staff and warranty processors is the biggest of its kind in the world and is held every two years.

When the first theory qualifying rounds started in September last year, 3,500 teams from 70 countries took part. Now, after the gruelling semi-finals, which included both practical and theoretical elements, the field has been narrowed down to 28 teams from all over the world.

June’s Grand Final encompasses a full day’s difficult practical tests where teamwork, technical expertise and problem-solving ability using Volvo’s system for parts and service are some of the crucial factors.

Göran Nyberg, Volvo Trucks’ UK & Irish Managing Director, attended the regional semi-finals and testifies to fine fighting spirit and razor-sharp competition over every single point. “Many of the teams mixed together older and younger members. In the course of the competition, the older team members serve as mentors sharing their expertise and acting as a steadying influence,” Göran says, adding, “I was impressed by the fantastic team spirit amongst the two winning teams from the UK. The way they were so totally focused and how they co-operated so smoothly to tackle each problem was amazing.”

Volvo Trucks’ President and CEO, Staffan Jufors, affirms that VISTA is extremely exciting, but notes that it is also a highly educational experience for all the competitors. “For us this is a very comprehensive and important educational initiative,” he says. “According to our calculations, VISTA 2009 corresponds to more than 300,000 hours of training – training that includes the majority of our global workshop personnel.”

He adds, “VISTA helps boost the professional status of the staff that take care of our customers and this helps us attract the very best people to our workshops, not least in markets where we are experiencing strong growth. Ultimately, VISTA improves the quality of the workshops and helps improve our competence as a supplier of complete transport solutions.”