Australian crowned champion at the 12th Hyundai World Skill Olympics.
- Biennial Hyundai World Skill Olympics rewards exceptional automotive service technician skills
- 72 service experts from 53 countries competed in this year’s competition
- Australian Lawson Puho (Wollongong City Hyundai) crowned outright champion
Hyundai Motor held its 12th Hyundai World Skill Olympics at its Technical Training Centre in Korea last month. Since 1995, Hyundai Motor has held the biennial Skill Olympics to test and celebrate the very best technical service experts from the company’s dealer networks around the world.
The latest chapter of the World Skill Olympic brought together 72 service personnel from 53 countries to test their technical skills and knowledge. The Olympic-style competition features a range of practical evaluations of engines, electrical devices, chassis and other components, as well as a written exam.
Australia was represented by two technicians; Lawson Puho from Wollongong City Hyundai and Taehoon Jung from Werribee Hyundai.
Following a tough series of challenges, Lawson Puho was named as the leading Hyundai Motor service technician in the world, receiving the gold medal as the competition’s overall winner.
At the World Skill Olympics closing ceremony, Mr. Puho said: “It is a great honour to be recognised as one of the best Hyundai Motor service experts globally. The level of competition was so high and featured some highly skilled colleagues, so it was an immensely proud moment when I discovered I had won. I learned a lot from my fellow competitors that will help me continue to provide the best possible service and expertise to our customers.”
Mr. Puho participated in Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s first apprentice technician training academy class back in 2009, a programme aimed at developing the skills of talented and enthusiastic service personnel.
“Hyundai Technicians have a huge influence on Hyundai’s success, and those skills deserve to be rewarded,” said Peter Quinn, Technical Training Manager for Hyundai Motor Company Australia.
“That’s why our eligible Technicians attended a rigorous skills competition held in Sydney last September, with the top two heading to Korea to compete against the best in the world.
“Technicians play a huge part in customer satisfaction, and therefore our profitability. That’s why we’ve are always improving our training Program, to ensure our Technicians are always staying ahead of the game.”
“Our training, observe “best practice” workshop diagnosis, ‘hands on’ practical tools and current operational measures aiming to improve effectiveness, quality and profitability."