Luke Gillespie - Taylor

Commencement of this role saw my return to the tools, bringing with me the accumulated knowledge of workshop management.

Although different to the environments and work I had carried out at previous employment; the basics remained largely the same with the addition of learning new skills such as modifying engines and suspension systems and offering the opportunity to soak up a lot from my highly skilled and knowledgeable co worker

This role was an almost direct continuation of my previous role at BS Hendra, I hit the ground running and within a few months had increased the GP of the business by around 40%

The roles duties included:

• Managed and led a team of technicians for optimal productivity and job satisfaction.
• Purchased and oversaw inventory of supplies, tools and equipment.
• Streamlined inventory management with regular audits and supplier communication to reduce downtime.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction by consistently delivering quality workmanship and meeting deadlines.

This role was a great opportunity for me to grow my skills both as a mechanic and also in a managerial way. In this role I showed an absolute focus on customer satisfaction and never would shy away from making those hard phone calls to customers to explain problems while still maintaining a balance of premium workmanship. My duties at this role included but were not limited to:

*Logbook servicing

*Mechanical repair on a range of different vehicles

*Answering phone calls and any questions from customers in a professional manner

*Costing and quoting out jobs

*Organizing the workflow and ordering parts for the work day

*Assisting both the manager and boss in their day to day activities

This was my starting role here in Australia, unfortunately I was let go due to lack of work caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a very fun, albeit short time, learning a new system and work flow in a new country. My duties in this role were very similar to my previous employment at an LMVD including: *General servicing

*Warranty repair

*Mechanical and electrical diagnosis and repair

*Engine transplants

*Transmission servicing

*Tire fitment and balancing

*Wheel alignments

*Overseeing apprentices and checking their work

I am very grateful for my time at Oldmac Mazda as it was a great introduction to working life in Australia

After completion of my pre trade course in 2012, I was hired by PMG as an apprentice technician after having done 3 months of work experience with them. During my apprenticeship and subsequent years after becoming trade qualified my duties included;

*General servicing

*Warranty repairs

*WoF repairs

*Mechanical and electrical diagnosis

*Mechanical and electrical repairs

*Engine rebuilds

*Transmission work

*Suspension fitment on 4WD vehicles (lift kits etc)

*Tire fitment and balancing

*Wheel alignments

*Accessory fitment

*Answering phones and the occasional bit of clerical work on the front counter during lulls in workshop workload.

My years at PMG shaped me into a technician that is ready for anything and will never shy away from a challenge

I started contracting for Whangarei Engineering on a tug and barge job in Jan ’11 which included many responsibilities such as general fitting, MiG and TiG welding, fabrication, attention to safe work practices, and efficient time management. After completion of this contract a position opened up at Balance Agri Nutrients as a Maintenance Fitter (still contracted to Whangarei Engineering)

Some of my duties here included:

• Provided reliable support for emergency breakdowns, minimizing production delays and losses due to unplanned downtime.
• Improved equipment performance by conducting regular maintenance checks and repairs.
• Ensured safety compliance by performing routine inspections and adhering to established protocols.
• Demonstrated expertise using various hand tools, power tools, measuring devices, and precision instruments for accurate job execution.
• Displayed strong problem-solving skills by swiftly identifying and implementing solutions to address mechanical malfunctions or breakdowns.