Subie Doctor Achievements

Auto skills world beating in Subaru World tournament

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 THERE is not much that Michael Cooper does not know about the ins and outs of a Subaru.

He proved it recently when he beat the best technicians from 14 countries to win Subaru’s World Skills Tournament in Japan.

He is the first Australian and the first from outside Japan to win the award.

Mr Cooper, 33, of Carlton, works at Suttons Subaru at Rosebery.

He had 40 minutes to fix three faults in the test car.

There was a fuse problem for which he had to find the source (a wire touching the car body); a hard-to-start engine (a cam-shaft problem) and something wrong in the coolant temperature circuit.

He was the first to finish.

‘‘We went for drinks afterwards and there were lots of job offers,’’ Mr Cooper said.

He could have taken his tool kit to the US, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium or Japan but chose to come home.

‘‘I am very happy where I am but you never know,’’ he said.

To qualify for the finals — the competition is held every second year — Mr Cooper did an online entry exam, an interview and a two-day competition at the Subaru Academy in Sydney.

Leading up to the competition he spent every spare minute training, which included memorising the wiring of the MY10 Liberty and simulating every possible no-start and hard-to-start situation.

He has had a love for Subarus since he started his apprenticeship with a Subaru dealer in Bankstown in 1998.

‘‘I love what I do,’’ he said. ‘‘Subarus are great to work on, reliable and not overly complicated.

‘‘I’m proud to say I work for Subaru because they have such a great reputation.’’

Sydney-based technician wins Subaru World Skills Tournament in Japan

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If you own a Subaru and want the best service in the world, you might just get it if you live in Sydney.

The best Subaru technician on the planet is in now officially Michael Cooper, who works at Rosebery Subaru in Sydney.

He claimed the highest honour in the annual Subaru World Skills Tournament in Takao, Japan, beating rivals from 14 other countries to be crowned Subaru’s most expert vehicle technician.

He also became the first ever overseas winner of the competition and apart from bragging rights, Cooper also took home a trophy and $1600 prizemoney.

The tournament saw competitors from Subaru dealerships around the world converge on the Subaru Academy, where their skills were assessed via written exams, practical tests on faulty electrics, calibration work, and troubleshooting problems via deliberately planted ‘issues’ in test vehicles.

Subaru Australia’s Managing Director, Nick Senior, was overjoyed with the win, and explained the competition was not for the weak-willed.

“The testing process entrants undergo is mentally draining, as they strive to identify pre-programmed issues against the clock, but Michael has shown fantastic strength of character and knowledge to effectively becoming the top Subaru technician in the world,” said Senior.

Senior said the win reflects well on Subaru’s Australian operations and procedures at service levels, and also stressed the significance of the award for an international competitor.

“This is a remarkable achievement by Michael. He’s brought an amazing honour to himself, Subaru Rosebery and our brand by not only winning, but by becoming the first non-Japanese technician to take the honour,” he said.

Michael Cooper has worked at the Subaru Rosebery dealership for five years, and to qualifying for the Subaru World Skills Tournament involved several steps, including a behavioural interview and exams.

 

Global final ahead for Eblen Subaru technician after emotional win in national comp

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EBLEN Subaru foreman Tim Newton has won the Japanese brand’s Australian Technical Competition, taking the bi-annual event out from a field of 70 technicians and five finalists.

He will now go on to the global final of the Subaru World Technical Competition, to be held in Tokyo in November.

Mr Newton’s win of the national competition – and the Gary Matthews Trophy that comes with it – resonated strongly this year given the late Mr Matthews was his mentor and manager at Eblen Subaru in Glenelg, South Australia.

Mr Matthews died in 2011 after a battle with cancer, and Subaru Australia subsequently named its top award for technicians in his honour.

The trophy was presented to Mr Newton at a special event in Sydney by Mr Matthews’ widow Jo Brokenshire, who is also service manager at the Eblen Group, and the previous winner of the global competition Michael Cooper, who is a technician at Subaru Rosebery in Sydney.

The national final was held at the Subaru Academy Training Centre in Lidcombe, NSW, where the five regional winners were required to complete written and practical tests. The latter involved diagnosing electrical and mechanical issues pre-programmed into seven ‘stations’.

Judging was by Subaru’s technical and regional service managers, overseen by Kei Takashi from Fuji Heavy Industries’ Subaru Academy in Japan.

“There were a few tears at the presentation, given the Eblen connections between Tim, Gary and Jo,” said Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior.

“It’s wonderful recognition of Gary’s legacy and his dedication to knowing every aspect of Subaru technology.

“We’re delighted Jo could be here to share in the celebration and we wish Tim every success on the global stage.” Ms Brokenshire said: “Gary would be so proud to see Tim here. He would be very humbled, because he was a no-fanfare person and to see his apprentice come through and win this tough competition is fantastic.”

The Australian final was run in conjunction with the Oceania Technical Competition, which was won by New Zealand’s Steve Comber, who also goes on to the global final in Japan.

A Sydney technician has won Subaru’s global ‘World Skills Tournament’

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A TECHNICIAN from Sydney has taken out Subaru’s global World Skills Tournament to become the first non-Japanese winner of the title.

Michael Cooper from Sutton’s Subaru Rosebery took out the top prize at the tournament and walked away with a $1600 cash prize and a trophy.

The two-day tournament is run by the Japanese car-maker at its Subaru Academy in Takao, west of Tokyo, with participants coming from authorised dealers in 14 different countries.

The competition involved technicians undertaking written, calibration and electrical circuit tests as well as troubleshooting issues deliberately ‘planted’ in vehicles.

Mr Cooper is the foreman at Sutton’s Subaru Rosebery. He started his career with the company at Bankstown Subaru.

Supporting Mr Cooper in Japan was Subaru Australia technical support team manager Andrew Fleming, while trainers Gary Pearce, Robert Car and Steve Kennett from the Subaru Academy in Sydney acted as mentors.

To be eligible for the tournament, Mr Cooper had to complete an online entry exam and a behavioural interview as well as take part in a two-day competition at the Subaru Academy in Sydney.

Subaru managing director Nick Senior said Mr Cooper should be commended on his win, especially considering how gruelling the competition can be.

“This is a remarkable achievement by Michael,” he said. “He’s brought an amazing honour to himself, Subaru Rosebery and our brand by not only winning, but by becoming the first non-Japanese technician to take the honour.

“The testing process entrants undergo is mentally draining, as they strive to identify pre-programmed issues against the clock, but Michael has shown fantastic strength of character and knowledge to effectively becoming the top Subaru technician in the world.

“He is to be commended for his dedication and ability.”

Aussie Technician Wins Subaru World Skills Tournament In Japan

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An Australian Subaru technician has brought home the top prize from the 2013 Subaru World Skills Tournament in Japan.

Michael Cooper, who has worked at Sydney’s Suttons Subaru Rosebery dealership for five years, bested participants from 14 countries over the two-day competition.

In taking out the trophy and $1600 prize, Mr Cooper becomes the first person from outside Japan to win the award.

The tournament involved comprehensive written tests and troubleshooting of issues deliberately ‘planted’ in vehicles along with calibration and electrical circuit tests.

“[Michael has] brought an amazing honour to himself and our brand by not only winning, but by becoming the first non-Japanese technician to take the honour,” Subaru Managing Director, Nick Senior, said.

“The testing process entrants undergo is mentally draining, as they strive to identify pre-programmed issues against the clock, but Michael has shown fantastic strength of character and knowledge to effectively becoming the top Subaru technician in the world.”

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To qualify for the finals, Mr Cooper completed an online entry exam in Australia, a behavioural interview and a two-day competition at the Subaru Academy in Sydney.

Trainers Gary Pearce, Robert Car and Steve Kennett from the Subaru Academy mentored Mr Cooper and Subaru Australia’s Technical Support Team Manager, Andrew Fleming, was on hand to support him in Japan.

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Michael Is World’s Best Subaru Technician

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Subaru’s global World Skills Tournament has been won by Sydney technician Michael Cooper, who gains the distinction of becoming the first overseas winner of the prestigious Japan-based award.
Michael has worked at Subaru Rosebery, Sydney, for five years.
The intense two-day competition was held at the Subaru Academy in Takao, Japan and involved participants from authorized Subaru dealers in 14 countries.
Technicians underwent comprehensive written tests, troubleshooting of issues deliberately “planted” in vehicles, calibration tests and electrical circuit tests.
Subaru Managing Director, Nick Senior, said: “This is a remarkable achievement by Michael. He’s brought an amazing honour to himself, Subaru Rosebery and our brand by not only winning, but by becoming the first non-Japanese technician to take the honour.
“The testing process entrants undergo is mentally draining, as they strive to identify pre-programmed issues against the clock, but Michael has shown fantastic strength of character and knowledge to effectively becoming the top Subaru technician in the world. He is to be commended for his dedication and ability.”
Michael was mentored by trainers from the Subaru Academy in Sydney, Gary Pearce, Robert Car and Steve Kennett.
In Japan to support Michael was Subaru Australia’s Technical Support Team Manager, Andrew Fleming.
Michael, who lives at Carlton, NSW, began his career at Bankstown Subaru. He is currently foreman at Suttons Subaru Rosebery.
To qualify for the finals Michael completed an online entry exam in Australia, a behavioural interview and a two-day competition at the Subaru Academy, Sydney.
Michael won a $1600 prize and a trophy.