Orr-some effort: Tim Orr has placed second overall in the 11th Hyundai World Skill Olympics against more than 80 technicians from 54 countries.

COFFS Harbour Hyundai technician Tim Orr has placed second overall in the 11th Hyundai World Skill Olympics in South Korea late last month.

Mr Orr and fellow master technician Matthew Adamo, from Harrison Hyundai in Melton, Victoria, represented Australia at the five-day event at Hyundai’s Cheonan Technical Training Centre, competing against 82 other technicians from no fewer than 54 countries.

Mr Orr took silver next to gold medallist llya Khlystov from Russia, while Mr Adamo took silver in the engine systems category.

Held since 1995, the biennial competition comprises practical evaluations of engines, electric devices, chassis, automatic transmissions and other components, as well as a written exam.

The overall aim is to improve the practical and theoretical knowledge of Hyundai’s service centre technicians, which should in turn improve customer service satisfaction, as measured by the company and independent research bodies such as JD Power and Associates.
“The whole event was massive,” Mr Orr said. “It was awesome seeing teams from huge nations like the United States and China.

“I can’t remember much about how I felt on the podium other than getting the medal hung round my neck. I just couldn’t believe it was happening.”

The two Australians were selected to represent Hyundai Motor Co Australia (HMCA) after finishing at the top of the national competition held earlier this year.

The pair also undertook motivational training ahead of the global competition, which Mr Orr described as the “make or break difference” for them when performing under pressure. He also said he received an unexpected bonus in the challenging MDPS (Motor Driven Power Steering) practical test, in which contestants were required to fix a simulated problem.

“While working out the overall problem, I fixed what was to have been a second part of the task,” he said. “So I effectively fixed two problems in one move. I was happy about that.”

HMCA technical training manager Peter Quinn, who accompanied the two technicians to Korea, praised the performance of the Australian representations, and said: “I think the whole experience also gave them a greater understanding of the sheer scale of Hyundai and its global reach.”

Hyundai Motor Company vice-president and head of the international service division Kang Rae Lee said: “Top service skills are one of Hyundai Motor’s core values to satisfy the expectations of our customers.

“This event is critical to improving our customer service experience and elevating our competitiveness as a global auto-maker.”

Australia has twice won gold at the World Skill Olympics.

Workshop manager at Skippers Hyundai (now John Hughes Hyundai) in Western Australia, Murray Hynes, won the competition in its second running in 1997 – taking top spot on the podium from a field of 45 competitors representing 30 countries – while Paul Haddelton, also from Skippers Hyundai, won the inaugural event in 1995.

By Terry Martin