MACS and SAE Partner to Address the Shortage of Qualified Technicians
The SAE Foundation was honored to partner with the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) recently on a luncheon panel on the topic of the technician shortage and solutions during the recent MACS Training Event and Trade Show in Nashville. Founded in 1981, MACS is the leading non-profit trade association for total vehicle climate and thermal management.
Peter Meier, Director of Training at Motor Age, along with MACS Technical Advisor, Ward Atkinson, joined moderator Steve Schaeber, Technical Editor and Manager of Service Training for the panel discussion.
Atkinson introduced the MACS audience to the SAE Foundation and its mission to encourage and increase student achievement and participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to build a diverse, STEM-fluent workforce. Funds raised by the SAE Foundation support SAE International’s award-winning A World In Motion® (AWIM) program, Collegiate Design SeriesTM (CDS), awards and scholarships. Atkinson is one of the many industry leaders who have served as formal mentors and industry volunteers to students participating in the SAE AWIM and CDS STEM education programs.
Read the editorial of this panel discussion in the recent issue of ACTION magazine, published by MACS.
Atkinson also joined, Elvis Hoffpauier, President of MACS for an Automotive Service Association (ASA) podcast that aired in March celebrating MACS 40th Anniversary. Both had a lot to share about the founding and growth of MACS to where it’s going. Since 1991, MACS has assisted more than 1 million service technicians to comply with the 1990 U.S. EPA Clean Air Act requirements for Section 609 certification in refrigerant recovery and recycling to protect the environment.
Hoffpauier and Atkinson discuss the close collaboration between MACS and SAE International (formerly Society of Automotive Engineers), EPA and the international service community around industry standards, since the mid-1980’s. They also share concerns about the lack of qualified technicians.
“The servicing and repair of vehicles on the road today is no longer just a ‘part changing’ activity,” said Atkinson. “To meet, and solve the consumer repair needs, knowledgeable experienced technicians are required to use diagnostics procedures. For proper operation, many replaced parts need additional re-calibration.”
The SAE Foundation is well positioned in its mission to fill the workforce pipeline with qualified technicians and engineers through support of SAE’s expanding portfolio of proven Pre-Professional STEM Education solutions.