Tmha rewards high achievers at
National Skills Competition
Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) has presented the winners of its 2015 National
Skills Contest with their awards at a gala dinner at the Sofitel Hotel in Sydney.
Fifteen Toyota forklift technician finalists
competed in this years’ contest held over June
10 and 11 at its Moorebank headquarters in
Sydney.
The 15 finalists (made up of nine technicians
and six apprentices) were among 160 Toyota
forklift technicians from the TMHA national
branch network who entered in this years’
competition.
Entrants completed two online exams prior
to the skills contest; those who achieved top
scores earned the right to compete at the finals
held at TMHA’s Training and Development
centre.
Contestants completed a series of practical
and theory-based exercises over the two
days that covered the three TMHA brands
of warehouse equipment - Toyota, BT and
Raymond. The nine technicians specialised
in one of the three brands for the practical
component and also sat an exam covering all
three brands to determine the overall Master
Technician.
The Master Technician of the Year award for
2015 was won by Chris Attard from TMHA
Sydney after also taking out the National
Technician of the Year award for Raymond
products.
Rohin Chamberlain from TMHA Coffs Harbour
was crowned National Technician of the Year
for Toyota products, while Shaun Xerri took
out the BT award for the third straight year
after backing up his previous wins in 2014 and
2013.
In the apprentice category Mitchell Houley
from TMHA’s Albury branch went back-to-back
to win the 2015 Apprentice of the Year Award
having claimed the same title in last years’
competition.
All winners received a cash prize and the
Master Technician and Apprentice of the year
also will also attend a study tour to one of the
Toyota overseas assembly plants in Japan,
Sweden or the US.
The five winners were presented with their
awards by TMHA president and CEO Akihiko
Namura and executive vice president and
COO Steve Takacs at the dinner on June 12.
Mr Takacs said the National Skills Contest was
an important part of ensuring that Toyota forklift
technicians have the skills and knowledge
required to remain at the forefront of industry
standards.
“I know the importance of having highly skilled
and well trained technicians as that’s where I
began my Toyota career,” he said.
“As a national competition it’s pleasing to
see so many of our branches represented,
highlighting the high degree of knowledge and
skill within the TMHA national branch network.
“Conducting the skills contest provides real
benefits, with greater customer satisfaction
thanks to less downtime and improved
workplace safety, and as a strong, viable
company that is continuing to show strong
growth we are proud to be able to hold
competitions such as this.”
TMHA has conducted the National Skills
Contest for more than two decades as part of
its commitment to maintaining industry leading
training and service standards.
TMH Torque
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