Fast Track accelerates technician training and certification for increased efficiency and decreased downtime

It’s no secret that there is a technician shortage in the heavy equipment industry, but companies such as Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc. (KSM) are diligently working to remedy that by recruiting and training new technicians — including getting them Komatsu-certified. KSM has teamed up with other distributors to create the Fast Track program to accelerate the process.

“The traditional two-year tech program at OSUIT (Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology) that we participate in is outstanding for those with little or no experience, and we are actively recruiting new people all the time for it,” said former Kirby-Smith employee, Ben Sitton. “We also have a high number of new hires who already have been in the industry and worked on equipment or had training in the military on systems such as hydraulics. Fast Track is geared toward that group. It condenses the traditional two-year program into 16 weeks.”

Technicians going through the Fast Track program must have a strong background on machinery or have completed training at a technical school. That allows them to be Komatsu-certified at an accelerated pace compared to the traditional program.

“The advantage is obvious; we can take a technician with a mechanical background and a good work ethic and have them fully trained in a few months with the information they need to be a Komatsu-certified technician,” said Sitton. “That’s good for us, and it’s good for our customers’ uptime because they not only have general knowledge, but Komatsu-specific knowledge that’s going to better help them quickly diagnose and fix any issues with their machines.”

Training in Cartersville

Fast Track technicians spend time at OSUIT, KSM and Komatsu’s Training Center in Cartersville, Ga., where they get classroom training and hands-on experience. Classes are led by distributor trainers and Komatsu instructors such as Casey Zbinden.

“Fast Track is beneficial because of how fast the technicians are brought up to speed, so they can excel more quickly in their job when they return to the field,” said Zbinden. “Because they are already grounded in the fundamentals, we can give them additional deeper testing than they normally would get in a traditional training environment. Additionally, when they come to Cartersville, they get an opportunity to spend almost an entire day operating equipment in our demonstration area and a day to tour the Chattanooga Manufacturing Operation. Those experiences add value to a very unique program.”

Technicians appreciate the program

Technicians such as Waco-based Dylan Tidwell are perfect candidates for Fast Track. He completed a two-year program and worked for an equipment manufacturer before joining KSM, so the Fast Track program builds on what he already knows.

“I’m getting machine-specific training and a lot more about how Komatsu utilizes its hydraulic technology to separate itself from other manufacturers,” said Tidwell. “It gives me a better understanding when I walk up to a machine. I now understand what each component is for, what it does, how it works, and how to troubleshoot it.”

Ray Medrano grew up working around a mechanic shop and turned his experience into a career. The Fort Worth-based diesel mechanic started out repairing and maintaining small machinery for rental companies before joining KSM about a year ago.

“It’s a great career for me because I love tearing things apart and putting them back together,” Medrano stated. “I got familiar with Komatsu working at Kirby-Smith, and the Fast Track program really gave me more insight into it and how the components and systems work together.”

Medrano added that the program helped him learn more about the troubleshooting process, so he can solve issues with more confidence.

Ciro Suaste has been at KSM’s Dallas branch as a service technician since 2016. He graduated from a technical program and started out performing pre-delivery inspections and installing attachments.

“I worked my way up to oil changes, then customer repairs and troubleshooting,” said Suaste. “I came to the Fast Track program to get certified and improve my troubleshooting skills. This program helped me be able to tell why I was able to fix it and what was the cause, what that component actually does — which is nice because it kind of makes more sense in your head when you actually troubleshoot because you know what you’re looking for. You can just pinpoint exactly what you need from step A to step B. Fast Track is a great program.” 

Interested in the program? Visit the Kirby-Smith Machinery careers page!