Introduction to the Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Sector

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Unit X: Introduction to the Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Sector

Unit code: J/502/1760

QCF level: Entry 3

Credit value: 2

Unit aim

This unit aims to introduce learners to the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector and to enable them to recognise organisations and job roles within the sector.

Unit introduction

This unit introduces learners to the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector and the different organisations and job roles within it. The emphasis is on learners developing a clear recognition of the terms, conditions and benefits of diverse job roles and employers within the sector. On completion of this unit, learners will have a broad understanding of the sector and the many career paths and opportunities it offers.

Although learners will work independently on some tasks, tutor-led guidance and assessment will help learners develop an understanding of the broad scope of the modern motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector, the opportunities it offers and the requirements it demands.

This unit is intended for learners considering a career in the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector – a rapidly advancing technological sector and growth employer. The unit is suitable for learners with little or no prior experience of the motor vehicle industry and for those learners not yet ready for level 1 or GCSE studies.


Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

In order to pass this unit, the evidence that the learner presents for assessment needs to demonstrate that they can meet all the learning outcomes for the unit. The assessment criteria determine the standard required to achieve the unit.

On completion of this unit a learner should:

Learning outcomes / Assessment criteria
1 Understand the vehicle maintenance and repair sector and the rganizations and job roles within it / 1.1 Recognise the purpose of the vehicle maintenance and repair sector
1.2 Recognise different types of rganizations within the vehicle maintenance and repair sector
1.3 List roles within the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector
2 Know the terms, conditions and benefits of different jobs within the vehicle maintenance and repair sector / 2.1 Recognise the terms, conditions and benefits of different job roles and different employers within the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector


Unit content

1  Understand the vehicle maintenance and repair sector and the organisations and job roles within it

Purpose: maintenance, repairs, tuning and servicing, fault diagnosis, vehicle inspections, technological innovation

Organisations and employers: garages; workshops; dealerships; fleet operators; hire companies; bus and coach companies; roadside assistance and recovery organisations eg AA, RAC; industrial organisations eg IMI, SMMT

Roles: service technician eg light vehicle technician, heavy vehicle technician, senior technician, technician supervisor, diagnostic technician, auto electrician; hierarchy eg apprentice, technician, master technician, workshop supervisor/manager, dealer manager/owner; other roles eg manufacturing, design, distribution, sales, marketing, service reception, motorsports, recycling

2 Know the terms, conditions and benefits of different jobs within the vehicle maintenance and repair sector

Terms and conditions: legal responsibilities; health and safety eg hazards; managing complex processes eg use of electronic diagnostic equipment; environmental impact and considerations eg recycling, hybrid fuel technologies

Benefits: strong employment prospects in growth sector; clear career paths; multi-disciplinary team-driven work environment; development of leading edge practical workshop skills; understanding of complex and innovative technological processes; development of ability to plan and schedule tasks and workload


Essential guidance for tutors

Delivery

Delivery of this unit should focus on giving learners a broad understanding of the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector by familiarising them with the many and diverse career roles, employers and organisations within the modern global automotive industry. Learners should be encouraged to explore the terms, conditions and benefits of different job roles and to appreciate the wide range of employers and employment opportunities open to them within this growing sector of the world economy.

Whilst hands-on practical workshop experience to fully underpin the skills and knowledge in development is required by the other Entry 3 units H/502/1765: Planning and Organising for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Tasks and K/502/1766: Carrying Out Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Operations, it is possible to deliver this unit solely within the classroom environment. Independent guided learner research (using the internet) to discover more about the automotive sector should be encouraged to provide a valuable alternative to direct tutor-led tuition.

The learning outcomes are ordered logically and it would be a reasonable, and recommended, approach to develop them sequentially. Learning outcome 1 can be achieved through guided research into the automotive sector using online (and other) resources. Group and individual tasks may be set to achieve this. Learning outcome 2 can be achieved through learners producing written essays or reports (or completing tests) based on knowledge gained during the achievement of learning outcome 1.


Outline learning plan

The outline learning plan has been included in this unit as guidance.

Topic and suggested assignments/activities
Understand the vehicle maintenance and repair sector and the organisations and job roles within it
Whole-class teaching
Whole-class, tutor-led discussion on the purpose of the sector and the job roles within it. Whole-class, tutor-led discussion on organisations and employers within the sector. Source material to include textbooks, CD ROMs, trade magazines, the internet, and video/film on this topic. Presentations by experienced industry personnel and manufacturers’ representatives would also be advantageous.
Individual learner activities
Investigation (using the internet and other sources) into organisations, career roles and employers within the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector. Learners write reports or produce an information sheet on each topic within the unit content. Activities may be set as either group or individual tasks.
Know the terms, conditions and benefits of different jobs within the vehicle maintenance and repair sector
Whole-class teaching
Whole-class, tutor-led discussion on the legal responsibilities and codes of practice that apply to the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector. Whole-class, tutor-led discussion on the benefits of a career within the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector. Source material to include textbooks, CD ROMs, trade magazines, the internet, and video/film on this topic. Presentations by experienced industry personnel and manufacturers’ representatives would also be advantageous.
Individual learner activities
Following a research assignment (using the internet and other sources), learners produce a report (or give a group presentation) on the terms, conditions and legislation that apply to working within the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector.
Following a research assignment (using the internet and other sources), learners produce a report (or give a group presentation) on the benefits of a career within the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector.
Knowledge check and unit assessment
Tutor assessment of learner understanding of the unit content through a combination of oral questioning, assessment of learner presentations and the marking of centre-devised written tests and reports/essays/detailed notes. Each learner to create and assemble a portfolio of evidence including observation records, witness statements, photographic evidence (where applicable) and marked and signed written work. Feedback to learners and unit close.


Assessment

For this unit, centres will need to devise tests and set investigative assignments appropriate for Entry 3 learners and suitable for achieving the assessment criteria. Tutors/assessors will be expected to organise tasks in a logical order according to the requirements of learners and course criteria. Although there is no time limit for assessment, it is assumed that assessment of individual tasks should take no longer than one hour.

In order to meet the unit assessment criteria, learners can build a small portfolio of written evidence of the research they have undertaken using a variety of sources (for example online, textbooks, journals) commensurate with assessment criteria 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 2.1.

For 1.3, learners must list at least three roles within the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector. This may include separate categories of technician.

Suitable written evidence within each learner’s portfolio will include successful descriptive evidence (for example essays, reports, detailed bullet point lists) and evidence of the successful completion of tests (for example oral questioning reports, multiple-choice tests). Supporting written authentication documents completed by the tutor/assessor and records of tutor observation/oral questioning should also be included.

Further guidance on the use of observation records and witness statements is available on the Edexcel website.

Essential resources

This is primarily a theory-based unit and it is therefore expected that centres will have suitable classroom facilities with appropriate resources (for example computers with internet access, textbooks, whiteboards) to deliver this unit effectively.

For those elements of the unit that would benefit from practical demonstration and assessment in a workshop, it is expected that centres will have access to a motor vehicle workshop equipped with appropriate vehicles, tools and equipment (including PPE). Centres should ensure that workshops have sufficient tools and equipment to support the size of cohort undertaking the unit. In addition, centres will need to have the appropriate documentation systems (for example risk assessments, COSHH assessments) and control measures (for example COSHH storage facilities) in place to ensure good practice.

Indicative resource materials

Textbooks

Hillier, V and Coombes, P — Hillier’s Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle Technology – 6th edition (Nelson Thornes, 2011) ISBN 9781408515181

Stoakes G – Level 1 Principles of Light Vehicle Operations Candidate Handbook (Motor Vehicle Technologies) (Heinemann, 2011) ISBN 9780435048150

Journal

Motor Industry magazine – available to members of the IMI (see www.motor.org.uk)


Websites

www.autocity.org.uk / IMI dedicated careers website
www.autoindustry.co.uk / Joint website of the Department of Trade and Industry and the SMMT – job profiles and careers information for the motorsport and the retail motor industry
www.motor.org.uk / Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)
www.smmt.co.uk / Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)

Other

Stoakes G – Level 1 Principles of Light Vehicle Operations Training Resource Disk (Motor Vehicle Technologies) CD Rom (Heinemann, 2011) ISBN 9780435048303