What denotes a master technician?

[Jules Winfield]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

I think the besttechnicianthatcan be calledMasteris one who knowssomethingbut understand thateachdayyou learn something new,whichalsorepairs andcleanthe machine andnever says thathe knows everythingbecauseofmore experienceyou havethere is always asmallproblemthatwill give you aheadache andyouwill laughwhen you findthat something as simpletestedyour EXPERIENCE!!!!

Wow. Last time I saw something with this many missed periods it turned out to be a hooker with a latex allergy...

[Jules Winfield]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

Oh yeah, the master technician thing, I got distracted. If you have ever been fired from a technician job because you were over-qualified and "made too much money" (if there is such a thing), then you can probably be considered a Master Technician.

[blackcat4866]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

Sorry Shadow. I know this question is about certifications and various levels of education.

I have never really had an opportunity to pursue any of manufacturers education beyond the bare minimum. If I actually get an opportunity to check for firmware updates or clear my email every 6 weeks it's a miracle. I wouldn't mind improving myself ( ... God knows I need it ... ), but right now I'm focusing on more basic things like sleep, regular meals, and staying awake on my commute.

Where do you find any time to pile up these certificates? I must agree with the previous posters that certificates do not necessarily make a great technician, or vice-versa. Certificates can add to an already great tech, but generally don't do much for those that aren't trying too hard. You've been in class with that group? The ones that are out in the bar 'til 2:00 am, and show up still drunk or hung over to class.

There generally isn't anything like a cross-manufacturer standard. Every manufacturer measures academic advancement a little differently.
This reminds me of my time at Ikon: " ... hey, you've seen that model once before. You're trained. (or as close as you'll get)"
=^..^=

[TonerMonkey]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

at Konica Minolta there are 5 levels, master is the highest, being considered to be a reference for expert associate trainee etc. usually a master tech will not only have all the base certs but will be very advanced in a specialty like color production print, or networking/security (ME!) usually a master has been at it 5 or more years and has the full support of his service manager to get every certification offered.

I work at a KM opco and have done two master certifications as you described but would by no means call myself a master of anything.
As the almighty Socrates said : 'The only thing that I know is that I know nothing'


Once you learn this you can begin learning.





Kudos to those who understand this.



There is no smiley for enlightenment unfortunately.

[ZOOTECH]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

Really screwing up can get you demoted.
I guess I should have read the other posts first. haha

[sweet.persona]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

When we have love and peace inside

[JR2ALTA]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

I love this thread.

In my opinion, a master technician is someone who loves small scale engineering.

This is because we're good at the things we enjoy!

Computer guru's spent countless of unpaid hours as youths playing with, learning, and experimenting with computers...not one of those 6 month course they peddle on radio ads.

To sum it up, if you spend your free time paging through a Theory of Operation manual you will become a Master Technician.

What I page through on my free time will remain nameless

[jmaister]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

What would you consider to be the qualifications that denote a "Master Technician" ?
any and all input is welcome.

The one that truly knows nothing. Hold on...thats tooo zen...

Aptitude, attitude and age in the industry makes a good one.

AAA. Hehehehhe



Google has a free patent section now.... Lots to read up.

[Shadow]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

to all of the Technicians that posted here I thank you very much for your input, it is valuable.
I have been in this business for 21+ years now and would consider myself a rookie at times for the things I don't know.
For the things that I do know, it was a hard fought battle in the school of hard knocks.
I myself have spent many an hour past the end of a working day reading some obscure manual and making notes as to how to resolve a client's issues.

to Blackcat4866;

you sir have described exactly how I too have come about my education in this business.

I do not believe that a "Master Technician" can be achieved through training classes or certifications.
The true measure is customer satisfaction with your skills as a technician and the relationship you have with those clients.

to all that have taken the time to reply to my questions with an honest answer, I thank you all and will consider you to be true masters in your own right.

[sdrawkcab]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

ZAZA is a master technician

1. Get frimwar from everyone

2. Get manuals from everyone

3. Get advice from everyone

After getting 1,2,3 argue with everyone.

[fixthecopier]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

If you are a great fisherman, people may call you a "masterbaiter".


You do not want to be an expert...An ex is a has been, and a spurt is a drip under pressure.


To the customer you are an master tech if you show up and make their problems go away.


You can tell a master tech by his or her confidence and ability to solve the problem, and their ability to make the customer feel confident in them.


Blackcat4866 is a real tech, as are numerous others here, and you can tell by their intelligent answers to questions, no matter how few or many certs they have.



How much are your certs worth??? I only have the bare minimum of certs to say I know what I am doing. What the factory requires for me to have to tend my machines in my area. About a year ago one of my good customers told me all their printers were put under contract to a provider somewhere else. I had not fixed any of their printers since. Tuesday, I got a third party service call at one of their locations for a Konica 7135. When I got there the machine was coded for the developer and the customer was pissed. Did I mention the large black stain on the grass outside the front door? Anyway, the customer starts to tell me how it started with a black line. They called, an IT guy shows up, does nothing, leaves. "He didn't even clean anything" the customer yelled. They call again. Another IT guy shows up, orders drum, puts drum in next day, problem is worse. It guy says they sent wrong item and orders drum carriage assembly. Customer says when he pulled up next day, the IT guy is out in front of bldg shaking black stuff out of some part of the machine. He puts machine together and it codes. Customer is telling him he does not know what he is doing. He stands up and starts telling him about all his Microsoft certs, and computer skills. The customer, Mr. Hand, and yes he kind of looked like him, [Fast Times at Ridgemont High], yells at him "I don't care what you have, you still don't know what the hell you are doing". IT guy leaves. Customer calls for third time. A rep from my #1 competitor shows up. He says they do not work on machines 7 or more years old, and starts trying to sell new stuff. He is told to leave. Customer calls for fourth time. I show up. IT guy #2 nicked the new drum he put in, dumped all the developer out, did not put any back in and could not figure out, with a laptop and someone on the other end of his phone why the machine coded. I have drum and developer overnighted, install and calibrate, wipe machine til it looked like new and made the customer happy. In return the customer sent e-mail to service provider and requested that in the future all service calls should go to me, and the service provider agreed.

In the eyes of the customer, I am a master tech. "Deeds" not words on paper.

[CanonSco]

Re: What denotes a master technician?

Some good answers.

Apparently we don't need "Master Technicians" as we got rid of everybody with the most experience recently. I would class myself as the new boy with only 10 years doing this. But perhaps that is not the case any more.

As far as training and certs go, I don't hold much stock in the manufacturer certifications and only hold the bare minimum I require. Some of my colleagues could fill a container with them. Are they more "master" than me?

Model wise, It appears that a CD is all you need these days to be trained. Funnily I'm not even sure they are wrong.


So , I don't know the answer to the question