Abdul Latif Jameel Academy, an arm of the Guest Service Group at Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, has announced the winners of its 26th National Skills Contest, a celebratory competition for those at all levels of the customer service chain. The top performer in each of the 14 categories is now eligible to make the trip to Nagoya, Japan to take part in Toyota Motors' Assembly of International Customer Service in October. "The National Skills Contest provides an excellent opportunity for our employees to increase their knowledge of their fields while setting new standards for after-sales service," said Louai Fathi, Director of ALJ Academy at Abdul Latif Jameel Motors. "It is also serves to emphasize our ‘Guest First' principle, in which all of our after-sales operations are based, first and foremost, in guaranteeing the best possible experience for all of our guests. "Abdul Latif Jameel Academy has been established to provide training courses for all disciplines, including courses to hone the skills of our managerial level staff as well as our technical cadre," said Matthias Wollenberg, Senior Managing Director of Guest Service Group at Abdul Latif Jameel Motors. He pointed out that the Academy's goals are strongly aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. "Abdul Latif Jameel Academy is more than just an internal training institute. The skills and expertise it provides qualify young Saudis to forge meaningful careers, furthering the goals of Saudization while strengthening the overall role of the private sector in the Saudi economy." The National Skills Contest kicked off in March with the registration of some 1,300 Abdul Latif Jameel Motors employees from all ranks of the customer service process in Saudi Arabia. The only two requirements for participation were that entrants have, at least, one year under their belts at Abdul Latif Jameel and that they be certified in their respective categories. The 1,300 participants were winnowed down to 14 national winners through three levels of testing, from the initial online test to regional theoretical and practical tests to the National Skills Test. The top finishers in each of the 14 categories are now preparing to travel to Nagoya where they will take part in Toyota Motors' International Champions Assembly in October. "The automotive market in Saudi Arabia is characterized by intense competition, which is why Abdul Latif Jameel Motors engages in continuous efforts to bolster its after-sales presence, hence human cadre is increasingly becoming a vital asset. More than six million employee working hours annually are dedicated to ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of this sector and operates based on knowledge and thorough learning," Wollenberg added. "Skills contest is an important program for human development," said Motoyuki Yanai, General Manager of Toyota Motor Cooperation Jeddah Liaison Office. It is a worthwhile experience for contestants to share and examine the experience they had through their career with Abdul Latif Jameel. The Abdul Latif Jameel Motors Skills Contest debuted 25 years ago as part of Toyota Motors' program to honor the efforts of its customer service workers worldwide and to boost their motivation. It began with just one category of competition, General Job Technicians, and has expanded to include 14 categories ranging from Sales Executive to Customer Relations and General Repairs. More than half a century ago, Abdul Latif Jameel joined forces with Toyota Motors to fuel what has become the leading automotive company in Saudi Arabia. In 1978, Abdul Latif Jameel Academy was established as a training institute to ensure that all of the company's employees are up-to-date with the most recent innovations and practices of Toyota Motors. Abdul Latif Jameel Academy has already trained more than 4,000 ambitious young Saudis to work at the company centers. The ultimate goal is the success of the company's customer-centric Guest-First policy.
