Two Australian UD Truck technician teams headed to the global fines for the Gemba Challenge and performed admirably
Following an intense final round of the 2022 Gemba Challenge on the world stage, the Australian UD Trucks team, Night Riders, was awarded second place
The Gemba Challenge is an annual UD Trucks global technician competition to test and challenge UD staff and to recognise and celebrate their talent – and last month, the Gemba Challenge final took place in the home of UD Trucks, Ageo, Japan.
For UD customers, it reflects the hard work undertaken by UD Trucks frontline staff, whose passion drives them to go the extra mile to deliver dependable ownership experiences and fulfill the brand promise on which UD Trucks is built.
Australia’s two finalist teams, the Night Riders (VCV Brisbane North) and the CLASSICS (VCV Sydney Prestons), battled through six workshop and theory-based challenges for a top spot in the competition.
Night Riders finished second behind the Japan UD team.
This result comes after two rounds of competition on Australian turf, that originally brought together 46 teams across the country, comprising of 164 frontline UD dealership and workshop staff.
The Night Riders, who were a wildcard qualifier for final round, displayed impressive teamwork, skill and passion throughout the competition.
Coining their team name from working the night shift at VCV Brisbane North, the Night Riders have provided strong levels of support to VCV, servicing customers night in and night out and have been recognised for their consistent performance all year round.
When reflecting on the Night Riders’ Gemba Challenge experience, VCV Brisbane North Dealer Manager Craig Costello says that the initial rounds of the competition were challenging as expected and that the opportunity to compete in the final in Japan initially came as a shock to the team but was extremely well received. The team also had several discussions and group activities during the Gemba Challenge to build team strength and cohesion.
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“In these sessions we further got to recognise the team’s individual skills and got to know each other personally, which I feel was essential to the results in the final round of the competition,” Costello says.
“The team regards the Gemba Challenge as a professional display of their talent and skills they use in their roles on a daily basis and given the opportunity to show examples of this was rewarding and memorable. Particularly in being recognised by UD Japan, Gemba officials, global market leaders and fellow Gemba Challenge contenders.”
The Night Riders had a particularly unique team makeup, from a third-year apprentice to a tradesman with 30 years-experience. It was also the team’s first time participating in the Gemba Challenge, making their second-place result even more impressive.
The CLASSICS were also strong contenders throughout the competition and managed to maintain a solid performance throughout.
“The teamwork, dedication and skill we’ve seen from our Australian teams in the Gemba Challenge final is a testament to their Gemba Spirit and the passion that drives them to go the extra mile for our customers,” says Richard Singer, Vice President Services and Retail Development for Volvo Group Australia.
“Getting as far as the finals is an achievement in itself, but to have of our teams there and our Night Riders place second on the global stage behind team Japan is an incredible result. We are exceptionally proud of both our finalist teams, as well as all our Australian teams that have competed in the Gemba Challenge this year. Having our dealerships backed by such capable and professional staff is key to our customer success.
“I congratulate all the teams that have participated in this year’s competition and look forward to seeing our teams back in action in 2024 for the next Gemba Challenge.”