ESSENTIAL SKILLS DOCUMENT USE
GUIDELINES
Automotive Service Technician
NOC 7321Page 134Automotive Service Technician
NOC 7321 Contextualized - Curriculum resources that provide Essential Skills
applications in the context of a specific trade or occupation. Technical – Trade-training materials from which Essential Skills are
extracted. For the purpose of the Trade Essentials project, Individual
Learning Modules from Alberta Advanced Education were used as the
primary technical resource.Note: Though only some modules are outlined as resources for specific objectives,
all Individual Learning Modules can be used for the instruction of Essential
Ski lls.
The list of resources has been designed to act only as a guide and, therefore, may
need to be adapted to meet the needs of individuals or groups. It is the role of you,
the instructor, to choose materials and deliver its content as it best suits individual
learner needs. A variety of materials are listed under each set of competencies for
this purpose.
Document Use in the Automotive Service Technology Trade
Automotive Service Technicians use documents on a daily basis to complete job
tasks. The complexity of these tasks, according to Human Resources and Skills
Development Canada’s Essential Skills Profile (http://srv108.services.gc.ca/),
ranges from very simple, brief text combined with uncomplicated structure (i.e.,
observe the handling, safety and hazard symbols on parts to be installed, moving
parts, and hazardous materials) to complex documents with multiple pieces of
information organized into sections with sub-parts (i.e., take information from
diagnostic graphs on analysis scanners).
Automotive Service Technicians rely heavily on information presented in graphic
form as they must interpret workplace signage, diagrams in technical manuals and
specifications from charts to make correct choices for parts and labor. They scan
labels on parts for numbers to confirm the correct match; scan work orders for
information documented about vehicle problems; interpret electronic circuits, flow
control systems and schematics for fluid and air flow; obtain information from a
variety of meters and gauges; and refer to diagrams when assembling or
dissembling vehicle parts.
As part of their workday, Automotive Service Technicians enter information into a
variety of forms which include details about vehicle problems, job estimates,
warranty forms, motor vehicle inspection checklists, and accident and insurance
forms. They may be required to enter information into an electronic billing system
or database to document details of time, parts, labour and vehicle performance.
Just as it is important to interpret information from trades documents, it is
important to create documents which best portray information common to the
Automotive Service trade. Automotive Service Technicians create sketches and