ALL MATERIAL © Punters Publishing Ltd 2008

Back to MOT Testing Magazine Front Page

Computerisation update… It’s six months now since the onset of computerisation – so we re-visited Alex Fiddes, VOSA’s Head of Computerisation to see how things are going. Progress so far… Six months on the numbers are impressive. By early October 8,450 garage were ‘live’ on the system, with over 3.5 Million Tests completed. Of these, 2.6M+ were passes. Undoubtedly VOSA now have a huge amount of statistical information from the computer. Timing and Tester Registration A negative aspect of computerisation bugging a number of VTSs is the need for Testers to register vehicle details before commencing the Test. This is especially onerous to those VTSs dealing with higher volumes of vehicles. Despite a promise in April that dispensation from this would apply (with VOSA permission), for high volume Testing Stations, VOSA have reneged on that undertaking. Nevertheless, we’ll be paid for the extra time taken – but not until after next August (see also our lead story). Training VOSA’s MORI poll shows that by 6 different criteria of training satisfaction, there was over 90% satisfaction ratings. This contrasts sharply with our findings that over half, 55%, rated training between 1 and 2 on a 1 – 10 scale with just 19% (1 in 5) rating over 6! It also doesn’t square with 46% of our respondents having training problems. It is difficult to understand the reasons for this clear discrepancy although it has been suggested that perhaps VOSA respondents had not long completed their training – perhaps 2 weeks at most – and had yet to experience ‘live’ problems which exposed training deficiencies. Printers As a result of a suggestion we at MOT Testing made to VOSA’s Garry York in the Spring, VOSA have agreed to allow VTSs to use alternative documentation (probably handwritten), if the printer fails, avoiding cumbersome ‘fallback’ Testing. This will take effect sometime after roll-out completion next March. A call will need to be made to Siemens, but just to get a reference number. Handheld devices If ultimately made available this will be a very beneficial upgrade for Testing Stations. VOSA are working with Siemens on this and by the end of roll-out it is expected that the appropriate interface will have been developed. But don’t hold your breath! VOSA also says it “will be trialled in garages before a decision is made” Culture clash… VOSA staff are working to resolve the many outstanding computerisation problems, but there is a culture clash here. For VOSA a successful MOT computerisation is a working system operating to their service standard. For Testing Stations it is a system enabling quicker and more efficient Testing without putting their hands into their pockets to fund it. As ever, VOSA are getting what they want and we, the MOT Trade, are paying a price for it. Partial re-Test proposals revised Readers may recall that VOSA have made proposals to the trade allowing partial re-Testing in the future. In the light of comments from the trade and other interested parties, VOSA have now re-visited and revised these proposals. VOSA’s John Stephenson explains… Full story and pictures in MOT Testing Magazine 47, November 05.

Back to MOT Testing Magazine Front Page

---

Editorial
MOTT&AE Magazine, PO Box 6118 Oakham LE15 6BR

E-mail: editor@motester.co.uk

---

Subscriptions
MOTT&AE Magazine, PO Box 6118 Oakham LE15 6BR
E-mail: subs@motester.co.uk