Practical Technical Training and Quality Checks for Nationwide Installation Contractors

「全国22カ所のトレーニングセンターでおこなっている、トレーニングスクール、検定会への参加者が多く、9月は、昨年に比べ、研修参加者が20％増となりました。」

「However, to maintain the high performance of KeePer's chemical products and the quality of application techniques at stores, KeePer has established 20 training centers nationwide, where approximately 80 instructors work.」

「Applying the new flagship product TREX KeePer is extremely difficult and requires optimal control of room temperature and humidity throughout the application process. In a dedicated TREX KeePer bay where all these conditions are in place, carefully selected technicians with outstanding skills, known as TREX Meisters, spend an entire day applying the product to each vehicle with the utmost care, time and effort. This had made it somewhat time-consuming to increase the number of application stores, but preparations for dedicated TREX KeePer bays and TREX Meisters are finally beginning to come together, and we will work to expand the number of application stores.」

「The KeePer Technical Contest, held to improve the technical skills of KeePer coating applicators, will hold its Prefectural Championship Finals in September and its All-Japan Championship Finals in October.」

「The eighth 2023 KeePer Technical Contest began on 7 April to improve the technical skills of KeePer applicators nationwide. The event is expected to attract a record number of competitors, and KeePer technicians nationwide, who strongly feel the growth in demand for and expectations surrounding KeePer, will engage in intense competition.」

「Second, the All-Japan Championship Finals, the culmination of the seventh 2022 KeePer Technical Contest, were held on 13 and 14 October 2022. As the event determined the champion from among 3,300 participants, it attracted considerable attention from KeePer Pro Shops nationwide, and Yuko Ando (安藤祐子) won the All-Japan Championship for the second time. The KeePer Technical Contest had not been held for 3 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but its strong reception enabled it to make a full comeback as a regular event for KeePer Pro Shops.」

「In September, the Prefectural Championship Finals of the seventh 2022 KeePer Technical Contest, being held for the first time in 3 years and generating considerable excitement, took place. Every match was a close and intense contest, producing 48 prefectural champions.」

「The seventh 2022 KeePer Technical Contest, which began on 31 May and is currently under way, is being held for the first time in 3 years. More than 3,300 technicians nationwide have entered, and the contest is generating considerable excitement.」

「Saitama Prefecture　　Urawa-Misono Store: 8 additional bays Saitama Training Center opened (completed in October)」

「Demand for EX KeePer is also steadily increasing at KeePer Pro Shops. As customers choose stores with well-equipped application environments, more stores are installing coating bays or remodeling their pits to create them. We have also established an “EX KeePer Authorized Store” system that allows stores without a dedicated bay to accept EX KeePer orders and perform maintenance. Activities to expand EX KeePer have begun in anticipation of further growth in demand.」

「Demand for EX KeePer has therefore also increased, and the number of stores that obtained the EX KeePer Level 1 qualification and became EX KeePer authorized application stores reached 1,587 as of the end of June 2021.」

「Demand for EX KeePer is also growing at KeePer Pro Shops, and the number of stores that have acquired EX KeePer application skills and become EX KeePer Pro Shops has reached 1,472.」

「Rather than continuing the previous system of converting the number of KeePer product applications into points and competing on that basis, we changed the format to one in which stores compete on customer satisfaction with their KeePer applications. This shifted the focus to quality, with each vehicle treated carefully, and led to a substantial improvement in customer satisfaction.」

「In addition to our regular technical training, which attracts more than 50,000 trainees in total each year, our practical and effective training programs, including improvement sessions conducted by our instructors at KeePer application stores after participants have completed training at our training centers and gained a certain level of experience, have received high praise.」

「The KeePer Technical Contest, held annually at this time of year, was canceled in consideration of the spread of COVID-19 and with the health and safety of the competitors given top priority. From February through April, KeePer instructors had previously devoted most of their efforts to running the technical contest. This year, they used that time to visit every KeePer Pro Shop nationwide, with all sales staff conducting activities at KeePer Pro Shops under the name “EX Caravan” to introduce the newly launched EX KeePer. As a result, participation in the EX KeePer School, which teaches EX KeePer application techniques, progressed, and the number of EX KeePer Pro Shops authorized to offer EX KeePer reached 225. The number of stores wishing to participate is also increasing, and the expansion of EX KeePer Pro Shops is expected to accelerate further.」

「Approximately 3,800 stores participated in the Winter KeePer Championship held in December 2019 and competed on the number of applications. In this championship, 769 stores exceeded 1 million points, equivalent to approximately ¥1.5 million in sales, and performance continued to improve steadily.」

「Against this backdrop, we held the Summer KeePer Championship for KeePer Pro Shops nationwide in August. Approximately 3,500 stores nationwide participated and competed on the number of applications. 株式会社ENEOSウイング, a company directly affiliated with JXTG Energy that had dominated the upper rankings since the previous year, further improved its technical and sales negotiation capabilities, achieving an overwhelming result with 80 stores ranking among the national top 100 in sales points.」

「Approximately 3,500 stores participated in the Winter KeePer Championship held in December 2018 and competed on the number of applications. In this championship, 791 stores exceeded 1 million points, equivalent to approximately ¥1.5 million in coating revenue, setting a record high for points earned.」

「Against this backdrop, we held the sixth KeePer Technical Contest to improve technical skills, with more than 3,200 KeePer technicians from across Japan competing in a total of 111 preliminary and prefectural championship events. In addition to the Crystal KeePer competition, the prefectural championship finals also included a Diamond KeePer competition, which helped improve application techniques for the higher-priced Diamond KeePer product. This in turn led to increased sales of Diamond KeePer products at KeePer Pro Shops.」

「In the Winter KeePer Championship held in December 2018, the number of high-scoring stores exceeding 1 million points, equivalent to approximately ¥1.5 million in coating revenue, increased markedly to 791.」

「In the KeePer products and related businesses, we held the Summer KeePer Championship for KeePer Pro Shops nationwide in August 2018. Approximately 3,500 stores nationwide participated and competed on the number of applications. A highlight of this championship was the remarkable performance of 株式会社ENEOSウイング, a major company directly affiliated with JXTG Energy, which took on the challenge company-wide under the slogan “Technology first.” No fewer than 60 of its stores ranked among the national top 100 in sales points, raising the average points earned by the national top 100 to 150% of the previous year's level and making a significant contribution.」

「Under this policy, we conducted a range of activities, including the KeePer Technical Contest held from February through April, in which more than 3,000 KeePer technicians from across Japan competed, product-quality checks through visits to all KeePer Pro Shops in August and December, and improvement sessions held throughout the year to enhance technical skills.」

「In the Winter KeePer Championship held in December 2017, the number of high-scoring stores exceeding 1 million points, equivalent to approximately ¥1.5 million in coating revenue, rose markedly to 783, although」

「The KeePer Championship for KeePer Pro Shops nationwide was held in August 2017. Approximately 3,000 stores participated, and 283 stores exceeded 1,000,000P, a key benchmark for success, achieving a certain level of success.」

「Against this backdrop, we held the fourth KeePer Technical Contest to improve technical skills. More than 3,000 KeePer technicians from across Japan competed in total. The number of events nearly doubled from approximately 60 preliminary and regional championship events last year to a total of 115 preliminary and prefectural championship events this year. A young female competitor from Hokkaido became the national champion, attracting attention nationwide.」

「Under this policy, in the KeePer products and related businesses during the quarter, we conducted improvement sessions to enhance technical skills ahead of December, the peak season for car washing and coating throughout the year, as well as technician-presence checks and quality inspections through visits to all KeePer Pro Shops. We also continued active initiatives to maintain and improve the technical standards of KeePer coatings nationwide, including the December KeePer Championship for KeePer Pro Shops nationwide.」

「To maintain and improve the technical standards of KeePer coatings, we conducted activities including on-site improvement sessions at KeePer Pro Shops and KeePer application stores, verification that technicians holding the Level 1 coating qualification were employed, and the KeePer Pro Shop all-store visits, which included inspections and checks of application environments. We also held the KeePer Championship in August 2016, with more than 3,200 stores participating, approximately 60% of the 5,070 KeePer Pro Shops nationwide.」

「To this end, our principal activities for KeePer Pro Shops and other KeePer applicators include the “KeePer Championship,” which has continued for 6 years, the third “KeePer Technical Contest” held this year, and the “Improvement Sessions,” which have been implemented particularly intensively this year.」