Driven by his passion for cars

If you asked André Hylton what excites him most about automotives, his response would be, "Finding a solution to a challenge that sometimes seem impossible." Finding solutions is a passion that he has had since childhood; and he would add special features to toy cars and trucks built from juice boxes or from wood to make them seem more real.

More than 30 years later, Hylton, who now ope-rates his own auto parts and motor vehicle-repair company, the St Andrew-based André's Auto Supplies, has not lost his love for the discipline.

"Auto repairing is quite complex, requiring a solution-oriented thinker to do an efficient job," Hylton explains. "It keeps you on your toes." And, given the wide range of motor vehicles in Jamaica, very high level skills are required to repair them, he says.

Solutions needed

"Auto repairing requires solutions ... from diagnosing to executing the repairs, because in this industry, whatever can go wrong will go wrong, as every day there is a challenge."

It is against this background Hylton has conti-nually sought to employ only the most skilled technicians who can offer high standards of service, Hylton says. The 17-year-old company employs six trained technicians and three apprentices, as well as three consultants.

Recently, the company took its commitment to quality a step further and became a Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA) Approved Auto Repairer. The programme, launched by the JAA late last month, aims to improve the standards of service offered by garage operators across the island; and, assist them in establishing best practices in their business operations and administration.

"We recognise that quality service is a must, if we are to survive in this industry," Hylton says. "Therefore, we thought it best to partner with the JAA, which shares our vision to offer motorists the best service possible."