I'm old school and not a "fitter", so can't stand the way things are done now.
I don't regret getting out, as I had my fill of managers telling me a job should take X amount of time, knowing full well that said manager wouldn't know which end of the car the engine was located in!
It's been 15 years since getting out, and don't regret it one bit.
I used to run a hgv workshop about 20 yrs ago, and noticed timewise that was when it started to go wrong.
Truck clutch servo, basically hydraulic siglnal line controlling air supply to acttuate the clutch, new servo 300 quid, rebuild kit 30 quid, actually finding someone who could repair/refit and it lasted more than a day or two was nigh on impossible, so mad as it sounded at the time, it was cheaper to fit a new part at ten times the cost, as 1 failure/recovery wiped out any potential repair savings.
So we are now sadly all fitters, very little repair knowledge needed, just bolt on new and hope for the best.
The amount of money we spend on parts is utter scary.
The issue is the same as always, if they paid serious money they could get serious mechanics, and being serious mechanics they would know they were onto a good screw and get on with it.but all they want is lowest cost, and we all know cheapest is not the best long term.
I have always said pay serious money, get serious guys, who know if they mess up/screw around there are ten more guys after their job, then things would really shift.
Lots of mechs/fitters these days who cannot weld/use oxy acetylene/fabricate.