Open to opportunities

Kyle Van straaten

@kylevanstraaten

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Workshop manager and automotive technician focused on BMW-quality repairs and customer satisfaction.

South Africa

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking to lead a BMW-grade workshop focused on quality, safe repairs, and a premium customer experience—driving productivity, technician development, and warranty/spec compliance while resolving technical escalations and improving dealership performance.

I’m a Workshop Manager and qualified Automotive Technician (Red Seal) with a strong background in vehicle repair, quality control, and premium customer service. I oversee daily repair and maintenance activities to ensure work meets BMW quality and manufacturer standards, while managing workflow, job allocation, turnaround times, and workshop productivity.

With experience progressing from Quality Controller / Vehicle Inspector to Foreman and now Workshop Manager at BMW, I lead technicians and service staff, resolve technical escalations, and enforce safety, cleanliness, and audit readiness. I combine hands-on diagnostic work (including BMW ITSA) with leadership—handling customer escalations, maintaining warranty and specification compliance, and supporting profitability through budget, labour sales, parts usage, and reporting.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Workshop Manager

Current

BMW Sandton

Sep 2025 - Present (11 months)

Oversees daily vehicle repair and maintenance activities, ensuring work meets BMW quality and manufacturer standards. Manages workflow, technicians and service processes to maintain customer satisfaction and dealership audit readiness.

Workflow Management Shift Scheduling Training and coaching BMW Quality Standards Compliance Warranty Compliance Customer Complaint Resolution Customer Satisfaction Service Timeline Cost Approval Communication Workshop Profitability Tracking Diagnostic Systems Oversight Audit Readiness

Foreman

BMW Sandton

Jun 2024 - Aug 2025 (1 year 2 months)

Manages workshop work-in-progress and escalated technical issues to maintain workshop performance and profitability. Leads staff training and supports service operations through booking, parts control and vehicle evaluations.

Workshop Housekeeping Staff Attraction Retention Appraisal Development PUMA Champion Support Vehicle Evaluation Test Driving Serviced Vehicles Job Card Compliance Checks Re Booking Vehicles When Issues Found Timeous and Accurate Parts Collection Pre Service Repair Information Collection Service Repair Booking Arrangement Allocating Service Repair Hours For Sale

Quality Controller

BMW Sandton

Apr 2023 - May 2024 (1 year 1 month)

Carries out pre-diagnosis and daily quality control testing to ensure customer complaints are correctly identified and work performed meets BMW guidelines. Monitors return work, identifies trends, and reports equipment failures for immediate repair.

BMW Quality Control Testing Return Work Monitoring Workshop Equipment and Cleanliness Standards

Customer Care Team Leader

WeBuyCars

Nov 2022 - Mar 2023 (4 months)

Provided customer support and led departmental systems, handling escalations, complaints, and resolutions. Supported returns/refunds processing and coached agents to improve service performance.

Customer Care Support Departmental Processes Exchanges Returns Refunds Facilitation Customer Escalation Diverse Customer Assistance Complaint Resolution Support Agent Leadership and Guidance For Agents

Senior Foreman / Workshop Specialist

Bmw Zambezi Auto Legacy Group

Dec 2021 - Aug 2022 (8 months)

Controlled workshop work-in-progress and managed profitable workshop performance against budget while overseeing technical escalations. Supported customer communication, test-driving, parts sourcing, and ensured workshop equipment and housekeeping met quality requirements.

Workshop Profitability and Budget Management Technical Escalation Risk Management Workshop Housekeeping Departmental Meetings Participation PUMA Champion Support Test Driving Serviced Vehicles Job Card Compliance Checks Re Booking Vehicles When Issues Found Timeous Parts Collection Pre Service Repair Booking Information Collection Service Repair Booking Arrangement Allocating Service Repair Hours For Sale

Quality Controller / Vehicle Inspector

Bmw Zambezi Auto Legacy Group

Jul 2018 - Dec 2021 (3 years 5 months)

Performed pre-diagnosis steps and daily quality control testing to confirm vehicle repair work met BMW guidelines. Monitored return work to identify trends and reported equipment failures while maintaining workshop standards.

Reporting Highly Technical Faults Daily Quality Control Testing (BMW Guidelines)Return Work Monitoring Workshop Equipment Maintenance and Cleanliness