Putting Skills to the Test
- Charlie Parks
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
C.N. Wood road technician Olon Flannery represents the company at Komatsu’s Advanced Technician Competition
Olon Flannery has spent nearly 14 years helping C.N. Wood Co. Inc. customers keep their Komatsu equipment running. As a road technician out of the Woburn, Mass., branch, his experience and product knowledge help him troubleshoot equipment across the company’s Northeast territory.
“I started out in the shop for about a year, then transferred to the road,” shared Flannery. “I’ve been there ever since.”
Chance to compete
Recently, Flannery’s experience helped him earn a spot at Komatsu’s Advanced Technician Competition (ATC) in Cartersville, Ga., where top technicians from across the country tested their diagnostic skills on real-world machine issues.
“The competition let me put my training to the test and represent C.N. Wood among some of the top technicians in America,” said Flannery. “It’s just neat to see all these talented guys out here, and we’re all coming together to compete against each other. Having an opportunity for this is great.”
To prepare for the competition, Flannery spent extra time working on the equipment, making sure his training was up to date and reviewing service manuals. He also leaned on experienced technicians at the branch, including Timmy Clifford and Joe Deasy, who have competed in similar events in the past and could help him understand what to expect.
“They told me all about the competitions they’ve been in,” Flannery recalled. “I think it’s more mentally preparing than anything else. Looking through the service manuals and going over everything helps, but you also have to be ready for the pressure.”
Unlike a typical field call, where Flannery could work through a problem methodically, ATC put competitors on the clock to diagnose machines that had been intentionally set up with specific faults.
“The most challenging part is it’s nerve-wracking,” Flannery commented. “They bug the machines, and they know the exact problems. It makes you almost question your confidence on the answers you’re giving them, which kind of plays mind games with you.”
Keeping up with technology
One of the biggest technical challenges was the new Komatsu PC220LCi-12 intelligent machine control (IMC) 3.0 excavator.
“That new PC220LCi-12 is a completely different machine than we’ve ever seen,” Flannery explained. “Everything on it is different, from the pumps, valves, electrical system with all the controllers, and the screen and the way we plug into it with SDT — we’ve never had that before. We’re still learning everything about it.”
For Flannery, staying current is part of the job. With equipment technology continuously changing and improving, ongoing training is essential to serving customers effectively in the field.
“Sometimes, it feels like I’m constantly training and learning the new stuff coming out,” Flannery reflected. “Everything’s always changing. You have to stay on top of it just so you’re able to fix it.”
Even with the nerves and pressure that come with ATC, Flannery kept his advice simple for future participants: “Just relax.”
🎥 Watch as Olon shares his experience competing at Komatsu ATC and what it takes to stay at the forefront of today's rapidly evolving construction equipment technology.
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