July 20, 2011 — NSF International on Wednesday announced the launch of a new program to certify distributors who sell automotive aftermarket collision parts.
The Automotive Aftermarket Collision Parts Distributor Program is meant to close the gap between parts manufacturers and shops, NSF said in a press release_notes about the program, which was introduced at the Collision Industry Conference annual meeting in Salt Lake City. The Automotive Body Parts Association worked closely with NSF to develop the program to meet supply chain requirements including parts traceability.
NSF said the program meets the needs of shops, insurers and consumers. It requires distributors to have quality management systems in place that address traceability, service and quality issues of both certified and non-certified parts.
“For many years the collision industry has asked for an effective system to track and recall, if necessary, any defective safety parts,” said ABPA Board Chairman Dan Morrissey. “The new NSF Distributor Certification Program accomplishes that goal. The NSF program provides collision repairers and their customers’ peace of mind that certified distributors are focused on delivering quality parts and service.”
NSF-certified distributors must have the following:
• An ISO 9001 certified quality management system;
• A part traceability and inventory tracking system;
• A defective parts procedure including a customer part complaint process;
• The ability to administer a manufacturer’s recall.
Certified distributors will be able to use the NSF Certified Distributor Mark on their websites and promotional materials and be listed in NSF’s online certification listings. All certified distributors will undergo quality systems inspections to maintain certification.
“The NSF Automotive Aftermarket Collision Parts Distributor Certification Program certifies a distributor’s ability to meet rigid performance standards and was developed in support of NSF’s mission to create programs that help protect and improve public health and safety,” said Bob Frayer, director of NSF International’s aftermarket certification programs and the NSF Engineering Laboratories.
For more information on the new certification program or NSF, go to nsfautomotive.com.
