IAAF PLEASED THAT KITEMARK COMES OUT ON TOP IN RECENT AFTERMARKET POLL

Dear Editor, Please find below and attached, information regarding the latest press release from IAAF, which highlights that the IAAF has welcomed the recent aftermarket poll which demonstrates that BSI's Kitemark for Garage Services scheme (PAS 80) has had a huge seal of approval and support from the aftermarket industry.

The IAAF-G, which is the independent garage section of the IAAF is continuing to make sure that its current and future garage members get the best possible service and support from the Federation. With this in mind they are delighted to know that Kitemark has come out on top in a recent online poll. Viewers were asked – “Should the Kitemark for Garages Services be adopted as a national standard?” A massive 77% had expressed their support, as they see it as the most robust standard available to the aftermarket. Mike Owen, head of the IAAF-G section said: “The automotive aftermarket continues to fail in its obligations to the general public and it’s something that I feel deeply disappointed about and the Kitemark scheme for garages is a huge opportunity for the garages to take on board and help improve themselves in so many ways. “Recent unsubstantiated reports in ‘Which?’ magazine, accuse the industry, yet again, of failing to deliver a standard derived product that fulfils vehicle manufacturers suggested minimum requirements, common sense safety needs or duty of care obligations. This sad indictment of the industries performance, if true, means that the small sample used in the report, has hardly improved since the same period three years ago. In light of this latest revelation one must ask oneself is the industry trying to fail or failing to try? Is the problem intent or lack of process?” The IAAF considers that in the vast majority of cases it is the later and therefore places its entirety behind the development of appropriate process development. Quintin Cornforth, head of the IAAF-L (lobbying) section added: “Various bodies are now vying for position in the published rankings, missing the point completely that even the good are bad! Quite simply the sore has now festered long enough and the time is right for a proper system to be developed and enshrined as the foundation upon which the industry must base itself. As the IAAF see it, there is currently only one real cross-party scheme available – that of PAS 80 from the respected BSI.” Why then has the current PAS 80 failed to grasp the industry’s attention? Five years ago PAS 80 was a child of its time, developed to answer the threat of a super-complaint being levied against the industry by the then NCC for exactly the same reasons as this latest accusation from Which? magazine. Those companies which developed PAS 80 positioned the product as a ‘customer satisfaction’ CRM product, missing in the IAAF’s view, completely the requirements for technical ability, equipment, process and materials, all of which are required to underwrite the intention of the programme. Successful examples of how these work can be seen in the later Kitemark Vehicle Body Repair scheme from BSI, which IAAF believes is the beacon of the accident repair industry and PAS125 the recognised ‘standard’. PAS 80 is now five years old and due for review. In discussion with BSI, IAAF has established the new parameters it feels appropriate for this review and is confident that provided some key areas are addressed, a satisfactory outcome can be expected and a hugely greater uptake from the industry can be achieved, which the IAAF believes can only be the best possible news for the aftermarket. Mike commented: “The review of PAS 80 has to tread a fine line, it must deliver service and repair to the general public without adding levels of cost that price the compliant supplier out of contention, yet it must finally deliver consistent and auditable standards that deal with the accusations currently levied at the industry. “The Kitemark scheme must dip right inside the garage business and deliver logical efficiencies that outweigh the costs and the IAAF and its bank of knowledge is uniquely placed to assist in the reformulation of the PAS 80 standard.” Quintin summarised by saying: “the Kitemark for Garage Services must be the bedrock certification scheme, and PAS80 the minimum standard, easily attainable by competent businesses and expected by the general public and consumer bodies alike suggesting a caveat-emptor attitude to those who venture outside for service and repair; this is the situation with BOVAG in Holland. “This task is not to be undertaken lightly and if PAS 80 is to be the one industry standard, then best it be the standard for the industry; all of the industry. Those in it, those who use it and those who comment on it! “IAAF does not wish to read in three years another condemnation of their industry. To this end, together with BSI, they are prepared to lead the review of PAS 80 and champion this revised standard to the industry.”