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NSF Response To CAPA Open Letter

NSF attempts to clarify their history, mission and position in automotive part certification.

ANN ARBOR, MI--August 4, 2010

Mr. Charlie Hogarty, Chairman
Board of Directors
Auto Body Parts Association

Ms. Dolores Richardson, President
Board of Directors
Auto Body Parts Association

Dear Ms. Richardson and Mr. Hogarty,

I read the letter sent to ABPA on July 28th by Mr. Jack Gillis of CAPA and feel it is important to clarify NSF International’s long history in the world of certification, its mission, and its position in the automotive market. Mr. Gillis appears to be unaware of NSF’s position in these areas and CAPA has certainly misrepresented NSF to ABPA, the body shops, distributors and insurers.

NSF has a history that dates to 1944 with the development of the first food equipment standards as well as the world’s first food equipment certification program.  Today, this NSF program continues to be recognized as the standard by which every country in the world measures their programs, and it is recognized by every major food equipment manufacturer, restaurant and health official in the US.  This first has been followed by many more firsts in a wide arena of markets with high risks and serious concerns for human health and safety, including: pools, plumbing products, pharmaceuticals, water treatment, and automotive structural parts. NSF’s mission is to protect public health and safety, and NSF has been and will continue to be a leader in the development of standards and product and system certification programs that fulfill that mission.

In February of this year, NSF announced the first certification program for front steel bumpers, rear step bumpers, reinforcement bars, absorbers and brackets.  This was an industry first, developed to meet the needs of a market that is being seriously harmed by low quality, low performing and potentially unsafe parts.  This work came at the request of and in conjunction with concerned members of the automotive aftermarket industry.  Just last week, the first automotive parts were certified under this program with many more expected to follow.  For the first time, body shops, distributors and insurers will have safe alternatives to original equipment (OE) service parts that are clearly identified with the NSF mark.

With the almost daily reports of continued problems with low quality parts in the automotive aftermarket, the need for a new approach to a growing problem is evident.  Looking at NSF’s success at developing world-class standards coupled with cost-effective certification programs for other markets and their almost universal acceptance, NSF brings unparalleled expertise to the automotive aftermarket parts market.  The development of an NSF automotive parts certification program based on the offering of alternative, quality replacement parts that are of like kind and quality to OE service parts promises consumers, body shops and distributors high quality, safe parts that are clearly identified with the NSF mark.

NSF’s certification criteria require the highest level of performance in terms of form, fit and function, as well as the production facility’s quality systems.  Specific requirements include:

  • On-site inspection and approval of the manufacturing facilities’ production and quality system.
  • In-plant part quality assurance requirements.
  • Rigorous part testing to ensure the highest levels of performance.
  • Comparison to OE service parts across dimensional and material attributes.
  • Ongoing monitoring of certified parts.
  • Random, in-market part testing.
  • An ongoing process for monitoring and taking action regarding customer complaints.
  • A traceability requirement that allows for an effective recall process.

NSF International has over 65-years of experience in certification, testing and inspection and extensive expertise in automotive, providing the confidence in which the collision repair industry can rely.  NSF’s standards development process is ANSI accredited and NSF’s testing laboratories are ISO 17025 accredited.  NSF is the third largest registrar of automotive manufacturers in the world (4,100 + certificates) and one of the first registrars to be recognized by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) to conduct audits to ISO/TS 16949.  As a world leader in quality and environmental management systems registrations, NSF has certified automotive auditors across the globe.

The NSF Mark is recognized for its value in international trade around the world and is respected by regulatory agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.  NSF has approximately 900 employees, operates in over 120 countries, and certifies more than 275,000 products worldwide.

If you have any questions about NSF’s certification program, please contact me.  Additional information also is available at www.nsfautomotive.com.

Sincerely,

Robert W. Frayer Jr., PE

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