The partnership includes joint education, marketing and promotional programs for NSF International’s Parts Distribution Certification Program
ANN ARBOR, Mich. and HOUSTON, Texas – NSF International, a global organization with more than 70 years of certification expertise that provides independent certification throughout the automotive supply chain, is partnering with the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) to expand NSF International’s Parts Distributor Certification Program. The partnership will include joint efforts such as education, marketing and promotions around the program which will be highlighted by NSF International’s Global Managing Director of Automotive Certification Programs, Bob Frayer, during the ABPA annual convention April 26-29, 2016 in Miami, Florida.
“ABPA sees certification as critically important in growing the use of aftermarket parts. As the market looks to certification to identify high-quality parts, it also looks to identify high-quality distributors and I believe NSF International’s Distributor Certification Program can be used for that purpose,” said Ed Salamy, Executive Director of the Automotive Body Parts Association, an association committed to providing quality parts for collision repair for 35 years.
Certification to the NSF Automotive Parts Distributor Program requires distributors to have an ISO 9001-certified quality management system as well as the following:
- Effective records management and inventory tracking systems to track orders and parts through the supply chain
- Customer service procedures requiring timely order processing and communications
- Business liability insurance
- A defective parts procedure including a customer part complaint process
- A formal corrective action process for complaints and an immediate recall plan (to use should the situation arise)
Parts distributors that meet these requirements are listed on NSF International’s website. To date, the following automotive parts distributors have earned NSF certification: ABC Parts International, All Star Auto Lights, Capstone International, Carolinas Automobile Supply House, Continental Auto Parts, Empire Auto Parts, GP Automotive Parts, Kapa Auto Body Parts, LKQ Corporation, Lehigh Valley Bumper, Micro Rim Corporation, NAP West, National Autobody Parts Warehouse, Pacific Auto Company, Professional Parts Group, Pro Parts Center and Richmond/Tidewater Bumper.
“Increasing the number of NSF International certified distributors will further support the growth of aftermarket parts and facilitate higher quality repairs at reasonable prices to consumers. NSF International distributor certification confirms that distributors have effective systems in place and meet rigid performance standards that industry stakeholders are looking for in choosing where to buy parts. NSF International is extremely happy to count ABPA as a partner in growing this important program,” said Bob Frayer, Global Managing Director of NSF International’s Automotive Certification Programs. “Additionally, a top-10 U.S. automotive insurer now requires aftermarket automotive parts to be purchased from NSF International certified automotive parts distributors. I expect other insurers to follow as they look to increase their use of aftermarket parts and want the assurances the program provides.”
NSF International’s Automotive Parts Distributor Certification Program was developed with input from collision repair shops, parts distributors and insurers with the help of ABPA and other industry stakeholders. The program complements the NSF International Automotive Parts Certification Program, which certifies automotive parts, such as bumpers, brackets, rebar, sheet metal, plastic, lighting and absorbers, as well as NSF International’s Collision Repair Shop Certification Program, which certifies a shop’s ability to conduct high-quality repairs.
Distributors and manufacturers of automotive parts as well as repair shops, insurers and consumers seeking information about NSF International’s Automotive Certification Programs can visit NSF International’s website or contact Bob Frayer at autocert@nsf.org.
About NSF International: Since 1944 NSF International is an independent global organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the food, water, health sciences and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). In addition to NSF’s Automotive Aftermarket Parts Program, NSF International Strategic Registrations (NSF-ISR) offers a comprehensive portfolio of management systems registration solutions to meet the demands of the global marketplace (nsf-isr.org). NSF-ISR is the largest automotive registrar in North America and is recognized by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) to provide ISO/TS 16949 registrations in the automotive sector. NSF-ISR also provides registrations for the following programs: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, AS 9100/10/20, ISO 13485, ISO 20000-1, Responsible Care (RC) 14001 and Responsible Care Management Systems (RCMS).
