Assured Performance Network, the country’s largest OEM Certified-Recognized Collision Repair Network, announced the achievement of major milestones for full national coverage.
Official Certification Program statistics reveal while over 2,000 shops reached “Certified” status, but still less than 10 percent of industry shops have been able to make the grade and become OEM Certified so far and just 2/3 that applied are able to achieve the requirements.
The mission of Assured Performance Certification is to raise the industry’s technical repair capability and ensure each repair business has what is necessary to properly and safely repair new model vehicles. The collective goal of the OEM joint-effort body shop Certification program is to provide complete demographic and geographic coverage of the county providing a Certified Repair Provider in nearly every community.
Achieving Assured Performance OEM Certification -Recognition is based upon meeting the industry’s most stringent and comprehensive business requirements including the tools, equipment, and training as required by the participating Automakers. Shops must illustrate proof of compliance for all program specifics, as well as pass an annual on-site audit conducted by an independent auditor.
The audit provides proof and visual electronic documentation that shops possess and have use of the required tools and equipment, as well as the necessary training, and business and facility requirements. The records are retained online, accessible to be viewed at all times, and approved by the participating OEM’s. The proof of compliance is updated annually through on-site re-audits. This is the most comprehensive and transparent process in the industry, and it is embraced by multiple OEM’s because of its effectiveness in identifying the best-in-class, qualifying shops.
Even though the Certification criteria includes extensive quality assurance requirements, the Assured Performance Certification is not a quality control program and avoids any implied or explicit warrants of the workmanship of the body shop and any related liability exposure. Further, the program avoids parts purchases and product brand name mandates.
The Assured Performance Certification Program statistics achieved through 2015 are as follows:
- Nearly 3,500 shops have applied to become Certified-Recognized with just over 2,000 successfully making the grade so far.
- FORD currently has over 1,200 shops Certified - Recognized
- FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) has over 1,700 shops currently enrolled.
- Nissan has over 1,200 body shops enrolled, but limits shop participation.
- Hyundai has over 1,000 total shops enrolled in just 3 months
- Even though less than 2/3 of shops applying have been able to achieve the elite “Certified” status, all shops are given the opportunity to participate in an optional Assured Performance “Business Improvement Program” to assist the shops in attaining certification, compliance and higher levels of performance.
The Assured Performance Certification program employs several unique strategies including enabling shops to participate in several OEM programs while only paying once for the certification, annually. The online application and annual onsite inspection processes are also used consistently by all of the participating Automakers. These aspects eliminate redundant effort by thousands of shops and hundreds of field inspectors to provide documented proof of compliance.
Assured Performance also uses state-of-the-art technology to provide online processing, web applications, and mobile apps for the shop’s documentation and for inspectors while onsite. Assured Performance also provides data management for ongoing self- monitoring and performance tracking with KPI feedback. To connect consumers to the Certified-Recognized shops, several Automakers offer Smart phone apps and online shop locators. Additionally, Certified shops receive public awareness, press releases, marketing and promotional tools, micro-sites, parts rebates, and more as part of the overall benefits.
"Our ability to achieve 7-10 times greater participation than other programs is a testament to our joint-effort strategic approach and commtiment," says Scott Biggs, Assured Performance Chairman and CEO. "It takes complete National coverage to realistically offer consumers and insurers a certified repair provider anywhere and everywhere they might need one."
As the impressive statistics illustrate, OEM certification has a massive foothold in the industry helping drive advanced repair capability. With complete demographic and geographic coverage of OEM Certification, now consumers and insurers with the ability to identify a certified body shop in nearly every community across the country.
About Assured Performance:
Assured Performance Network is a third-party administrator for Consumer Awareness, Body Shop Certification and Certified Rebate Reward Programs for several of the largest automakers. Assured Performance Network is the largest, most advanced repair capable network of certified collision repair centers with over 2,000 participating shops.
For more information, visit the Assured Performance website: http://www.assuredperformance.net
