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TN DOCI PresentationDiamond Standard Expedites Safety Parts Certification
Publish Date: Feb 11, 2010
Source: Automotive Body Repair News
COLLISION REPAIR: NSF International Launches Certification Program to Verify Safety of Aftermarket Parts
NSF International announced the launch of a new Automotive Parts Certification Program to address concerns regarding consumer safety and compromised automobile Crashworthiness centered on the use of certain aftermarket structural parts. The program Verifies both the quality and performance of aftermarket auto parts via testing and Inspections, the company said.
The NSF Automotive Parts Certification Program offers independent, third-party certification of steel bumpers, step bumpers, absorbers, reinforcement bars and brackets to ensure that high-quality aftermarket safety parts are available. 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, the company said.
The certification program was developed to counter the growing concerns that lower quality parts were being used in the automotive repair industry. Certification from an accredited third-party, such as NSF International, helps ensure that an aftermarket auto part meets rigid quality, safety and performance standards, the company said.
Reflexxion Automotive and Production Bumper Stamping Inc. (PBSI), which Manufacture Diamond Standard brand parts, are the first companies to participate in NSF International’s Automotive Parts Certification Program. The certification program includes:
- 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 original equipment (OE) parts across dimensional and material attributes
- Ongoing monitoring of certified parts through quarterly facility audits
- 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
- Automotive parts that complete the requirements of this NSF certification program will bear the NSF Mark
“When any collision repair professional or insurance company sees the NSF Mark on an Automotive part, they can be confident that the part meets the industry’s highest Standards,” says Bob Frayer, director, NSF International Engineering Laboratories. “NSF Certification also allows manufacturers to demonstrate their commitment to product quality and safety.”
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., NSF International is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited standards writing organization. NSF International has more than 1,100 automotive clients, approximately 700 employees, operates in more than 120 countries worldwide, and certifies more than 275,000 products. NSF International has been providing automotive services since 1996.
Manufacturers of parts seeking information on NSF International’s Automotive Parts Certification Program can visit this link or e-mail autocert@nsf.org.
For information on Diamond Standard brand parts, visit www.diamondstandardparts.com or contact Geoff Crane at geoff@diamondstandardparts.com.
Publish Date: Jan 28, 2010
Source: Automotive Body Repair News
Diamond Standard Parts Expedites Safety Parts Certification
In response to an alert by the aftermarket presentations at NACE in November 2009, and CIC in January 2010, Diamond Standard (a U.S.-based manufacturer of high strength steel reinforcements, front steel bumpers, high density foam energy absorbers, full assembly step bumper systems and bumper brackets) has accelerated the time frame for full certification of safety parts.
One or more worldwide recognized certification firms capable of ANSI standard writing and certification auditing and monitoring continuous part quality will be involved in the process.
Diamond Standard, as a supplier of parts that replicate the safety and damageability characteristics of the OEM part, is considered to be the standard for safety and damageability. Diamond Standard parts are dynamically and destructively third party tested vs. OEM service parts with test results validated by former Crashworthiness experts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administraton (NHTSA).
One of whom, Jim Hackney, co-authored “New Car Assessment-Five Star Crash Rating-Vehicle Safety Performance Characteristics."
As pointed out by Mike O'Neal, president of Diamond Standard and Reflexxion Automotive, “The presentation at CIC and industry alerts by Diamond Standard for five years show a problem exists with safety parts from manufacturers who substitute both non-OEM material and parts manufacturing process to provide 'replacement' parts. It's on the manufacturers, period. They provide zero backup test and material data to large and small distributors who rely on them to provide a comparable part."
The good news for the industry in light of the current developments is quality Diamond Standard Safety parts are available from Keystone locations nationwide (www.keystone-auto.com/locations.html). A special master data base for Diamond Standard parts has been filed with CCC and expansion to other estimating systems such as Audatex is imminent.
The Diamond Standard policy on safety part replacement is OEM or Diamond Standard for the assurance that a repair using these safety parts will restore the collision management system to predamaged condition when properly installed.
For more information, visit www.diamondstandardparts.com.
The interest in these stories has been phenomenal to say the least. It speaks to the strength of Collision Week as a leading source of information and news that impacts everyone concerned with safety and quality in the marketplace. - Geoff Crane
Thu, 02 Jul 2009
Testing is the Real Measure of Aftermarket Part Equivalency
Aftermarket parts manufacturer Diamond Standard is one company that takes issue with the idea that aftermarket parts cannot equal OEM. The company says there absolutely are some aftermarket parts that are the equivalent of OEM, and they have the testing to back it up.
According to Geoff Crane, Business Development Manager, Diamond Standard, the company has invested in excess of $2 million dollars in dynamically and destructively testing its parts vs. the OEM part. "Our tests are conducted according to Federal Standards of Crashworthiness, employing IIHS protocols vs. the OEM part standard at MGA Research Corporation, an independent test facility in Burlington, WI. MGA is used by virtually all original equipment manufacturers," said Crane. "To our knowledge our testing of individual parts and systems is unique among all aftermarket manufacturers of safety parts and OEM relative to testing service parts," indicated Crane.
On new cars, the Original Equipment Bumper System components defined as bumper fascias, high strength steel reinforcements and high density foam energy absorbers must comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards under the NHTSA in CFR 49, Part 581.
"We at Diamond Standard patently believe the individual part criteria established by OEM in its replacement parts created the standard to which all safety parts in collision must be held. The same standard of functional performance is required to properly and effectively restore the function of the system to predamaged condition. Regarding the matter of safety performance of the vehicle, restoring system function achieves minimization of damage in lower speed events, preventing energy from being transferred into the passenger compartment and in the case of frontal events, assist the proper performance of the air bag deployment system", said Geoff Crane.
Importantly, "Diamond Standard takes the additional and very necessary step to validate the test results with former crashworthiness experts from NHTSA and the Volpe Center, one of whom co-authored the Federal Standards of Crashworthiness to provide the further assurance of functional part performance to the OEM part," Crane said.
Crane says anyone can claim their part is a replacement for the original safety part but unless that part has demonstrated its ability to match functional performance there is risk inherent in its use. Risks include increased damageability, contributing to greater total losses and potential occupant safety issues.
"We at Diamond Standard believe that a safety replacement part [must provide] the intended functional performance of the original part standard to ensure the vehicle operates safely and as designed to withstand future collisions and protect the consumer's property….it is a matter of conscience," stated Crane.
