Driving Insight - Industry Views
Letter to editor Response to feature on the Kitemark initiative
The new repairer Kitemark – PAS 125, is undoubtedly welcome and long overdue. In fact, the optimism of the article (Fleet News, April 26) reiterates the enthusiasm that even many repairers themselves have for the initiative. It is seen as a chance to demonstrate their professionalism, credibility and dedication to quality.
As every aspect of the industry continues to develop and professionalise, repairers are a vital link in the chain. They have a key role to play in elements that impact on customer satisfaction - whether it is service, effective cost control or improved safety.
In FMG Support’s experience, particularly through our Partner Support programme, there are many repairers and bodyshops who, with our help, consistently work to develop their expertise in areas such as complex repairs, in-vehicle technology and maintaining the highest safety standards. In addition to this, the Partner Support scheme has also pre-empted the focus on process management that is within the Kitemark accreditation. This is something that should not be overlooked as agreeing KPIs, improving administration and time management all have an impact on managing repair costs, replacement hire charges and vehicle downtime.
However, whilst the ‘Kitemark Sheriff’ may well be riding into town as a figure that brings justice and order to an unregulated wilderness, we will have to wait and see whether it will be pistols at dawn between the regulators and the cowboys that still exist. With such standards there needs to be a balance between policies that develop best practice and red tape that threatens to stifle progress. We also need to be assured that there will be enough inspectors to ensure that it is implemented effectively and stringently so that the Kitemark has the credibility that it should represent.
If this can be achieved, then official accreditation should go a long way to help ‘repair’ the reputation of the industry that has been damaged by poor practice. Furthermore, bodyshops and repairers who use this as a springboard to raise the bar even higher will not only buck the trend, but they will continue to reap the rewards.
Michael Huthart Group network manager
