PARTS STANDARDS
GIVING CUSTOMERS THE CONFIDENCE TO USE GREEN PARTS
Giving customers confidence in the parts they are buying, and the
business selling them, is essential in increasing the acceptability & use
of ‘green parts’. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the parts are free
from damage or that damaged parts shouldn’t be sold. It just ensures that the parts are accurately
described, so the buyer understands exactly what they are purchasing, before
they purchase It’s all about managing
expectations.
VRA has developed and launched a Standard for reused parts.
The purpose of the certification scheme is to provide end users of reclaimed vehicle parts with the confidence that:
- The reclaimed vehicle part has been accurately identified, recorded, tested, removed and sold by a vehicle recycler that operates a robust quality management system; and that
- The reclaimed vehicle part has been marketed and sold by a vehicle recycler that has, and abides by, the appropriate environmental authorisations.
Certification involves an annual audit and review of a vehicle recycler’s policies and procedures to ensure they meet the
UK Standard for Reclaimed Parts from End-Of-Life Vehicles. The standard was developed by industry over the past year and is wholly owned by the Vehicle Recyclers’ Association (the leading trade body for the vehicle recycling sector).
The standard applies to UK-based vehicle recyclers operating an end-of-life vehicle authorised treatment facility, and includes requirements for:
- A quality management system;
- End-of-life vehicle acquisition and identification;
- Parts grading, testing, recording and storage; and
- Parts marketing, sale, delivery and traceability.
This means that every certified vehicle recycler operates a yard that is authorised by the environmental regulator and that they are also a registered scrap metal dealer by their relevant local authority.
More information about VRA Certification can be found here:
http://www.vracertification.org.uk/