Volkswagen of America, Inc., is the newest corporate member of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS).
Corporate membership is only the most recent stage in the relationship between Volkswagen and SCRS. The two organizations first formed a working relationship at the OEM Collision Repair Roundtable, a group of vehicle manufacturers that meet on a quarterly basis to discuss issues related to their industry, and to which SCRS has a standing invitation to present. The alliance between the two organizations took on another dimension when Volkswagen revealed plans to initiate a collision repair certification program for dealership and independent body shops.
"They approached us and asked if we would be willing to have individual repairers from the SCRS board offer input on the program’s development," said SCRS Chairman Barry Dorn. "Their desire was that we would serve as a sounding board to give Volkswagen repair facility perspective to help fine tune their initiative and identify specific characteristics that went into shop qualification for the certification."
SCRS members provided direct feedback on proposed specifications for tools, training, technology, parts use and facility requirements. They participated in the review and critique of specific program materials, as well.
"If your desire is to create standards that define the top-level collision repair facilities that will be working on your vehicles, you have to involve industry experts," said Volkswagen of America Collision Program Manager Matthew McCauley. "The members of SCRS certainly fit that description. They helped keep us on track before the program’s rollout, and we intend to solicit their expertise as our vehicles evolve and repair requirements change. Corporate membership best positions us to achieve that goal and allows us to show our appreciation for the organization’s contributions to date and support for the work they undertake for the industry."
"SCRS is pleased we were able to offer the national perspective and credibility a well-recognized OEM like Volkswagen was looking for in their program launch," says SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. "The ultimate winner here is our mutual customer, the vehicle owner, who will benefit from consistent safe, quality repairs. It is always a great opportunity when industry organizations such as SCRS and Volkswagen support each other through their pool of resources. We wish them continued success as they move forward in advancing the industry."
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Volkswagen of America, Inc.
SCRS
Volkswagen Announces VW-Certified Collision Repair Facility Program
