ABS, the accident solutions comp-any, has ditched external inspections programmes run by trade associations and instead launched its own in-house scheme.

Previously, ABS had relied on external inspection programmes such as VBRA XL, MVRA QA or RMI QC as a measure of accident repair centre quality. ABS decided to create its own inspection scheme to reduce costs and create a new industry standard specifically for independent repairers.

So far, eight accident repair centres have undergone ABS Accident Repair Centre Inspections and the team of regional network managers expects to have covered the whole 240-site network by the end of 2003.

Each inspection lasts six hours to ensure that the highest quality standards are being met in areas such as the repairer skills, equipment, premises and accreditations.

Richard Piercy, the senior network manager in charge of the programme, says: “So far, the feedback we have received from repairers has been good and any problems found quickly resolved. By the time the process is completed, we expect to have upgraded the overall performance of the network significantly.”