by Kathy Bimber
When the Auto Glass Safety Council™ (AGSC) (formerly the AGRSS™ Council) was founded, it was with the goal of making auto glass installations safe for the consumer. In 2009, AGSC added the audit component as a requirement for all of its Registered Member Companies in an effort to increase consumer safety further by validating that each company was replacing auto glass according to the ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS™ Standard.
One of the components of my job is to notify companies when they are randomly selected for the audit. It has been interesting to me to hear the responses from companies as they receive this notification. Some companies have responded with a “Glad we have this opportunity—bring it on!” attitude. Others are a little less enthusiastic to have to undergo the audit (and a few are a lot less enthusiastic).
I do understand that the audit can be an inconvenience to the daily business schedule of the auto glass shop and that, at times, it is difficult to guarantee there will be the necessary number of windshields to replace for each auto glass technician employed by the company. However, being able to have all of your auto glass technicians replace a windshield and verify that they are doing it correctly seems like a win-win situation to me.
By evaluating each technician replacing a windshield, the audit provides direct feedback to the company management as to whether or not its employees are compliant with the AGRSS Standard. The audit also assists company management with evaluating the accuracy of the record-keeping by their employees and the storage of the products used in correlation with the AGRSS Standard requirements.
A successful completion of the audit is also a great marketing tool. There are many auto glass companies from which to choose. Many say they replace auto glass according to the AGRSS Standard, but can they prove it? The only way to prove it is for the work to be tested. There are also auto glass companies that internally audit their employees to verify compliance with the AGRSS Standard. While that is good, does it give a fair and accurate evaluation of the work done? I can believe my kids are well-behaved kids, but I am their mother so of course they are well-behaved kids. The outside observer who says my kids are well-behaved is the one who gives credence to my belief.
AGSC specifically uses an independent, third-party auditing firm to audit its Registered Member Companies. This company has no stake in AGSC or its members. The auditors audit strictly to the AGRSS Standard. So, when you are found to be compliant at the conclusion of the audit, you know that you have been independently and rigorously tested and your employees have shown that they do the job correctly.
After all, isn’t that the point—to prove to your customers that you do the job right, not just for you, but also for them? You believe that doing it the correct way is the safest way and the best way to ensure their safety.