Mandate to Validatecontinued from page 29How to Register with AGRSSSo, you’re interested in registering thatyou abide by the Auto Glass ReplacementStandard (AGRSS) but are unsure of howto do so? Here’s your guide.First, visit www.agrss.com—it containsall of the information you’ll need.There, you’ll download your very ownapplication. With this will be a copy of thefull ANSI/AGRSS 002-2002 Standard.In addition, you’ll receive an outline ofall the procedural requirements, as indicatedwithin the Standard, for registration.Each question has “Yes/No” answer. Forexample, one question is:“Do the personnel performing automotiveglass replacement refrain from beginningor completingultimate in power and proven ability,”Tompkins says. “And they not only likethe idea of third-party validation takingthem to a much higher level of differentiation,but it’s helping thembecome even better companies thanthey already are. It’s going to be designedin a way that is more consistentand more professional and if there’s atime when something incorrect is discoveredin a third-party audit, therewill always be a chance to remedy thesituation.”Officials from many AGRSS-registeredshops agree.“I’m glad AGRSS is going to institutethird-party audits,” says Bob Hittenberger,president of Best Glass, anAGRSS-registered shop in Phoenix.“It’s the only way to really knowAGRSS Council800 Roosevelt Road, Bldg. C, Suite 312Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137630-942-6597rickc@agrss.comATTACHMENT BANSI/AGRSS 002-2002 - Automotive Glass Replacement Safety StandardDeclaration of Standard Conformance — Self AssessmentCompany Name:_________________________________________ Date: _____________________Section 3: Vehicle Assessment Before Replacement3.01 Do the personnel performing automotiveglass replacement refrain from beginningor completing an installation where anyrelated condition would compromise theretention system (examples may include,but not limited to, the following: rust,contamination, suspect materials)?❑ Yes ❑ No3.02 In the event that such a compromisedinstallation is apparent, are processes inplace and followed to notify theowner/operator of such a condition?❑ Yes ❑ NoSection 3: Checking ConformanceCheck to make sure that:• Inspections are completed to identifyconditions outlined in Section 3, and thatno installation takes place when suchconditions exist.• The owner/operator is notified of such acondition.• Documents noting such conditions arecreated and maintained.3.03 If such a condition has occurred, isdocumentation completed, kept on fileand available for review?❑ Yes ❑ NoAttach Deliverable #1:1 Staple to the back of the “DeliverableCheck-List-Sheet” a copy of the formused to record such conditions. If acompleted copy is submitted, make surethe customer name is marked out.an installation where any related condition would compromisethe retention system (examples may include,but not limited to, the following: rust,contamination, suspect materials)?”In addition, a copy of the form thatyour company uses that shows thatyou’ve followed this procedure is to beattached to the back of the checklist,which includes a range of other questions,based on the Standard, and requestsfor other documentation, for a totalof eight deliverables.The completed form can then be mailed tothe AGRSS Council at 800 Roosevelt Road, BuildingC, Suite 312, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 60137, with the registrationfee of $225. The AGRSS Council will then review thechecklist and documentation provided.(Once your application is accepted, the renewal fee per year is $200.)If accepted, along with many other benefits, registration enables your companyto display certificates, wear patches, hang signage and use the AGRSS-registeredlogo in your advertising.whether AGRSS-registered shops areholding to the Standard or not.”Many also suspect that third-partyvalidation will make AGRSS registrationmore visible—and more accepted—byinsurance companies.“We can’t expect [insurance] customersto endorse a standard if theydon’t have outside confirmation thatwe’re walking the walk,” Tompkinssays. “It’s when we can provide thatthat we’ll have the unique ability toleverage the Standard.”Ketcherside also points to StateFarm’s gift of $20,000 to the AGRSSCouncil for use in the ConsumerAwareness Program (CAP) as evidenceof the insurance industry’s noticeof a third-party validation (seerelated story on page 20).“They didn’t give this to us in the ‘Iwill’ stage—they gave it to us whenwe stepped it up to the ‘I do’ stage,”says Ketcherside, referring to thirdpartyvalidation as the “I-do” stage forAGRSS. “We have to go through thiswith the understanding that we needto validate and that when we do validatethat the insurance industry willembrace it.”And State Farm’s endorsement ofAGRSS may just be the tip of theiceberg.“Obviously State Farm is the leaderin [working with AGRSS], but we continueto work with the industry as awhole,” she adds. “This is a mutualcustomer that we all need to worryabout. We need the insurance industryto understand their liability in thisand we need to the understand the liabilitywe have.”In January, Tompkins provided apresentation called “What the InsuranceIndustry Has Been Waitingfor” at Harmon Solutions Group’sNational Insurance Summit inTampa, Fla., to tout the benefits ofthird-party validation.In addition, he’s had inquiriesfrom other insurers.30 <strong>AGRR</strong> <strong>March</strong>/<strong>April</strong> <strong>2008</strong> www.agrrmag.com
“It takes a few strong leaders to setthe precedent, to set the example, andthen others will feel more confident intaking those steps,” Tompkins says.Hittenberger agrees.“Not all insurance companies arefully aware, but AGRSS has done apretty good job of getting the messageout to most of them,” he says. “I thinkState Farm’s $20,000 donation toAGRSS makes a pretty strong statementabout their commitment.”Corey Hemperly, operation managerfor Windshield Doctor Inc., anAGRSS-registered shop in Pocatello,Idaho, notes that he doesn’t expectconsumers necessarily to take notice,but that insurers may.“Consumers do not know one ‘certification’from the next, so this has tobe aimed at insurers in my opinion,”he says.Tompkins adds that his hope forthird-party validation is that, ultimately,it will allow AGRSS to changethe industry as a whole.“There are way too many people inthis industry being included in the negotiationprocess who cheat, whobreak the rules and who put people’sLooking for Training?AGRSS Now Has FiveRegistered Training ProgramsIf you’re looking for training for your newemployees and want to be sure they’retrained to the Auto Glass Replacement SafetyStandard (AGRSS), the Council now has a registrationfor training programs. Currently, thefollowing five programs have been reviewedand have been approved by the AGRSS Councilas accurately training to its Standard:• Automotive Glass Consultants;• Dow Automotive;• Independent Glass Association;• Shat R Proof Corp.; and• SIKA Corp.lives at stake everyday. We considerthis as exposing all customers to a liabilityrisk that not even money canrepay, and this must stop,” he says.He adds that for companies that areAGRSS-registered and that completejobs in accordance with the AGRSSStandard, third-party validation willbe an added bonus.“This is a helpful tool—not a tool ofthreat,” he says. “The only companiesthat are going to shy away from thisprocess are going to be those who feelCurrently, there are five AGRSSregisteredtraining programslocated throughout the UnitedStates. Visit www.agrss.com formore information.vulnerability from being exposed ofdoing things wrong.”Hittenberger also expects that, despitethe money paid to becomeAGRSS-registered, eventually it willadd to his bottom line.“As insurance companies and thepublic become more aware of the importanceof the Standard [throughthird-party audits], I think it will translateinto more work for us,” he says.DisadvantagesWith the undertaking of third-partyvalidation, the AGRSS Council willhire an independent auditing firm tohandle visiting shops and auditingthem to the Standard, on a randombasis. While the group currently isworking on selecting an auditing firm,one thing is for certain—they won’twork for free.Many have cited this as the number-one—ifnot only—disadvantageto third-party validation.“I think more information and detailedreasoning behind the need forthird-party audits should be discussedby AGRSS in order for its members tojustify the increase in member fees topay for such a program,” Hemperlysays.For companies that are AGRSS-registered and comply with it on a regularbasis, AGRSS Council members note that the third-party validation processwill make that registration even more meaningful to customers than italready is. continued on page 32www.agrrmag.com <strong>March</strong>/<strong>April</strong> <strong>2008</strong> <strong>AGRR</strong> 31
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