The field of the automobile spare parts is complex, so it has to be adapted to changes of the market. One of the most important factors to reach this aim is THE QUALITY and the way to achieve it is THE CERTIFICATION.

A profitable activity for everybody:
 
     The certification is an approval process, which will be made to know if a product meets the requirements established in standards.      The certification is a process used, in general, to verify whatever, so it is used by the Administration to ensure that the after market parts meet the requirements stated in the obligatory Certification Regulations. Moreover these regulations will be used by the Industry to make sure that its goods meet the technical features outlined in the standards.

     CENTRO ZARAGOZA knows the importance of improving the certified automotive parts for the society, so CENTRO ZARAGOZA is performing a method to certify that the car body spare parts reach the next targets:

• To make the body car spare parts manufacturers reach the quality levels stated in standards and regulations.

• To make an improvement of the quality process in the motor insurance companies.

• To protect the consumers, certifying that those spare parts have specific quality levels.

• To set up a competitive market.

     The result of the certifying process is the approval of the right to use a Conformity Mark, which takes the shape of an adhesive label which utilization in a certified product recognizes the right of inspection of CENTRO ZARAGOZA, and it holds the manufacturer of the product to elaborate it in conformity with a pre-established norm.

Centro Zaragoza Certification process (CZCP):
 
     The certification of CENTRO ZARAGOZA means that a product conforms to CENTRO ZARAGOZA regulations.

     In order to supervise and control those regulations CENTRO ZARAGOZA has established a Certification Committee, the Certification Committee reviews, revises and updates standards as marketplace conditions demand.

     The certification process (CZCP) begins when CENTRO ZARAGOZA receives the appliance form filled out. Moreover it is necessary to attach the next information:

• Description of the item that is going to be certified.

• Documentation relatives to the manufacturer.

• Technical information and certificates relative to the materials and any other files, which could be interesting.

     Moreover, first of all any company that has asked for the certificate of CENTRO ZARAGOZA has to introduce one of the quality systems of ISO 9000 or equivalent, which must have been certified previously.

     Once The Certification Committee has decided to accept the application form, the committee will visit the production plant where the spare part is made. This visit is made in order to know if the production method is reliable.

     The next step consists in taking some samples of the spare part in the production plant. These samples will be sent to the Test Laboratory of CENTRO ZARAGOZA. This laboratory is in charged of testing and checking the different parts to certify.

     Finally, the Certification Committee will consider the presented reports made after the visit to the production plant, as well as the checking and inspection results. So the Certification Committee will decide on the approval or rejection of the certification. If the part passes the certification process the manufacturer is allowed to use a Conformity Mark which takes the shape of an adhesive label.

     The right to use the mark will be valid during a minimum period of three years. After this time has elapsed, the piece or component will be tested according to the current specifications by that time, so that it can maintain this right.

     As there has been said before; the certification method means to perform some tests and inspections to check if the part meets the requirements required by CENTRO ZARAGOZA. Those requirements have been established because there has been made some tests of the main features for the proper performance of the part.

     The inspection procedures are to:

• Material control: The material, used to make the part, affects to its mechanic performance, so this matter will be taken into account. To make this control it is necessary to take some measurements such as: thickness, weight part and specific features of the material used for its manufacture as the elastic limit, fracture stress, its chemical composition, etc.

    

• Part Control: The external appearance, fitting and finish of the spare part once it has been fitted into the vehicle affect to the quality after the repair, so it is necessary to check the adaptability and the appearance. In order to make it there will be valued some aspects such as how it looks, geometry, appearance, risk of oxidation, install time, work process, part position or part function. Moreover if the part that is going to be checked is a bumper, this will be subjected to a crash test to check its mechanic behaviour in case of crashing.

    

• Lapping control: The features of the protection systems and the corrosion resistance of the pieces, which made from steel, are checked and compared. To make it there will be study the lapping, thickness, adhesion, hardness are studied as well as how the piece works, corrosion resistance and cracking resistance. In case the parts made of plastic, there would be necessary to check also the quality of the lapping by means of tests of adhesion of the paint in this kind of material.

  

• Additional Controls: To finish the checking of the pieces, it is necessary to know other components that could affect to quality and performance of the piece (re-enforcement, anchors, appearance, welding, etc.). Besides depending on the kind of part, there will be realized a series of additional specific tests for them (impact tests, etc).

    

Conclusion:
 
     To summarise we can say that when we talk about certification we are talking about quality, so the certification of the body car spare parts is a profitable activity for every one involved in this activity and in general for everyone. So, thanks to the Certification the spare part companies can demonstrate the quality level of their products, and the insurers, manufacturers, distributors and car workshops can notice that quality because the item shows a label, which means that the product is certified.

For more information about parts certification, put in touch with the department of certification of Centro Zaragoza. (certificacion.piezascentro-zaragoza.com).