CIC drops certification audit plans

Some concerned about parts audit being confused with endorsement

PALM SPRINGS, Calif.The Collision Industry Conference (CIC) has halted plans for an independent audit of the effectiveness of programs that purport to certify the quality of nonOEM parts.

At two CIC meetings in 2003, the CIC Parts and Airbags Committee described its plans to ask such organizations as the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), the Manufacturer's Qualification and Validation Program (MQVP) and parts distributor Keystone Automotive-each of which certifies or brands certain non-OEM parts as superior-to participate and fund an independent audit by a qualified third party.

But at CIC …