Mitek is proud to be a certified collision repair facility for more than a dozen of the most prestigious luxury car manufacturers in the world. Earning the seal of approval of all these different car makers takes a lot of time, effort, and money, but it has benefits for all the parties involved:
- For manufacturers, they can be sure that the facilities they have certified are capable of providing quality service and repairs to owners of their vehicles, which also means these customers will continue to have trust in their brand.
- For vehicle owners, seeing that a shop is manufacturer certified gives them confidence that repairs will be done to the highest quality standards, that their car will leave here as close to pre-accident condition as possible, and that it will continue to perform as the manufacturer intended.
- For collision repair facilities, OEM certifications can be a benefit to their bottom line, increasing both the trust of existing customers as well as their ability to attract and retain new business.
Less than a decade ago, this Body Shop Business article stated that “vehicle technology has outpaced the collision industry’s ability to process, understand and train for it.” While the industry today may be keeping up with technology better than it used to, there’s no doubt that acquiring and maintaining certifications keeps us on our toes.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s involved.
The Four Main Elements of Manufacturer Certification
- Continuous Training
Each manufacturer requires technicians to complete specific training programs that cover a variety of skills and techniques — everything from welding techniques to ADAS system calibration. Offered at the manufacturers’ facilities, these programs usually consist of both hands-on workshops and classroom instruction.
- Specialized Equipment
Shops are often required to invest in specialized equipment so that they can complete repairs in accordance with manufacturers’ stringent standards, including welding equipment, measuring systems, and diagnostic tools. Some of this equipment, such as.
- Facility Upgrades
Many manufacturers require their certified facilities to have dedicated repair areas and proper ventilation systems to ensure collision repairs are completed safely and to spec. Shops may also have to invest in specialized repair stations (for example, to facilitate the isolation of aluminum repair processes) that can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
- Ongoing Compliance
When it comes to manufacturer certification, you can’t just “get it and forget it.” Maintaining certification (in our case, more than a dozen of them) is a never-ending process. Manufacturers routinely inspect and audit our equipment, facility, and processes to ensure our technicians are completing repairs in compliance with all stipulations.
Each time a manufacturer introduces a new model or repair process, our techs have to go “back to school.” Sometimes these new repair processes will require us to purchase updated or different equipment. In addition to following specific collision repair processes as set out by the manufacturer and using only OEM parts, we also need to be fully and properly insured.
For a collision repair facility owner, staying on top of all these requirements can be a full-time job in itself!
Another Great Reason to Trust Mitek
In this competitive business, our many certifications ensure Mitek continues to stand out among the rest. They also help us to earn and retain the trust and loyalty of customers, who appreciate the fact that bringing their car to Mitek affords them the same peace of mind that they would experience by going to the dealership for repairs.
Given the speed at which automobile technologies continue to evolve, manufacturer certifications are more important now than ever, so we will continue to maintain our current certifications and put in the effort to acquire new ones. Becoming manufacturer-certified takes a lot of hard work and due diligence, but we know it’s well worth all the effort that we invest to achieve it—both for us and for you, our valued customer.