• The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) stipulates that standards are "specifications, guidelines, or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for purpose".

Benefits of complying with a standard

Research shows that implementing standards, especially for a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME), can help reduce costs, increase productivity and access new markets.

For SME's, standards can help to:

• Build customer confidence that the product / service is safe and reliable,
• Help company meet regulatory requirements, at a lower cost,
• Help decrease costs across all aspects of your business,
• Assist the company in gaining new markets (ISO),
• Enhance business processes and increase efficiency,
• Help enterprise compete with bigger companies,
• Give the company a competitive edge.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) stipulates that standards are “specifications, guidelines, or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for purpose”.

Within the South African context, not all MBRs had a standard to which they were certified. Naturally, those MBRs complying with a standard became more competitive and attracted more work than the ones that did not. In an attempt to correct this, the MTSF has been hard at work to ensure that an independent standard is created that all MBRs that want to do repair work on out-of-warranty motor vehicles are certified against.

The National Grading Standards implementation phase started at the beginning of May 2017 and will run until the end of April 2018.

An international certification company, Bureau Veritas, has been tasked with ensuring that all MBRs in South Africa are certified against the standard.

The National Grading Standards apply to all Motor Body Repairers (MBRs) in South Africa, who want to do either structural repair (SR) or non-structural repair (NSR) work, or both on out-of-warranty motor vehicles. MBRs that have Original Equipment Manufacturers' (OEM) approvals, are also required to be certified if they want to do work on out-of warranty motor vehicles.

Certification process

MBRs are encouraged to contact Bureau Veritas as soon as possible, in order to get an understanding of how the certification process works. Once Bureau Veritas has received an enquiry from the MBR, a qualified inspector will contact the MBR and take them through the certification process.

MBRs must contact Bureau Veritas on the following email address: enquiry.standards@za.bureauveritas.com

An Inspector from Bureau Veritas will offer support to the MBR over a period of time to help the MBR in getting ready for a physical inspection.

Once the MBR is ready to be inspected and certified, the MBR has to set up an appointment with the inspector. Two inspectors will come and visit the MBR and go through the certification process.

Should the MBR not meet the requirements to be certified, they will be given six months to put in corrective measures.

Once the inspectors are satisfied that the MBR meets the Standard, a certificate will be issued by Bureau Veritas. The certificate is valid for two years from the date of issue.

The details of the MBR will be uploaded onto a database that has been specially created to keep a list of all certified MBRs.

Costs

The certification comes at a rate that has been agreed by the MBR Associations, SAIA and Bureau Veritas. The costs will include certification costs, travelling costs & VAT. For more information on the certification fee, please contact your association or Bureau Veritas on: enquiry.standards@za.bureauveritas.com

Sponsorship

The SAIA, in partnership with its members, have created a fund that will be used specifically to pay for certification fees for MBRs that meet a certain qualifying criteria. This criteria is:
    • The MBR must be an Exempted Micro-Enterprise (EME) black-owned MBR (EME as defined in the Financial Sector Code),
    • The MBR must be 51% or more black owned or 30% black woman owned,
    • Turnover must be R5 000 000 or less per annum,
    • The MBR must have been in operation for a period of not less than two years.

In order for an MBR to obtain the Bureau Veritas certification, they are required to meet certain criteria as a Structural Repairer (SR) or Non-Structural Repairer (NSR). The MBR is required to first meet the following five criteria, which are non-negotiable:
    • Have a MIBCO Certificate of Good Standing (COGS) - Download Now;
    • Have a Tax Clearance Certificate or Deferred payment agreement with SARS;
    • Have Workman’s Compensation / RMA policy – [will provide documentation later]
    • Have a qualified panel beater employed by the company, or a letter confirming the application or section 28 – trade test;
    • Employ a qualified spray painter, a letter confirming the application or section 28 – trade test.

NOTE: if any of the above criteria has not been met, the MBR will not be able to obtain certification. Further to the above, the MBR is required to be at least 75% compliant with the rest of the certification criteria.

MBRs may use the link to the self-assessment tool below to conduct a self-assessment electronically:

Self-assessment tool

Self-assessment tool user manual:
    • Open the self-assessment tool using the following internet browsers:
        ◦ Chrome, or
        ◦ Microsoft Edge.
    • Choose type of MBR (NSR / SR);
    • The first five questions require 100% compliance with, therefore answering “No” to any of them will result automatic disqualification.

MBR Grading Criteria Checklist

NSR-SR Grading & Standards Guide

MBR Associations and SAIA members may access the Bureau Veritas database, by sending their request for access to Lebohang Tsotetsi at Lebohang@saia.co.za with a list of the emails of people you wish to give access to.

If you have already been granted access to the database, please go to the following link to login: https://waidler.dapulse.com/users/sign_in.

Bureau Veritas will respond to all your queries within 72 hours of receiving them. In cases where this has not happened, please escalate your request to Ms. Zanele Gigaba at the following email address – zanele@saia.co.za.