TheTravellingRooster said:
Hi ProfJohnL. As I understand it the whole thing about AWS and who does what and plays which role is a little different from your explanation.
Firstly - The NCC is one in the same as was/is The Association of Master Upholsterers (AMU). They are 'Clubs' for people/businesses that want to pay for the privilege of recognition by subscription.
They allow people to 'Fly Their Flag' (Badge) in return for an annual fee and possibly even a Joining Fee.
The AMU then started running out of joining members because of the watered down standards in the industry,those standards were essentially around traditional upholstery methods and principles.
They then started letting manufacturers and contract furnishers in and then any old 'rag-tacker' that would cough-up the necessary.
I'm not sure whether you have noticed, but the forum relates to caravans not upholsterers so comparisons with the AMU cannot be confirmed. As you say the NCC is a 'club' for businesses related to the caravanning industry and there are levies made by the NCC on associated businesses to cover its running costs.
The AWS is a relatively recent device, and I believe has probably come about because of a number of instances where automotive customers challenged the manufacturers guarantee requiring service work to be carried out by the manufacturers own dealers. This was challenged under unfair contracts, and the courts found in favour of the customers essentially requiring the manufacturers to accept service stamps from non franchised workshops.
Where the AWS has been adopted the associated workshops should be capable of carrying out the basic service on any make of caravan to all manufacturers satisfaction.
TheTravellingRooster said:
Back to the AWS :- The manufacturer is the one that first and foremost decides who becomes 'An Approved Workshop' member. If the workshop in question is approved by the manufacturer and they meet certain required standards of work,equipment and so forth then they are also approved to carry out Warranty Work.
The approval is effectively a double edged sword because approval is gained for warranty works and service schedules and for service work only.
Contrary to your comment, any workshop that was originally part of a single manufacturers scheme is not automatically eligible to be an associate of the AWS. They have to be assessed for membership. However it is unlikely any competent service centre would be refused membership.
TheTravellingRooster said:
The NCC oversees the Approved Service Workshops and the manufacturer looks after the Approved Warranty Operatives workshops and conducts regular inspections to ascertain the standards are upheld.
You are correct regards the oversight of the AWS by the NCC for service work, and it has and always will be the case that individual manufacturers will make their own arrangements regards warranty repairs.
TheTravellingRooster said:
I could be wrong here but all dealerships get automatic approval and the recognition to carry-out manufacturers warranty work.
The mobile workshops by definition can only carry out general/regular service work. It might now be extended to cover easily conducted manufacturers warranty work.
When a manufacture appoints a dealership for their products, part of that contract will cover the dealers responsibilities regards the manufactures warranty obligations, But that is restricted to the manufacturer concerned, No manufacturer can tell a dealer to undertake warranty for another manufacture, unless there is a mutual agreement in place. It is generally the case that you need to seek prior approval by the manufacture to have warranty repairs carried out by a non franchised workshop, and this is still the case. The difference is the manufacture has confidence to allow works to be carried out by an AWS member, because the AWS is effectively a quality approval.
TheTravellingRooster said:
The main difference between dealer and approved service workshops is the availability of parts direct from the caravan manufacturer and the facility for goods on account. The main difference between dealer and approved service workshops is the availability of parts direct from the caravan manufacturer and the facility for goods on account.
There is nothing to stop a mobile workshop from being approved to carry out repairs or even warranty work, that is in the gift of the manufacturer if they so choose.
In these days of lean manufacturing, holding stock is always an expensive way of tying up capitol, so most keen businesses try to hold as little stock as possible. The key to such operations is easy fast access to spares from manufacturers, who either manufacture to order or may carry a small service stock.
As such both manufactures main dealers and non franchised workshops can obtain spares rapidly provided they have accounts with the manufacturers.
