Auto Glass Safety Council™

Tag: validation audit

  • Halloween’s Coming, But AGSC Member Audits Are Not So Scary

    As the Auto Glass Safety Council’s (AGSC) director of quality and training, I can attest that the 2024 AGSC audits have had great success.

    I commend all AGSC member shops that have successfully completed the audit validation process. The successful compliance rate of those who undertook the audit is 100%.

    Many members passed the process without needing to make any corrections to their operations. I found 39.5% of the store administration and technicians selected for audit to be in complete compliance with the Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard™ (AGRSS).

    60.5% of the members audited qualified for a re-audit pending correction of deficiencies. If the company was deemed “compliant pending correction of deficiencies,” it will have a specified length of time, not less than six (6) weeks, to correct the non-compliance(s). The auditor, who is almost always me, will then verify that all non-compliances have been corrected. If so, the company will be validated as compliant. 96.15% of AGSC member companies in this situation have had a successful re-audit.

    Companies forfeiting AGSC registration by refusing validation, failing to complete an audit, or not proving that they have resolved non-compliances will be listed in the Annual Membership Directory and posted on both AGSC.org and safewindshields.org as “Company’s Forfeiting AGSC Registration.”

    A current list of forfeiting companies can be found HERE.

    Here are the most typical ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 issues AGSC members need to address to achieve audit compliance, starting with the most common.

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 6.9: The shop’s technicians did not record the open shelf life of the primer. “No product that has exceeded the manufacturer or private labeler’s stated expiration date, open shelf life, or active shelf life shall be used.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 6.8: DOT numbers were not recorded as part of each job. “All glass parts must be traceable to the installation by a DOT number and part number.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 6.7: Lot numbers were not recorded as part of each job. “All adhesive system component lot numbers must be traceable to each job.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 7.2: The shop’s technicians did not know the proper ASM procedure for bonding gasket set parts. “If the OEM gasket installation did not include adhesive and the vehicle is licensed for highway use and is less than 10.000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), the installation shall include polyurethane or an equivalent bonding system. The following are permissible exceptions: egress applications, antique or classic vehicle restorations (not licensed for highway use), or in cases in which this practice conflicts with current vehicle manufacturer specifications.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 8.6: The shop’s technicians used cloth towels, alcohol or unlabeled cleaner on a fresh-cut bonding surface. “Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall not introduce any chemical agents, such as cleaners, solvents, lubricants, release agents, or utilize any installation practice, which will adversely affect the glass retention system.”
    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 9.3: The shop has no office personnel with current AGRSS standard training or Training Acknowledgement Form filled out. “Training with respect to the current requirements of the current version of this standard shall be required for all personnel directly involved in the automotive glass replacement process (examples: purchasing, installing, customer service, quality control, management). Records of this training detailing content, date, participants, and acknowledgment of the participant’s successful completion of the training and receipt of a printed copy of the current standard shall be maintained.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 9.1: The shop had no ASM training certifications. “Technicians installing replacement auto glass shall be fully qualified for the task they are required to perform. Such qualifications shall include, at a minimum, completion of the comprehensive training program with a final exam and ongoing educational component. The program shall include, among other things:
    1. AGR safety issues.
    2. An understanding of OEM installation standards and procedures.
    3. Relevant technical specifications.
    4. Adhesive System Manufacturer specific comprehensive retention system training.
    5. e) The opportunity to apply and demonstrate the skills technicians learn.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 5.4(b): Shop technicians were priming over all fresh cut well-bonded urethane. “Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall obtain and follow written comprehensive and current application instructions from the retention system manufacturer or private labeler. These instructions shall include at least the proper use of the retention system, storage specifications, minimum driveway time charts containing temperature and humidity variables if applicable, and any special procedures required for adverse weather conditions.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 6.3: The member company was using urethane with an MDAT of more than 2 hours on every installation. Under certain conditions, this is unacceptable. “No automotive glass replacement shall be undertaken using an adhesive glass retention bonding system that would not achieve minimum drive-away strength by the time the vehicle may be reasonably expected to be operated.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 5.1: The member company was using a urethane brand that is not ISO 9001, has no instructions, no MADT chart and no primer for body scratches or corrosion treatment. “Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall use retention systems that are produced under the ISO 9001 standard or any standard that contains the entire text of ISO 9001.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 6.7: Lot number stickers must remain with the product they belong to. Shops cannot collect and store them elsewhere. “All adhesive system component lot numbers must be traceable to each job.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 6.12: The shop technicians stated incorrect rust treatment procedures. “When those engaged in automotive glass replacement correct inappropriate glass installations, they shall remove any inappropriate materials that would compromise the retention system. They shall fully correct any glass adhesive installation-related conditions caused by the use of inappropriate materials or methods, and they shall use appropriate methods described elsewhere within Section 5 of this document.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 4.1: The member shop technicians stated the process when corrosion is present was to have the customer sign a waiver and proceed with the job. “[If there are] any discovered condition(s) on the vehicle [that] could compromise the vehicle’s retention system, the technician shall not undertake or complete the installation. The owner/operator then shall be notified verbally and in writing.”

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 8.7: The member company did not perform ADAS calibrations and did not inform customers in writing that an ADAS calibration was needed on vehicles with ADAS systems. “Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall create and retain records of each auto glass replacement (any ADAS recalibration/calibration conducted in conjunction with that glass replacement) for a period of at least three years from the date the work was completed sufficient to demonstrate compliance with this standard. Records, either electronic or hard copy, shall be legible, easily identifiable and readily available. Such three-year period may be temporarily shortened for specific, clear and substantial reasons but must be adhered to when such reasons no longer exist.

     

    • ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 item 5.4: The shop technicians did not decontaminate the windshield according to ASM instructions, and, with evident remaining glass contamination, were going to proceed with the installation. “Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall obtain and follow written comprehensive and current application instructions from the retention system manufacturer or private labeler. These instructions shall include at least the proper use of the retention system, storage specifications, minimum drive-away time charts containing temperature and humidity variables if applicable, and any special procedures required for adverse weather conditions.”

     

    AGSC member shops can greatly increase the odds of first-round compliance by conducting practice audits. Members can also contact their adhesive system manufacturer for fixed glass training. The adhesive system manufacturer representatives can help train technicians in corrosion treatment procedures, gasket bonding, pinchweld prep, glass decontamination and prep and much more.  The documents used during the audit process can be found HERE and under the For Members section of the AGSC website at https://agsc.org/

    I recommend reviewing this material prior to your audit. The proper process and installation will provide safety for your customers and peace of mind for your company.  Always practice the AGRSS Standard, which you can brush up on HERE.