- ZF Services stands for safety and reliability in terms of product quality, handling, and delivery times
- Study confirms problems caused by the use of low-cost imitations
- ZF Services exclusively offers original equipment quality
Buying a new car is usually among the largest single investments made by private households. Accordingly, strong emotions and high expectations are involved. However, when the car needs to go to the workshop, many drivers are very price-sensitive. As a consequence, workshops frequently use low-cost parts in order to avoid losing customers to competitors. This strategy has its pitfalls though: A recent survey of the “Quality is Added Value” campaign confirms that 85 percent of workshops surveyed have already had problems with supposedly inexpensive imitation parts. ZF Services therefore exclusively sells spare parts in OE quality, thus eliminating the possibility of unpleasant surprises in terms of product quality, parts handling, and delivery times. This equally benefits the workshops and the customers.
When it comes to precise fitting, service life, and safety, spare parts in original equipment quality are the best choice – and the ideal protection against subsequent complications. “Brand quality offers real added value for all stakeholders. Against the background of rising cost pressure, it is particularly important for the automotive aftersales business, to raise awareness among workshops and customers that the price of a spare part also includes the know-how of the automotive supplier as well as the corresponding services, such as installation instructions or training,” underscores Helmut Ernst, Chairman of the Board of Directors ZF Services.
The commitment to quality applies throughout the process chain. “This complete package is indispensable and, at the same time, provides the necessary safety in road traffic,” said Ernst.
Quality Along the Entire Process Chain
Unlike imitation parts, vehicle parts in original equipment quality originate from a structured development process that takes several years. Here, engineers from ZF and the respective automotive manufacturer work hand in hand in order to find an optimal solution for every single detail. This includes a component design that complies with the respective load requirements, as well as the best possible quality, safety, and durability. The individual steps of later production are also defined in the development process. Depending on the component, different requirements in terms of measuring technology, quality assurance, and documentation are specified here. One case in point is the CDC production at ZF’s Schweinfurt location: A high-tech system uses electronic image processing and a high-precision laser to check each module in order to determine whether all parts of the electronically controlled damping system (CDC – Continuous Damping Control) have been assembled correctly and whether material defects or other potential defects are present. The tests are not conducted randomly; instead a thorough check is run on every single part. If the system detects an error, the affected part is immediately discharged from the process and a root cause analysis is started. As the original equipment parts and the parts for the spare parts market share the same production lines, this procedure also benefits the automotive aftermarket.
Commitment to Quality Awareness
“As a business unit of one of the leading developers and manufacturers of genuine parts, we see it as our obligation to ensure that the best product quality reaches the customer,” explains Helmut Ernst. “Within our company, we undertake the utmost effort to ensure top quality along the entire process chain. And we are committed to this objective both at the political level and within the industry,” continues Ernst.
As founding member of the “Quality is Added Value” campaign and the Free Spare Parts Market Association (VREI e.V.) set up in 2002, ZF Services, amongst other things, actively advocates knowledge sharing within the aftermarket industry and encourages the adoption of uncompromising quality awareness. For a good reason: In a recent workshop survey on “Parts Quality,” 85 percent of people surveyed stated that they had encountered problems when installing low-cost imitation parts. Of those, 43 percent had encountered problems due to poor product quality and 33 percent had had difficulties with parts handling, replacement options, or complaints (www.qualitaet-ist-mehrwert.de).
Repair Quality Is in the Interest of Workshops
ZF Services recommends workshops to completely do without spare parts of dubious or unknown origin and quality in order to rule out the possibility of safety problems, consequential costs, and annoyed customers. With spare parts from ZF Services, workshops can rest assured that they only install products that meet the quality requirements of vehicle manufacturers. What is more, they can do so at competitive prices and conditions.
