Sept. 8, 2015—The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) performed its 25,000 Vehicle Test Fit (VTF), the company announced on Saturday. This historic milestone was reached last month at its 22,000-square-foot Test Fit center in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The VTF was developed in the mid-1990s to confirm to fit quality of the aftermarket parts it had certified, as well as car company brand counterparts, on actual vehicles. As part of its quality compliant program, CAPA purchases compliant parts directly from the market to investigate the reported fit or appearance problems. CAPA also purchases brand new parts directly from parts distributors to monitor part quality. If nonconformances are observed, the manufacturer must take corrective action to bring the product back into compliance or CAPA certification will be revoked.
“CAPA’s VTF process, as part of the CAPA certification process and as the best method to validate and monitor part quality after certification, has played the single most critical role in the industry’s acceptance of CAPA Certified Parts,” said Debbie Klouser, CAPA’s director of operations. “Even outspoken critics of aftermarket parts have come to realize that the CAPA Certification program is the best way to identify truly high quality alternative parts.
