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Don’s Mobile Glass in California claims to be the first US member of the Ford Certified Glass Network (FCGN). Jacques Navant, the company’s technical director, and chief operating officer Dave Leach said the development came as an “investment in confidence.”
The Ford Certified Glass Network requires that all glass installation companies be accredited members of the Auto Glass Safety Council.
The Ford Motor Company initiative is designed to ensure that mirror installation and calibration on Ford and Lincoln vehicles is performed to the highest quality standards. The program requires that all glass installation companies be accredited members of the Auto Glass Safety Council.
“Our decision to look at this type of program ties into our overall vision for how to do business,” Leach said. “We feel that our keys to success are being the best at what we do and we feel that this really boils down to that. If you’re going to be at the top of the industry you have to do the things that will put you there .It’s all part of building the best business we can. We have the capability as well as the facilities and technical understanding to properly manage that, so it was a pretty easy decision.
“I’m always hungry for knowledge and understanding,” Navant said. “It added value for me personally to learn how Ford does things, and a little more about their software and so on. It’s a win-win all around.”
The Ford network prepares installation companies to meet the evolving requirements for proper glass installation. An annual subscription fee gives installers access to the Ford Workshop Manual, including mirror installation and calibration procedures. Enrollment also includes an assessment by a third-party specialist to ensure proper use of tools, equipment and training.
Also includes calibration training, access to technical support, storefront signage and more. FCGN also includes a Ford glass installation locator that will direct customers to certified facilities.
“Our first shop to be certified was in Modesto, Calif., and we were lucky enough to be surrounded by hardcore car culture,” Navant said. “Most of our technicians are car people so they’re very excited about this process. Anything they can do to learn more about road cars, they’re all about it.
The most exciting aspect of the certification for Navant is the exposure to Ford culture. He said it’s nice to have a partnership with a manufacturer that has been instrumental in the development of the automotive industry. Leach says it’s important for shops like Don’s to differentiate themselves from those who don’t take the calibration aspects of the industry seriously. With 37 years in the auto industry, Leach added that “doing it right” has never been more important.
“The direction of the industry, we’ve moved into an era where credibility, safety, and the complexity of installations are becoming a big part of the decision of who a customer chooses,” Leach said. “A lot of people don’t understand that when they start the process, but if it’s explained to them that the windshield needs to be set properly for their safety systems to work properly, they become a more educated consumer that benefits those who invest in confidence. That’s exactly what we’re trying to do; we want to be the vendor of choice.”
Visit the FCGN website to learn more about the program.
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