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Motor vehicle manufacturers, marine insurance companies and ocean carriers need an independent and professional partner to inspect vehicles during their lengthy distribution cycles. Surveys at each handover determine liability for damages and help clients formulate damage prevention measures for the future.
SGS has surveyed vehicles since the mid-1960s. Our specialized condition surveys are an important quality link in the overall transportation cycle of any vehicle.
Starting at the production plant and concluding with the end receiver, our Inspection Management System enables us to transmit detailed reports on a vehicle's physical condition, while it is moving along the supply chain, to our client. Converting that data into meaningful statistics and graphs helps identify damage trends. Reports are delivered electronically or hard copy.
This service can be provided at all points along the supply chain.
SGS provides a valuable intervention whenever custody or responsibility changes hands. Our inspections can also reveal non-transit damage, thereby enabling our clients, receivers or manufacturers to work towards the elimination of repetitive production faults. Examples of our intervention along the supply chain are:
Pre-Loading Surveys
Vehicles are inspected just before handover to the marine/inland carrier to provide an accurate reflection of the condition of vehicles prior to loading. Our survey report will protect the carrier from illegitimate transit claims.
SGS also offers associated cargo superintending of vehicles and loading audit programmes.
First Place of Rest (FPR)/Receiving Surveys
Vehicles are inspected in the official first place of rest following discharge to provide an accurate reflection of the condition of vehicles upon arrival. Repair methods and estimated costs are applied at the time of inspection. All transit damages are presented to the delivering carriers’ local agent upon completion of our survey. Our reports are used to support an effective claims management programme in recovering repair costs from the correct liable party.
Our FPR inspection data can be linked to your logistics and financial systems to confirm vehicle status, trigger orders for delivery to the next pointing the distribution cycle, confirm payments to Government Authorities and/or service providers.
Pre-Delivery Inspections
Vehicles are inspected after dewax/protection removal in order to ascertain the true condition of vehicle panels/parts. Damage cause, repair method and estimated repair costs are applied at the time of inspection. Our reports are then used to support an efficient claims management system.
Condition Appraisal Services
In addition to reporting damages, we record lesser defects that could adversely affect a vehicle's value. Our reports list all accessories, each of which undergoes separate function checks. Clients can view this information on our web site or receive the report in an electronic format.
Verification/Counter Surveys
As your appointed surveyors, SGS can review all damages/shortages presented against you by receiving surveyors. All repair methods and estimated costs are verified to be accurate and fair. These surveys can be carried out at any point of the distribution chain including the vehicle retailer premises.
Arbitration
SGS can act as independent arbitrators during cases of dispute regarding damage liability, ensuring claims are settled efficiently and amicably and vehicles are not delayed unnecessarily in the distribution chain.
Joint Surveys
Some parties presently pay for their own individual survey on a unit cost basis. Sometimes as many as four different inspections can take place on the same consignment. This produces different inspection results, with inspectors often using different terms for both damage and vehicle panels/parts. By implementing independent joint surveys throughout the supply chain, survey costs will be dramatically reduced, the standard of inspection becomes consistent and terms and notations become standardised. Repairs can be authorised and claims can be paid and recovered immediately as there is no confusion as to who is liable for each damage.
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