Tougher audits for RVMAA members

Members of the peak body representing Australian RV manufacturers, will have to pass tougher audits including random inspections, in order to display the RVMAA ‘seal of approval’ on their vehicles.

The stricter new measures are part of a wide-ranging overhaul of the Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Australia (RVMAA), which has been widely criticised on online forums and has been without Australia’s biggest RV manufacturer Jayco, as a member for almost two years.

According to CEO, David Duncan (pictured), who has been in the job for 10 months, the not-for-profit body has undertaken “a comprehensive review of our governance and structure... that has resulted in what used to be the RVMAA (changing) from an incorporated body to a public company limited by guarantee, with the name RVM Australia”.

The changes, which also include a new constitution and the appointment of a board of directors in place of the previous committee of management, were endorsed by members at the annual general meeting in August.

“We’ve also seen fit to review our product compliance program, which is essentially the cornerstone of the association’s being,” says Duncan.

“Manufacturing members of the association in particular have to commit to audits of their product to ensure that they are complying with Australian Design Rules and standards, so they have to be compliant with the law.

“In return, for passing the audits they are then able to affix the association’s badge on every one of their vehicles, which is the seal of approval.”

The tougher audit process to be introduced early next year is “going to be a lot more robust, a lot more relevant (and) incorporate a lot more member participation”.

“There will be a lot more onus on the manufacturing members to ensure that they keep good and accurate records... We’re seeking input and feedback from our manufacturing members to ensure we are heading in the right direction.”

In order to give “consumers a higher degree of confidence” in the ‘seal of approval’ process, Duncan says the audit checklist for all RV types, including motorhomes, caravans, and fifth-wheelers, has been overhauled.

Random audits will be introduced, and larger RV manufacturers will be faced with up to three vehicle inspections during each audit, compared to only one previously.

Members that have achieved other quality and certification standards, including those set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), will also be rewarded by having longer periods between audits of up to 18 months, instead of the usual six months.

RVM Australia will continue to work closely with any non-complying members, to “bring the deficiencies or areas where they haven’t succeeded in the audit to their attention, and then give them the opportunity to rectify them”.

While admitting RVM Australia receives its share of negative feedback, including via an online survey
on its own website, Duncan said: “A lot of it is about problems that consumers perhaps are having with manufacturers or aspects of their van. In a lot of cases we don’t have the wherewithal to attend to these cases.”

He said the association had more of a “protection role” rather than one of “audit police”, as it's sometimes referred as.

“I believe we’re here to protect the member to ensure they are producing product which is lawful... in accordance with Australian Design Rules which is Australian law... (but) that’s the minimum standard.”

Members must also comply with codes of practice that specify “a much higher standard of finish, especially safety wise, than simply just complying with ADRs.”

“We’ve tried to put together something that’s based on various standards and best practice, and is more relevant in today’s market,” he says.

RVM Australia is currently working on a three-year strategic plan, and plans to update its
website to reflect recent changes including the new name and logo (pictured). It will also launch a consumer awareness campaign in early-2013.

While claiming its current membership represents “about 90-95 percent of all manufacturers in Australia”, Duncan admits not having Jayco, which accounts for around 40 percent of all RVs produced in Australia, as a member is an issue “in terms of being a strong industry body”.

“I’d like to think that Jayco might come back one day,” he says. “They probably thought we lost our way a little. The challenge is for us to find our way, and hopefully convince Jayco that we’re a worthy organisation to have them back as a member.”