An RAC scheme has helped improve the standard of work at Ford Authorised repairers by 50 per cent.

Launched in 2005, the initiative allows Ford's 700 dealer workshops to enter a four stage counselling procedure if they do not meet the manufacturer's service standards.

In addition, RAC has seen a 60% decrease in the number of workshops entering the counselling process managed by the motoring organisation.

To ensure standards are being met each workshop must submit information about defects found by technicians which are compared to the number of faults measued by independent inspections done by RAC.

If authorised repairers do not meet Ford's standards they are placed on the performance related programme and agree with the manufacturer when the assessment should end. 

Adrian McCarthy, head of RAC Inspections and Training, said: "Since 2005, RAC has been fundamental in improving the level of workshop quality within Ford's dealer network, involving the inspection of almost 50,000 customer-owned vehicles that have had work completed.

"Continuous analysis of the results of the programme has enabled us to suggest further improvements to its structure, resulting recently in the introduction of specifically tailored consultancy packages for certain dealers, delivered by RAC's Commercial Training specialists."