October 8, 2019
What is TQI? How do I interpret my TQI? Why do I need TQI? Why is TQI important?
Test Quality Information is data collected by the DVSA and since 2016 has been available to all testers on all the MOTs they have performed.
It is the summation of all test failures and allows the tester to compare his or her failure rates against national averages.
The data is drawn only from failures and not all MOTs.
The percentages for each category show the percentage of occurrences of each category in all MOT failures.
This is the starting point that can enable the tester to identify possible weaknesses in their application of MOT testing standards through their testing routine and testing methods that could result in the incorrect outcome of an MOT.
The tester is required by the DVSA to consider the reasons why their failure rates might differ from national averages and record the reasons why that might be. They are also tasked with taking and recording any action they could or should take to address any quality issues they may have with regards to performing MOTS and applying the correct standards with the correct testing methods.
“Your failure rate might be higher or lower than the site or national average. This does not automatically mean anything is wrong with your testing standard. Review this data regularly and look into any unusual differences, investigate any issues and record the outcome. The DVSA will also use this information when preparing for site visits.”
You are required to download and review your TQI data regularly by the DVSA. We recommend monthly because your data is available monthly.
Once you have downloaded your TQI you will need to identify areas of concern i.e. your failure rates in each area of an MOT test that differ significantly from national averages.
Just because your failure rate is different to the national average it does NOT mean you are doing anything wrong.
However, you will need to understand why your TQI data is at variance to the national average, give a justification and potentially take meaningful action (see below) to ensure you are delivering the correct outcome of an MOT test in all areas of the test.
MOT Juice provides a mechanism by which you can automatically download, record the justification and record any potential action you will take to improve ready for review by your manager or the Vehicle Examiner (VE) should you have a site inspection visit.
Firstly, your garage must be signed up to the MOT Juice VTS Tools. Then at Garage or Client user level the TQI feature can be selected from Subscription Settings in the drop down list accessed from clicking on the user’s name – top right on the screen.
Secondly, MOT Juice must have been assigned the Authorised Examiner Consultant (AEC) role by your Authorised Examiner (AE)
The AEC role is a new role developed by the DVSA to enable third-party consultants to access an MOT garage’s data held on the MOT Testing Service (MTS).
The AEC can view Test Quality Information, Test Logs, Tester Annual Assessment Certificates and Site Review outcomes. It does not allow the AEC to carry out any other actions such as starting tests, buying MOT slots or assigning roles.
1. Log in to your MOT Juice account
2. Click TQI from the menu bar
3. Click on the left-hand red cell for this month
1. Click on Record Actions for each area of concern
2. Record your justification for variance in Supporting Statement
3. Record any remedial action you feel necessary in Resolutions
1. Once all areas have been addressed you will get a confirmation message.
2. Close the confirmation message and you will see your TQI record for the month is now green and the left-hand cell for the month is empty and the number is now in the right-hand box.
Just because your percentages for failure in any one category differ from the national or site averages it does not necessarily mean you are doing anything wrong.
A risk rating is not a measure of your performance but purely an indicator of risk.
The DVSA perceive there is a risk that you may deliver an incorrect outcome of an MOT test. This may not be true and you may be an experienced tester with a great test routine but here is what you should do
This could be for many reasons which you should record in Supporting Statements. Following are some examples but, this is not a complete or exhaustive list
1. You are located by the sea and therefore many vehicles fail on corrosion
2. You mainly see vehicles under 7 years old and therefore have few failures
3. You have not been trained correctly on the use of a piece of equipment
4. You are unaware of the regulations in one area
If the DVSA pays you a visit, then you will need to show you have reviewed your TQI data and investigated the reasons why your failure rates are at variance to national or site averages and you are rated red or amber.
You will need to show that you are acting positively to reduce the risk that you may deliver the incorrect outcome of an MOT. You will also need to record any actions you do take within the MOT Juice TQI system.
Following are some possible actions you might take but this is not an exhaustive or complete list.
WARNING
DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, DECIDE TO PASS OR FAIL MORE VEHICLES IN THE AREA OF CONCERN TO MANIPULATE YOUR PERCENTAGES SO THEY ALIGN WITH THE NATIONAL AVERAGES.
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