ASTON MARTIN CLIENT SERVICES

SERVICE POLICY LETTER
Reference number:

SPL-30-1074V2

Issued: 07 September, 2020

Subject:

EPDR Submission Process and Completion Times

Applicable to:

All Dealers

Distribute to:

After Sales Manager
Executive Manager
Service Manager
Sales Manager

Warranty Staff
Technician(s)
Parts Staff

This new version of Policy Letter SPL-30-1074 has been issued to update the EPDR (Electronic Product Detail Report)
submission process. Amendments to this document have a black line against them in the left side margin. Please destroy all
previous copies of SPL-30-1074 and replace them with this Service Policy Letter SPL-30-1074V2.

Dear Colleagues,
To improve our understanding of emerging quality concerns, we have decided to reiterate the policy regarding the EPDR
submission. This policy ensures AML receives the right information from the dealer network, allowing us to quickly
rectify emerging quality concerns.

EPDI and EPDR Completion Time
• EPDR forms must be completed within 24 hours of identifying an issue which meets the submission criteria.
• Within 3 months of new model launch, all new vehicle deliveries must be inspected and have ePDR’s raised
within 72 hours of vehicle receipt.

EPDR Submission Criteria
• An EPDR must be submitted for all roadside recoveries.
• An EPDR must be submitted for EVERY quality concern within 3 months of a new model launch.
• An EPDR must be submitted for all paint claims which occur within three Months in Service (MIS).
• An EPDR must be submitted for corrosion on any current production vehicles.
• An EPDR must be submitted for any new concern that occurs on more than 1 vehicle.
• An EPDR should be submitted for any issues the Quality team should be made aware of, such as high severity
or high Customer impact issues.

Important EPDR Information
• EPDR is Aston Martin’s quality concern reporting system and should not be used to request Technical
Assistance. For Technical Assistance please use SpotLight.
• The EPDR System is our Emerging Issues Concern Reporting System, so no feedback response should be
expected by Dealers. Solutions to EPDRs are delivered to Dealers by means of Service Bulletins (SBs), Service
Actions (SAs) and Recall Actions (RAs).
• EPDR reports must be supported with clear photographs and descriptions of the issue. If gaps, shuts or any
issue related to measurement is found, then you must also include a gap gauge, plastic rule or Vernier to show
the measurement (refer to Figure 10).
• It is not acceptable to list multiple issues on one EPDR submission. A separate EPDR should be raised for each
individual issue.
07 September, 2020

Page 1 of 6

SERVICE POLICY LETTER

SPL-30-1074V2

Attachment Submission
Attachments aid understanding - please add them to an EPDR where appropriate. Please attach additional files such as
(logs, videos, photographs, etc.) to the email address below. Reference the EPDR number and VIN in the subject box.
[email protected]

Photographic Presentation
Lighting
Poor, or incorrect, lighting is the usual cause of poor quality photographs. If possible, take the photographs in good,
natural light. If the light is poor (refer to Figure 1) try to use high powered workshop lighting (for example a halogen
lamp). The camera flash can be used as an alternative, but it can provide poor results when used for close-up
photographs. If you need to use the camera flash, do not take the photograph too near or the flash will be too bright and
cause the detail in the photograph to be lost (refer to Figure 2). If the camera has an optical zoom function, you can hold
the camera at a longer distance and zoom in. This will help to prevent the flash from being too bright.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Close-ups
When possible, take a photograph from a distance to
show the whole area that the problem is in and its scale.
(refer to Figure 3).

Figure 3

07 September, 2020

Page 2 of 6

SERVICE POLICY LETTER

SPL-30-1074V2

It is very important that the picture is clear and sharp (refer to Figure 4). If it is not focussed correctly (refer to Figure 5)
this is not acceptable. If the camera has a "macro" feature, you should enable this. Some cameras have different picture
modes which are available through a menu system.

Figure 4

Figure 5

Highlights
Use software to add arrows (refer to Figure 6) or other shapes to highlight the area concerned (refer to Figure 7 and
Figure 8). Reflections can be used to show distortion in a component (refer to Figure 9).

07 September, 2020

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Page 3 of 6

SERVICE POLICY LETTER

SPL-30-1074V2

Gap Reporting Procedure
• If you find a gap that is out of specification you must test the gap size with a gap gauge (refer to Figure 10).
• Take gap and flush measurements around the applicable area.
• Record the gap size and test location such as Right Rear Pillar.
• Take a photograph of the gap with the gap gauge inserted.
• Submit as part of EPDR.

Figure 10

07 September, 2020

Page 4 of 6

SERVICE POLICY LETTER

SPL-30-1074V2

Recommended Gap Test Locations
The locations marked in red are recommended where to do a gap test on a vehicle (refer to Figure 11).

Figure 11

07 September, 2020

Page 5 of 6

SERVICE POLICY LETTER

SPL-30-1074V2

If you have any questions about this Service Policy Letter, please contact the EPDR team at [email protected]
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours faithfully

Andrew West
Director, Client Services.

07 September, 2020

Page 6 of 6