What is a certified body?
A certified body is an independent organization that
provides standards registration and training in a fair and impartial manner.
The people who work for certified bodies and who
actually sign off on companies' registration are called assessors and or
auditors.
How many companies currently have some form of registration?
More than 55,000 companies in North America and
over 500,000 worldwide are registered to at least one of the international
standards.
How do we know you will live up to your promise of exceptional service?
"We are very pleased with AQA International as our certified body.
They are both technically competent and competitive in cost.
We have recommended them to several of our customers who have found
the registration process very satisfying when using AQA."
Mr. Dave Roof, QA Manager, Trelleborg Prodyn, Inc., Salisbury, NC.
"AQA International has helped us promote continual improvement
in our business practices through their audits and their customer service
is exceptional. I highly recommend AQA to all of my business colleagues."
Mr. Dennis Welch, Management Rep, Madison Precision Products, Inc., Madison, IN.
"AQA International's knowledge of the requirements has both depth and breadth,
more so than any other certified body I have worked with. In addition, their
customer service has always been excellent. All in all, AQA provides a value-added
service that is refreshing in that industry."
Mr. James D. Wenklert, North American Supplier Quality Engineer, TOWER AUTOMOTIVE – Novi, MI.
What is the most common form of certification?
Right now, ISO 9001: 2000 is the most widely adopted quality management system standard
in the world. Other popular standards include: TS and AS.
How many certified bodies are there?
There are approximately 100 certified bodies in the
United States alone. But not all of them are created equal. For example, only
half (or close to that number) currently are accredited or approved by a recognized body,
and the way in which they work with clients differs dramatically. That is why
it is important to do your homework and conduct some due diligence before you
choose your certified body. Your choice will have a substantial impact on the
registration experience.
Is working with an accredited certified body really that important?
Accreditation/approval in the certified body industry is much
like certification is in yours. It is a way of instantly telling who is serious
about providing top-notch, high-caliber registration services.
You certainly can work with an unaccredited
certified body. However, if your organization is going to go through the time and
effort of demonstrating its quality via registration, why would you elect to
cut corners anywhere?
Describe AQA International's registration style.
If you are looking for a rigid and highly
bureaucratic certified body that likes to create extra work just for the sake of
making your registration process harder, we are probably not the company for
you.
We believe that registration should be a test of
your organization, not your patience. We believe that making a
process understandable and accessible does not make it any less meaningful or
credible. And we believe that there is a way to be accommodating and helpful
without relaxing any of the high standards that give registrations their value.
Most important of all, we believe that nothing is gained if a certified body
deliberately sets an applicant up for failure.
That is why we document our audit expectations up
front - and why we do our best to provide you with every tool you'll need to
meet and exceed them.
How much does registration cost?
The answer to that question varies dramatically
depending upon the size of your company, the kind of registration sought and
the kinds of things that need to be done to get you from beginning to end. So
rather than give you a generic answer, we encourage you to call us at
800.281.4384.
You will be amazed at how quick and easy it is.
How long has AQA International been in business?
AQA International was established in 1992 to satisfy local needs and collaborate
with a few key companies to facilitate registration. Today we are a fast-growing,
for-profit corporation with an eye on the future and a desire to be known as simply
the best. Our executive team has experience in this industry that spans many decades.