If you are considering AQA International for your certification needs, consider this: More and more leading companies are finding that AQA International is far superior in certification requirements knowledge and customer service. Get the facts, and make the decision that's right for you.
AQA FACT 1: Management systems registration removes uncertainty, improves overall performance and widens market opportunities.
AQA FACT 2: Currently, ISO 9001-2000 is the most widely adopted management system in the world.
AQA FACT 3: Preliminary findings from a national study indicate that most respondents are reporting a relatively quick payback time on their ISO 14001 investment. This is according to Environmental Systems Update (ESU).
AQA FACT 4: ISO/TS 16949 requires that all supporting locations (e.g., design, warehouse, sales, engineering, etc.) be audited.
AQA FACT 5: According to ISO/TS 16949, if product design is supported by a remote site (e.g., headquarters, another plants, etc.), your company is still product design-responsible. According to the standard, the definition of design responsibility is an organization with authority to establish a new, or change an existing, product specification.
AQA FACT 6: ISO/IEC 27001:2005, Information Security, specifies the processes that enable a business to establish, implement, review and monitor, manage and maintain an effective information security management system (ISMS).
AQA FACT 7: The Independent Association of Accredited Certified bodies (IAAR) is an association of accredited management system certified bodies operating in North America. The organization actively promotes establishment and maintenance of effective management systems in North American accredited registration.
AQA FACT 8: Any additional sites must be audited before they can be added to an existing registration.
AQA FACT 9: If an organization relocates, the new location must be audited in order to have the address appear on the registration certificate.
AQA FACT 10: ISO/TS 16949 auditors must be changed every three years. AQA INTERNATIONAL will work with you in making a smooth transition with your new auditor.
AQA FACT 11: AQA International has introduced a full line of world class continual education courses, fully accessible on-line. Outlines for AQA's E-Learning courses can be reviewed at this site; just click the "E-Learning" link under the "Services" tab above. All courses can be purchased and then taken on-line, all at the user's convenience.
AQA FACT 12: Working with an accredited vs unaccredited certified body has specific benefits for you:
- Industry recognition
- The understanding that your certified body is held to the same high standards as you
- Auditors are well-trained to meet requirements
- Continual improvement for your organization
AQA FACT 13: An unaccredited certified body cannot provide the same benefits as an accredited certified body, nor is it recognized by the industry or by industry standards. For instance, if your largest client requires you to be registered and the certified body you chose is not accredited, your registration does not count. For maximum benefits to your organization, be sure to work with an accredited certified body such as AQA INTERNATIONAL.
AQA FACT 14: Accreditation bodies are constantly looking at how to improve business and keeping the standards up-to-date. A revision to ISO 9001-2000 is early in development in a working draft.
AQA FACT 15: Working with an accredited certified body as opposed to an unaccredited certified body means you are working with a certified body that maintains the highest standards in the industry. The schemes under which AQA INTERNATIONAL works require a certain amount of expertise. A lot of time and resources are spent making sure our accreditation is intact.
AQA FACT 16: The certificate of registration should not be your organization's only goal. With the right approach, your certification will make lasting improvements on how your organization does business.
AQA FACT 17: When examining the ISO 9001-2000 standard, pay particular attention to the process approach described in its introduction.
AQA FACT 18: The implementation of ISO 9001 and other standards is not only a Quality Department issue, but is really a management issue. For a more effective implementation of your system, be sure management is actively involved.
AQA FACT 19: An effective internal audit ensures that your management system functions as it should and identifies any weaknesses in the system. Internal audits also identify any potential opportunities for improvement and can give top management and other interested parties assurance that the system meets requirements of the standard.
AQA FACT 20: An effective client communication process contributes to the success of the organization's management system and in turn, to the success of the organization. Many of the problems organizations experience with their clients can be traced back to poor client communications.
AQA FACT 21: The Information Security Standard, ISO/IEC 27001, specifies processes that enable businesses to manage an effective and continually improving Information Security Management System. AQA International in positioned to provide our clients with services in support of ISO/IEC 27001 implementation, including a customized gap analysis and scope definition. To get started with this important initiative, just call 866-217-5063 for a no obligation quotation for our services.
AQA FACT 22: AQA International announces our unique ability to offer Capability and Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) appraisal and training services. The CMMI Model reflects best practices in software engineering and development, as developed by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), an R&D center of Carnegie Mellon University. As a sanctioned SEI partner for the Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI), AQA is authorized to sponsor candidates to become lead appraisers, train appraisers teams, and lead appraisals.
AQA FACT 23: AQA INTERNATIONAL is audited on an annual basis to maintain its systems integrity and its accreditation to a specific scope.
AQA FACT 24: AQA INTERNATIONAL provides auditor training to maintain our accreditation and to harmonize our interpretation of the standards.
AQA FACT 25: AQA INTERNATIONAL serves the management systems industry with customer-required audits, known as second party audits. As second party audits continue to grow in popularity, they provide clients with a chance to tailor an audit for a specific issue within a specific location or group of locations. These audits can be done at any time with maximum results at reduced costs. AQA INTERNATIONAL is prepared to accommodate your needs by providing you with a quote for this service.
AQA FACT 26: Processes are the essential components of a management system. It is important to identify and classify all processes that could potentially affect the quality of your product or service.
AQA FACT 27: 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 you have.
AQA FACT 28: Did you know that the Aerospace Industry takes an active role in the third-party certification of Aerospace Suppliers? For this purpose the IAQG was formed. It consists of three sectors: the AAQG, the EAQG, and the AEAQG. In order to monitor its suppliers, the IAQG initiated OASIS; the On-line Aerospace Supplier Information System. Into OASIS are entered all data relating to certification of aerospace suppliers. A total of 5138 supplier entries have been registered, 3047 of those are in the Americas group.
AQA FACT 29: AQA International offers a full line of public and on-site training programs to assist you in your registration efforts. Public courses are offered at convenient times and locations, covering topics that include (but are not limited to) ISO 9001 implementation, corrective/preventative action and root cause analysis, and information security. For maximum client flexibility, all courses can be provided at the customer's facility, minimizing travel expense and disruption to busy schedules. For information about our public courses, on-site training, and our newly released E-Learning program, please call 800-281-4384, Ext. 234.
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