QCA News 2009

June 4, 2009: QCA FILES FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT STATUS

Quality Certification Alliance makes progress on becoming a membership-based organization.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (June 4, 2009) – Since the Quality Certification Alliance’s inception, its 14 founding members have been building the group and its standards, and they are now ready to form a not-for-profit organization. On Friday, May 29, QCA filed articles of incorporation for not-for-profit status with the IRS. Read more.

June 11, 2009: BDA, INC. AND LOGOMARK COMPLETE THIRD-PARTY AUDITS

Reaching this Quality Certification Alliance milestone puts these companies one-step closer to achieving accreditation.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (June 11, 2009) – BDA, Inc. and Logomark are the first two companies to reach a Quality Certification Alliance milestone: successfully completing a third-party audit of their compliance programs and practices. This is a significant step because it puts these companies one-step closer to achieving QCA accreditation. Read more.

June 19, 2009: LEED’S AND SWEDA COMPLETE QCA THIRD-PARTY AUDITS

These firms join BDA, Inc. and Logomark in becoming one-step closer to achieving accreditation through Quality Certification Alliance.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (June 19, 2009) – Leed’s and Sweda Company LLC have become the third and fourth companies to successfully complete a third-party audit of their compliance programs and practices, a milestone on the road to achieving accreditation from the Quality Certification Alliance. They join BDA, Inc. and Logomark, which were announced last week. Read more.

June 29, 2009: GEMLINE AND PRIME RESOURCES CORP. COMPLETE THIRD-PARTY AUDITS; QCA OPENS FOR MEMBERSHIP

Six of the 14 Quality Certification Alliance founding members have now completed the independent auditing process of their headquarters as the organization is ready to share its accreditation program with the industry.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (June 29, 2009) – Gemline and Prime Resources Corp. have successfully completed a third-party audit of their compliance programs and practices. They join BDA, Inc., Leed’s, Logomark and Sweda in achieving this important milestone on the road to QCA accreditation. Read more.

July 10, 2009: QUALITY CERTIFICATION ALLIANCE OPENS FOR MEMBERSHIP

The promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products is now accepting applications for membership.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (July 10, 2009) – In the absence of a defined industry standard for product safety, clients have been forced to create and manage to their own unique defined standards—until now. For the past year, the 14 founding members of the not-for-profit Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) have been working to establish certification standards as well as define and test a comprehensive accreditation program. With all the pieces in place, QCA is now accepting new member applications. Read more.

August 5, 2009: LOGOMARK AND GEMLINE ACHIEVE QCA ACCREDITATION

The promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products has granted its first supplier certifications.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (August 5, 2009) – Just weeks after the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) opened for membership, the organization achieved another milestone: two of its founding members—Logomark and Gemline—are the first suppliers to achieve QCA Accreditation. Read more.

October 9, 2009: BARTON NELSON AND LEED’S ACHIEVE QCA ACCREDITATION

The promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products has granted two more supplier certifications.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (October 9, 2009) – The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) had granted QCA Accreditation to two more founding members: Barton Nelson, Inc. and Leed’s. These two firms join Gemline and Logomark in being the initial companies reaching this milestone. Read more.

November 13, 2009: FENTON ATTENDS INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT ON PRODUCT SAFETY

QCA’s executive director of compliance represented the promotional products industry at the 3rd Biennial United States – China Consumer Product Safety Summit.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (November 13, 2009) – D E Fenton, executive director of compliance for the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), attended the 3rd Biennial United States – China Consumer Product Safety Summit, a symposium between the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and its counterpart agency, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ). The invitation-only event was held October 21 – 26, in Wuxi, Shanghai and Beijing, China. Read more.

December 4, 2009: SAGE ADDS QCA ACCREDITATION TO SEARCH TOOL

SAGE – Quick Technologies, Inc. is the first industry research provider to include the QCA Certified Icon in search parameters for its SAGE Online research tool.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (December 4, 2009) – Finding and differentiating between suppliers whose processes are third-party audited and accredited as compared to self-certified has been a daunting task—until now. With the addition of the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) Certified Icon to the SAGE Online research tool from Carrollton, Texas-based SAGE – Quick Technologies, Inc., distributors can easily identify these suppliers with one click. Read more.

December 11, 2009: BUTTONWOOD ADDS QCA ACCREDITATION TO SEARCH TOOL

Buttonwood Technology Group is the second industry research provider to include the QCA Certified Icon in search parameters for its online research tool.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (December 11, 2009) – As Quality Certification Alliance’s efforts to improve the promotional products industry’s capacity to provide safe and compliant products continue to gain traction, New York, New York-based Buttonwood Technology Group has chosen to add the QCA Certified Icon to search parameters for its online research tool. Buttonwood joins Carrollton, Texas-based SAGE – Quick Technologies, Inc. in supporting this revolutionary industry initiative. Read more.

December 16, 2009: QCA ACCEPTS NEW CANDIDATES FOR MEMBERSHIP

Seven suppliers have applied for membership in the Quality Certification Alliance, the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (December 16, 2009) – Since Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) opened for membership in July, Brent Stone, QCA executive director – operations, has had countless conversations with suppliers who recognize the competitive advantage that comes with successful completion of independent, third-party audits but are unsure how to begin the process. “The QCA Accreditation program provides the guidance these companies need to build comprehensive and effective internal compliance programs,” he said. “As a result, seven suppliers have applied to join the ranks of QCA membership.” Read more.

December 22, 2009: FIVE SUPPLIERS ACHIEVE QCA CERTIFICATION

Broder Bros., Dard Products, Inc., Gordon Sinclair, Prime Resources Corp. and Sweda Company LLC have successfully completed the QCA accreditation process.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (December 22, 2009) – The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, has awarded accreditation to five additional suppliers. Read more.