Company News

EXCELLENT SERVICE AWARDS SCHEME – AUGUST 2015

This is a new service, launched to meet the needs of the service sector and specialist suppliers dealing directly with the public. It is designed to promote and encourage the concept that good quality service should be recognised and furthermore promoted, to the overall benefit of all parties concerned.

The QAICL Excellence Awards Scheme™, is open to all companies¹ and relies upon recommendations from the users of the service they provide, or from good reports that are generated in the media, especially where such service is deemed exemplary and worthy of particular recognition by QAICL, as a Certification awarding body.

For further details, please see the Other Schemes Page.

It is interesting to note that the challenge set by QAICL Managing Director – Alan Carter in August, has yet to be taken up, by Care Homes and Specialist care providers dealing with vulnerable members of the public. Mr Carter suggests that such Organisations ‘prove they care’ by accepting QAICL’s challenge to achieve a ‘Platinum Award’ under the ‘Excellent Service Award Scheme’. Mr Carter suggests that “by agreeing to engage in advanced Audit and Surveillance Protocols, far in excess of those employed for normal ISO System or Care Quality Commission audits, such organisations could be scrutinised on a random basis, by both remote and ‘novel’ physical means. This could demonstrate to a truly independent third party registrar (and thence the public), that they maintain a management policy and systems of process, that are effective and consistent, with providing a truly ‘care-led’ environment. They could also by this means, offer irrefutable evidence, of a continued commitment to Care Staff in the delivery of first class customer service, that is directed toward those who are not in a position to reliably protect their own interests”.

UKAS WEBSITE ERROR – MARCH 2012

Please be advised that due to unforeseen technical problems within UKAS, the UKAS website is currently listing QAICL as ‘Voluntary Suspended’. This is an error on the part of UKAS and can only be corrected by the UKAS technical team. We would confirm that QAICL is not suspended for QMS activities and UKAS would be happy to acknowledge this point to any enquirers requiring clarification on this matter. Both QAICL and UKAS should like to thank you for your patience whilst this error is resolved.

NEW UKAS LOGO

UKAS have launched a new generic Management System Accreditation Symbol for Certification Bodies.

Following consultation with The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), stakeholders and customers, a new single generic management system accreditation symbol accreditation symbol has been introduced. The new symbol will in due course replace all of the existing management system accreditation symbols that currently specify the type of management system covered by the accreditation. A period of five years is being given for certification bodies to implement the change with full implementation by 31st August 2014.

Details of New Registration Logos incorporating the UKAS Mark are now available to all customers from QA International Head Office.

JAPAN DISASTER – QAICL POLICY 13/04/2011

The following Policy has been declared by the Governing Board of QAICL, further to recent events in Japan and after consultation with UKAS on appropriate measures for QAICL Certificate holders in affected areas.

In essence, the requirements of draft document ‘IAF ID Z:201Q Issue 1’ will be adopted until further notice. The exception on provisions in this document, placed upon UK Accredited Certification Bodies by UKAS, being that there is only a three Month ‘period of grace’, rather than the six months suggested in the Document.

In real terms for Auditors and Customers the process will be as follows:

When a surveillance Audit is due, the QAICL Local Office will raise a surveillance report as usual, which will detail the alternative measures it has taken to establish a quality system still exists within the Client Company. This may include telephone interviews, references to copies of Internal Audit Reports, Meeting Minutes and other management system reference documents obtained from a Client and sufficient to make a case for continued registration. If such documents are not available, then an Audit Programme will be attached to the report detailing when such documents are to be available or an Audit visit is scheduled. Either case must be within Three Months of Certificate expiry to accord with UKAS requirements. Certificates raised on the basis of such reports shall be issued for twelve Months in line with the normal Certification cycle.

When a recertification Audit is due, the QAICL Local Office will raise a re-certification report as usual, which will detail the alternative measures it has taken to establish a quality system still exists within the Client Company as above. An Audit Programme will be attached to the report detailing when the recertification Audit can be scheduled and this must be within the Three Months of original re-assessment due date. Upon receipt of the recertification report a Certificate shall be issued for Three Months as an interim measure pending actual Audit for continuation of Registration.

During the periods of interim Certification above, the rights of the customer to claim Certification and display Registration Marks shall be protected.

BRC UPDATE – REPORTS

Customers and Suppliers to BRC Retail Standards should be aware that the BRC is currently implementing a new ‘BRC Directory’ wherein all BRC reports from Certification Bodies are uploaded and distributed to relevant parties. Due to technical problems within BRC, some QAICL reports are not able to be uploaded – the BRC are currently investigating how this interface problem may be resolved. In the interests of maintaining supply-chain integrity, customers and suppliers should be aware that QAICL is still arranging its own issue of reports until the BRC problem is resolved. Supply-chain organisations seeking any further advice or assistance in this matter should contact QAIC Packaging on +44 (0)1325 903001 or email

QAICL Launch of ‘Own-Brand’ Chain of Custody Certification

Following requests from customers in the Packaging Industry, QAICL has developed a Certification Scheme which is designed to fit into the Chain of Custody Supply Chain for Traceability of Products sourced from managed and sustainable resources. This Scheme is NOT designed as a replacement or alternative to F.S.C. but is designed to allow companies to demonstrate the part they play in maintaining traceability of product from managed resources. Ref QAIC/CofC/001 (Schedule 030) and further details may be obtained from info@qaicl.co.uk

Certificate Award for Sriram Associates – India

The Company achieved it’s award for the scope “Development and Provision of Solutions for Prevention and Control of Concrete and Structural Distress, Leakage, and Corrosion”.

Hand over of ISO 9001 Certificate by Sandeep R. Chalke, the Chief Executive of QA International India (Mumbai), to M. Rajagopal – Chief Executive.