WHAT DOES ACCREDITATION MEAN FOR ME?

• It tells your customers that they are dealing with a company that has met the requirements of the internationally accredited Q-BASE Code: 1995 for quality management practice, tailored specifically to meet the needs of smaller businesses.
  
• By implementing the Q-BASE Code and inviting independent assessment of your quality system, you have demonstrated a formal commitment to ensure that what your customers want is what they get - 100% of the time! The Q-BASE Code is designed to expose your weak spots to you before you expose them to your customers.
  
• Your certification says more about your company than you can ever say about it yourselves.
  
• To become certified, your quality management systems must be audited against the requirements of the Q-BASE Code. The Q-BASE Code draws on the elements of the ISO 9000 series of quality standards and adapts them for the smaller business. An independent audit team puts your operations and procedures under the microscope until they are satisfied that you measure up to the Q-BASE Code requirements.
  
• But it doesn't end there.....ongoing reviews by Q-BASE, every six months, ensures that the confidence in your quality system’s performance continues.
  
• To become a fully accredited and certified Q-BASE company you have to proceed through the following steps:

• Make a commitment to deliver consistent excellence to your customers.
  
• Sign up for the Q-BASE program by calling 1-800-717-3536.(Toll free)
  
• Attend a Q-BASE "start up" seminar. (Can be held on your premises).
  
• Appoint a senior staff member to be your company's Quality Coordinator.
  
• Use the detailed training materials provided by Q-BASE, and get ongoing, direct support from Q-BASE throughout the system's development via telephone, fax, mail, and visits, and prepare your company’s Quality Manual to comply with the international Q-BASE Code.
  
• Involve your staff in this process right from the start, to be sure that your Quality Manual truly reflects what you do in your company’s operations. That is, be sure that you "Say what you do and do what you say".
  
• You will then be ready to submit your company’s Quality Manual for independent, third party audit and assessment against the Q-BASE Code.
  
• After your company’s Quality Manual has been reviewed by the independent auditor(s), they will contact you for an on site audit and facility review.
  
• On successful completion of this on site assessment, the independent auditor will recommend your company for accreditation and certification against the Q-BASE Code of quality management practice.
  
• From this point onwards, your Q-BASE program will be reviewed every six months to ensure your company maintains and improves its achieved level of quality management practice.