The Chicago-based Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) announced it granted QCA Accreditation to two more founding members: Kansas City, Missouri-based Barton Nelson and New Kensington, Pennsylvania-based Leed’s. These two firms join Lawrence, Massachusetts-based Gemline and Tustin, California-based Logomark in being the initial companies reaching this milestone.
QCA accredited members have endorsed a self-certification, completed a rigorous self-assessment and then submitted their company headquarters and supply base to a third-party audit. The QCA board uses a scorecard representing the performance of the member and their supply chain on the third-party audits as the foundation for granting accreditation.
Gabe Nelson, executive vice president of sales and marketing of Barton Nelson, commented, “To earn QCA Accreditation, a company must adhere to an essential level of standards designed to detect and deter non-compliant products from entering into the market place.” Nelson continued, “Achieving QCA Accreditation is a notable achievement for Barton Nelson as it demonstrates our dedication to providing safe, high-quality products. With the emergence of the QCA Certified Seal, distributors can easily identify industry suppliers that share in our commitment.”
The independent verification of the standards and procedures to which QCA-certified companies adhere ensures that distributors and end-buyers receive consistently safe, high-quality, socially compliant and environmentally conscientious merchandise.
“Achieving QCA Accreditation is an important milestone for Leed’s,” said David Nicholson, president of Leed’s. “This long and rigorous process reconfirms Leed’s commitment to product safety. I am equally proud of the progress that QCA has made throughout the last year in addressing this critical issue for our industry.” Nicholson concluded, “With the growing number of suppliers achieving QCA Accreditation, the organization is well on its ways toward fulfilling its mission.”
About QCA:
Chicago, Illinois-based Quality Certification Alliance is an independent accreditation organization with a mission to elevate the standards by which industry firms that import and/or manufacture promotional products provide consistently safe, high-quality, socially compliant and environmentally conscientious merchandise. The QCA Seal of Approval is granted to member companies who complete an independent third-party audit and comply with stringent standards, which are based upon a combination of state and national laws, international standards and industry-accepted best practices that are recognized for their strength and effectiveness by QCA members, the promotional products industry and the end-user clients.
For more information, visit www.qcalliance.org.
