Quick Technologies Adds QCA to Products
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.
“Being the first research tool to offer distributors the ability to quickly and easily search for QCA Accredited suppliers is key to helping them make educated purchasing decisions,” said David Natinsky, president of SAGE–Quick Technologies Inc. “Product safety compliance is critical in today’s business environment, and providing accurate information to the promotional products industry about companies who have proactively taken the steps to become QCA-certified is of the utmost importance.”
Distributors and their end-user clients all have slightly different requirements for product safety and social compliance, and they frequently address the topic via indemnification agreements rather than actual performance standards. In today’s litigious society, however, these agreements are no longer sufficient. The creation of an industry standard gives both suppliers and distributors the ability to be proactive in addressing client requests by offering an independent, third-party-audited and often more-stringent standard of compliance.
“Distributors are asking how they can locate QCA-accredited member product offerings, and we are encouraged that SAGE is including the QCA Certified Icon in the SAGE Online research tool,” said Brent Stone, QCA executive director—operations. “We continue to hear positive feedback from distributors and clients alike on QCA’s efforts to improve the industry’s capacity to provide safe and compliant products. Being identified as a QCA-certified company will improve suppliers’ ability to drive value for both distributors and clients.”
About QCA:
Chicago, Illinois-based Quality Certification Alliance is an independent accreditation organization whose mission is 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 on the QCA, visit www.qcalliance.org.