FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
A1 Teletronics receives ISO 9002 re-certification
St. Petersburg, Fla. November 20, 2001 - Registrar QMI recommended ISO 9002 re-certification
for A1 Teletronics, Inc. here yesterday after finding the independent telecommunications distributor
with zero nonconformances. "Zero nonconformance" refers to the conclusion drawn by the re-certification
auditor upon finding all areas of the company's quality system to be in compliance with the 20 quality
elements of ISO 9002. The auditor left A1 with praise for two areas in particular: a new work order
system that makes product completely traceable throughout the repair process and improved policies
on the company's corrective action system.
According to the continuous certification schedule A1 abides by, re-certification audits focusing on
50% of the company's quality system take place once every 30 months, while surveillance audits
focusing on 25% of its quality system take place once every six months. Although companies are
given a choice between this schedule and an annual re-certification schedule that does not include
surveillance audits, A1 Operations and Quality Assurance Manager Mark Rosendale explained why A1
chose the schedule that it did. "Our schedule brings us together with the auditor twice a year
instead of just once. This not only affirms that quality is an integral part of what we do at A1.
It also ensures that the auditor becomes familiar with our company and quality system, which in
turn enables him or her to provide the most useful feedback to us as we strive to continuously
improve upon our quality program," Rosendale said.
In addition to addressing any feedback that might result from an audit, A1's commitment to continuous
quality improvement includes conducting complete quarterly internal audits, implementing company-wide
quality metrics, regularly discussing the company's performance, and assigning employee "task forces"
to address any areas for improvement that these discussions might identify. From the time they are
hired, employees are also repeatedly trained on ISO-certified quality standards. "The goal here is
for employees to be familiar with A1's quality system and how they contribute to it," explained A1
Quality Assurance Coordinator Joann Boyd. "The end result is a total commitment to quality across the
company," she added.
Click here to download the press release.
Click here to download the certificate.
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