Due Diligence - IGC USA - Anybody know anything about them?

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rob_heg

Hi Cove

Thinking of giving this entity a try, but it would be nice to have more info, as in, real experience. Anybody know anything about them?
Thank you.

http://www.igcert.org

Even though they seem to be headquartered in Korea, they have an office in Glendale, CA, which is close to us.
 

Helmut Jilling

Auditor / Consultant
If you don't find them suitable, I would recommend two more familiar registrars - Smithers Quality Assessments and NQA USA. Both are active here at Elsmar and well known and well regarded. There are also resent actives of DNV and BSI on the Cove. Why go with a CB no one in the USA knows, rather than a more proven registrar with good history? Just another point of view.... Good success to you...
 
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rob_heg

Why go with a CB no one in the USA knows, rather than a more proven registrar with good history? Just another point of view.... Good success to you...

Helmut, thanks for your input. That's why I posted this thread, because I did not know if they are virtually unknown. I was posting to see if anyone has done business with them.

The advantage to using an unknown registrar is cost. (I know this because I have already gotten quotes).
What are the risks to using an "unproven" registrar? What can go wrong?
 

Helmut Jilling

Auditor / Consultant
Helmut, thanks for your input. That's why I posted this thread, because I did not know if they are virtually unknown. I was posting to see if anyone has done business with them.

The advantage to using an unknown registrar is cost. (I know this because I have already gotten quotes).
What are the risks to using an "unproven" registrar? What can go wrong?

well, perhaps the following...

1). A terrible audit experience,
2). A non-value-added audit experience,
3). A difficult relationship with a Korean based registrar (significant differences in culture),
4). Customers asking..."who the heck is this?"

Now, I am not saying using a US based registrar will guarantee no issues, but it is certainly less of a variable.

Also, I strive to help my clients (auditong and consulting) understand a few items:

1). Audit Day requirements are supposed to be the same worldwide. So, if you get quotes with different audit days quoted, something is not right. Someone is making an error somewhere. If that is not reconciled, you could jeopardize the validity of your certificate.

2). If the audit days are the same, but the audit day rate is different....think about why. There can't be too much of a range in the rates. The registrar has to make a certain amount of money to operate and stay in business. The auditor has to make a decent living to justify living in hotels all the time. If either of these are significantly different, I would want to wonder why. As an auditor, I make a decent living, but am not rich. If I have decent auditor skills, and were underpaid, there are easily a bunch of other registrars that would snap me up.

3). Most importantly, are you looking at the cost of the audit, or the return you receive from the audit. A good auditor will help you identify areas of improvement that can save you many times their fees in improvements and identifying potential problems.

I do wish you the best success, but have done many audits cleaning up the mess from a previous registrar.

Just a few thoughts, but do you want to hire the cheapest auditor/registrar, the cheapest lawyer and the cheapest surgeon...? Are a few hundred dollars worth it?

Best wishes....
 

AndyN

Moved On
When the first line under ISO 9001 defines this:

"ISO 9001 quality management system is a standard enacted and implemented by the international organization for standardization as a means to evaluate the quality management system of an organization."

I'd tread very cautiously...
 
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rob_heg

Helmut,
Your last post was extremely informative, and I really appreciate your time. Thank you so much. It will definitely help me make the right decision.
 

AndyN

Moved On
This CB is accredited by IAS, and IAS is not recognized by IAF for management system certification.

Check http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=66075.

IAS is accrediting low cost CB's, and there must be a Risk Based Thinking connection somewhere....:D

Should someone notify IAF? IAS uses the IAF and APLAC logos and quotes:

"There are four international organizations that recognize IAS. These are the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF)."

http://www.iasonline.org/More/international_activities.html

:popcorn:
 
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Reg Morrison

They are recognized by the IAF for product certification, so, technically, they have recognition from the IAF....:ca:
 
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