QMI - SAI Global Merger Question

[somerqc]

See letter below.

Has anyone else been through this type of thing? What should I expect out of the ordinary?

What have other experienced?

Interested QMI customer,

John



Dear Valued QMI Customer:

SAI Global has purchased QMI, effective February 29, 2008. QMI is very excited about this merger, as it brings many new opportunities for our customers. Our goal is to integrate the businesses as seamlessly as possible, and to keep you informed throughout the process. The following are some questions we anticipate might be top-of-mind.




Is my registration still valid? Yes. SAI Global is a globally accredited registrar, and all QMI registrations will remain valid under SAI Global Certification Services’ accreditation. Within North and South America, we will be known as QMI-SAI Global.

Will my certificate be replaced? Over time, yes. Your QMI certificate is still valid, and QMI will ensure that you receive a new certificate at the appropriate time. Rest assured you can still show this QMI certificate to your customers and know that you are providing them with accredited proof of your registration. If you are having trouble proving your registration, please contact QMI at the email address below so we can assist you.

Will I receive a new auditor and/or account management team? No. Audit teams, scheduling and client services staff will remain the same. Changes in staff naturally happen over time, but none are anticipated due to this merger.

Can I still use the QMI registration mark? Yes. We are thankful if you have chosen to use this, and we will work with you within a reasonable timetable to transition to a new mark when the time is right for your organization. You do not need to immediately remove QMI registration marks.


Is there a question we didn’t answer for you? Please send any questions you have to [email protected]. Inquiries and answers will be posted on our FAQ page at (broken link removed). Please continue to check this web page over the next few weeks for updates to questions that QMI customers just like you may have.

Our goal is that the transition will be seamless to you: Business As Usual. The same QMI employees will continue to audit, manage and schedule your organization, and your certificate will still remain valid. Through this process, QMI-SAI Global will be able to provide additional benefits to all of our customers, which we will begin to outline in the next edition of the QMI Brief. If you do not receive this electronic newsletter, please visit our web site at (broken link removed) to ensure you are signed up.

This merger represents numerous opportunities for QMI customers, and we look forward to sharing these with you in the QMI Brief.

Yours sincerely,



Wendy Tilford
President, QMI
[email protected]

 

[jcbodie]

At least for this registrar...business as usual. I work for them..they have handled this beautifully, with full communications, to their employees/subcontractors and to their clients, as the story has unfolded.

I once worked for another Registrar (used to be one of the big ones, now dropping in the ranks), who kept everyone in the dark about everything. I vividly recall the Sales force asking to see the business plan and sales forecast, and being denied that information by the President. At the same time, they were expected to meet their metrics (even though they were not told what they were). Could be the reason they are losing market share...Not at all the QMI experience...

Like the email says, feel free to contact your client service rep or auditor. Wish I knew who you were; I would be happy to contact your Auditor, so they can talk to you...

 

[somerqc]

I can ask him when he is here on April 22nd! Yep, surveillance audit time.

I understand business, I am just disappointed as I liked to support a Canadian company and I liked what I saw when I completed my auditor training there.

To be honest, at the time that we selected them it was between them and BSI. I liked what I saw at my training so much and the Canadian aspect were the only differences. (oh ya, and I was afraid of getting Randy as an auditor )

Thanks and I will be sure to talk to my auditor when he visits us in 5 weeks.

John

 

[little__cee]

My auditor was here on Monday.

He assured me that everything will remain business as usual. I should look for some new contracts that I'll have to sign but other than that, like the email stated, we can continue using the QMI mark and keep our current certificate without any problems.

 

[Randy]

I can ask him when he is here on April 22nd! Yep, surveillance audit time.

I understand business, I am just disappointed as I liked to support a Canadian company and I liked what I saw when I completed my auditor training there.

To be honest, at the time that we selected them it was between them and BSI.

I liked what I saw at my training so much and the Canadian aspect were the only differences.

You mean our Canadian auditors aren't Canadian enough? I'll tell the folks in our Toronto (Mississauga) office to fix that

(oh ya, and I was afraid of getting Randy as an auditor ) As you should be

Thanks and I will be sure to talk to my auditor when he visits us in 5 weeks.

John

Now I'm really upset................

 

[somerqc]

Ah...did I hurt Randy's feelings?

I didn't think that was possible.

I was referring to the country the company is based out of. Now, QMI is based out of Australia (re: Parent company location).

At least now I don't have to worry about co-workers saying hi to each other at my facility. I have actually had my QMI auditor and a CSA auditor here at the same time. Yep, had 2 guys auditing me for essentially the same thing at the same time.

Anyway, off I go.

John

 

[JOHANNPETER]

I do not care if the registar from my country or not. I care about the quality of the service and of the auditor team. The QMI/SAI merger is still not clear for me. There is a lack of information and it seems like the future is still incertain. SAI Global paid 40 million Can$, that seems overprized, considering the revenue of QMI during the last years. According to rumours, employees and auditors are not sure what will happen and customers fear to loose their certificates.The communication about the deal was very poor, quiet different from the news about the mot recent deal between German DQS and UL.

 

[little__cee]

The communication about the deal was very poor, quiet different from the news about the mot recent deal between German DQS and UL.

Communication to QMI employees was good, according to my source. As soon as the merger went through, I heard about it as a QMI customer direct from QMI. I'm curious as to where you think the poor communication was.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

SAI Global paid 40 million Can$, that seems overprized, considering the revenue of QMI during the last years.

According to the press releases, QMI's annual revenues were around CAN$ 30 million. With an overly simplistic calculation and discarding potential synergistic gains, if you estimate a profit margin of 10%, it would take about 13.5 years for SAI to see a return on their investment. Again, this is an overly simplistic calculation. I don't think a board would approve the investment based only on that, especially when everyone is concerned with the decline of the MSC market, worldwide.

and customers fear to loose their certificates.

That can't be true.

The communication about the deal was very poor, quiet different from the news about the mot recent deal between German DQS and UL.

I can't pass judgement on the communication of the QMI acquisition, but the DQS-UL merger has a lot of information in their new website, including video-clips... https://www.dqs-ul.com/en/home/

 

[somerqc]

After this posting, I have received a great deal of information from QMI-SAI Global as a customer.

I see no reason that they need to provide the information and/or conversations I have received with anyone except for their customers and their shareholders.

I have been very satisfied with how they have handled this so far. I will find out in a few weeks (surveillance audit time) how it has affected the auditors.

John