The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, non-profit accrediting organization dedicated to validating industry manufacturing and sourcing processes, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month. QCA began in 2008 as a group of 14 companies in search of a comprehensive industry standard for compliance.

“QCA has added immeasurable value to our industry over the last ten years and remains a shining example of what’s possible through collaboration around doing what’s right, fair and responsible,” says David Clifton, alphabroder CMO and QCA board president.

Larry Whitney, director of global compliance at Polyconcept North America—a QCA founding member company—and the QCA board’s immediate past president, adds, “We had a good compliance program, but it was difficult to get that point across to customers and end-users without a frame of reference. There were, and still are, no comparable organizations that evaluate an organization on their ability to meet a variety of compliance-related criteria. Encouraging an independent third-party organization like QCA was in the best interests of our industry.”

Jeff Lederer, CEO of founding member company Primeline and QCA board member, says, “QCA has become the pre-emanate industry organization in product quality and safety, and for ten years there is no match—which shows the vision of this innovative group of founding companies. The longevity of QCA shows that the importance of ensuring this industry has the proper standards of compliance is critical.”