Back to News index | Back to home

2002 IQCA audit covers more companies than ever before

August 6 2002

A team of six quality assurance auditors has just completed the largest Interviewer Quality Control Australia (IQCA) audit ever undertaken, after eight new companies sought accreditation for the first time in 2002. In total, 109 companies in 129 locations around Australia were audited.

Elissa Molloy, executive director of Market Research Quality Assurance Incorporated (MRQA), the independent body responsible for maintaining and improving the IQCA standards, says: 'The Council of MRQA congratulates all companies that sought accreditation this year. 'The focus of this year's audit program was continuous improvement and providing qualitative feedback for our participants,' she explains.'Several initiatives were put in place this year that have proven to be very successful.'

These included:

• a new standardised method of selection of specific projects for audit that ensured more in-depth assessments of adherence to standards across all audits categories
• the introduction of an executive summary report for CEOs that provides a summary of a company's overall performance in the audit against the IQCA standards
• the opportunity participants were given to provide feedback on a confidential feedback questionnaire at the end of the audit.

'So far, MRQA has received 30 questionnaires from participants,' reports Elissa. 'Overwhelmingly, the feedback has been positive about the IQCA audit process this year.' Some of the verbatim responses from the feedback questionnaires MRQA received this year included: 'Overall I am very impressed with the standard of IQCA. We have come a long way since 1991. It is the best thing that has happened to the industry.'

'Accreditation is the recognition both in the workplace and with our potential and current clients that standards are being followed and audited.' 'Random audit worked well and is a much better indication of company compliance. Audit procedure flowed well and feedback is useful.' 'The audit this year was a very smooth professional process.' Elissa says the MRQA Council is pleased with the response from participants and grateful for their constructive feedback.'

A full review of the feedback from both auditors and participants will be conducted by the Council in its annual standards and audits review to be held in October 2002.

To find out more about the benefits of the IQCA scheme or information about the standards please contact:

Elissa Molloy, Executive Director
MRQA
Tel: 02 9954 7848
Fax: 02 9955 5746
Email: mrqa@bigpond.com

Back to top