Choosing a Registrar - What Should We Look For in a Registrar?

I think the more important issue would be the auditor, not the registrar. We put together a list of questions, mostly related to interpretation, and interviewed the auditors first.

In some instances I already knew the auditors and were indepedents and in other cases I contacted the registrar and asked them to send an auditor from their staff for our interview.

In the end we found an independent that contracted out to different registrars. He was very good in directing us to potential registrars that would fit our business structure, and steering us away from registrars that would not.

As I had worked with the auditor we choose in the past, I didn't lead his interview. In the end, the steering committee made the choice by vote. (welllll, maybe I subconciously "swayed" the individual steering committee members )

Just a thought.

ASD...

Registrars

Hi Everyone,
Today a registrar made some presentation in front of us. I learned a lot by looking on the guide that was been attched in the FTP.
How to Choose a Registrar. It was great. I know that they are trying to sell out their service to us, however there are some questions that..I don't know how do they will arrive an answer. I would like to share it with you. " What is the value added service we can get from you (the registrar)? Please comment. Is there any proof that you can show to us that your the BEST Registrar in the world? This is actually a perception for almost anybody, because in case when you are a small company, at least when you were being certified, that certifying body is SOMEONE BIG i.e. famous in the world. Is there a site where I can visit or can anybody here can share any marketing survey on different registrars out there world-wide? Plese advice.
Thanks in advance,
Raffy

There is a monthly magazine called Quality Digest. Check out www.qualitydigest.com for reviews of all kinds of quality related stuff.

Annually they put a Registrar survey in the magazine for folks like us to respond to. I'm sure there are others out there as well. By comparing you can compare lists (say the top 10 of each).

The July issue of Quality Digest magazine has the results of their latest survey on registrars. This would be a good place to start looking a how clients feel about their registrar. Also take into consideration all of the travel expenses. Some registrars will not include them in their quotes. Some will charge travel time plus expenses.

A few years back I "shopped" for a registrar as follows:
Written quotes from "top ten" companys.
Interviewed the "top five" of those, after researching who gives the best bang for the buck.
Chose what I thought were the best final three, had them send me the resumes of the auditors they would be using.(One company refused to send resumes.Told them "Sorry, Charlie. You just lost").
Chose a final, FINAL company that I thought offered the best overall service, had them send over the auditor I chose for a interview.
Interview an auditor? You betcha ! It's my money.This approach worked great, we have a good relationship with a fine auditor that works with us as a partner, not just there to make a buck. How long did the process take? About four months. Hey, you're signing up for three years. Best do the homework.

[This message has been edited by Ross Simpson (edited 16 July 2001).]

Regarding registrar selection: Will you get charged for review of NCN's?

-> What is the value added service we can get from you (the
-> registrar)? Please comment

Beware of the statement "Value Added". They all say they do and this has been a big buzz phrase. I would ask them to explain exactly how this is so.

I will admit here that when I hear this I cringe. The rationalization is always a variation on the same theme: "We find problems that you don't and/or point out where you can improve." Under this definition a consultant is also 'value added'.

If you take a close look at those words - value added - what do they mean to you? Many people have different definitions for that phrase.

A typical product passes through several value-adding activities before reaching the final consumer. There are five general ways by which value may be added.

1. Value is added by physically changing the Form of raw materials or intermediate products. Butchering beef, milling wheat into flour, and canning pineapple slices are examples.

2. Location and Time values are added by transporting and storing goods so that they will be conveniently available for consumer purchase.

3. Possession value is added by wholesalers, retailers, and others who facilitate trade. Activities here include credit, insurance, and the transfer of ownership rights.

4. Finally, value is added by providing information about products. Advertising and promotion, grades and standards, trademarks, and labels are typical examples.

I believe there was a recent thread where the definition of value added was discussed, but I might have seen it at another site.

This link is somewhat old, but it does give you a view of how one 'company' (this is a US government site) defines Value Added with respect to its 'business'.

***DEAD LINK REMOVED***

Sometimes a company will consider Purchasing a value added function while others scoff.

All this said - beware of how one defines Value Added. No one (or company) which you employ - internal or external (contract, consultant, etc.) - for any reason is going to admit they are NOT value added. Many would argue that the custodial functions are 'value added' and can rationalize it quite handily.

Like the very word quality, the words 'value added' now have a very broad meaning - almost so broad as to be useless.

You are hiring a registrar to come in and audit your company. You should define what you expect from an audit. If you have other expectations, define them. Keep away from vagaries such as 'value added'.

When we first started pursuit of ISO 9002 registration of our QMS my first priority was selection of our registrar. I looked at 63 registrars,during this process I did the following:
1. reviewed literature.
2. checked references.
3. sent surveys that I scored
4. interviewed selected ones
FYI BASED ON OUR COMPANIES NEEDS THESE WERE OUR TOP 11 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER: DNV, SQA, NSAI, LRQA, CRS, ORI, AQA, BVQI,TRA, NSF-ISR and UL.
It was amazing some of the things that registrars would not do (some may have had valid reasoning,but it cost them potential business)
1.missed deadlines ( time frames were set for receiving info)
2. references not provided or just a few (many would only provide their promo. list)
3. no quote provided
4. no response to survey
5. no response at all ( 2 registrars, believe it or not)
We then cut that list to 5 and had presentations by each. We then cut that to 3 and interviewed or would be auditor and selected from those 3. I would use the same process but the results may be different depending on the company.
I did use the quality digest survey to see how close their results was to real life. The results:
1. 3 OF QD TOP 5 ON OUR TOP 11
2. 2 OF QD TOP 5 ON OUR TOP 5
3. 1 OF QD TOP 5 ON OUR TOP 3

But, if we did business that way!

Originally posted by gpainter

It was amazing some of the things that registrars would not do (some may have had valid reasoning,but it cost them potential business)
1.missed deadlines ( time frames were set for receiving info)
2. references not provided or just a few (many would only provide their promo. list)
3. no quote provided
4. no response to survey
5. no response at all ( 2 registrars, believe it or not)

Click to expand...

And these groups would be asked to audit my Company's Business practices? When pigs fly!

Maybe take a look at these, they may help.