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

Marc,

The last thing anyone here would want is to get you into trouble. Heck you've got enough just handling this crowd.

If we talk about our experiences, and offer our opinions, we are merely utilizing our right of free speech and association. How anyone acts on that information is their own concern. Heck they may be LOOKING for a slack registrar!!

I have seen threads where registrars are mentioned as being good, lets not be afraid to say if they are bad.

Onward.

James

Such excitability!

Dang, Randy!

All I was saying is that RAB is lousy. I didn't slam any of the other accreditation bodies.

And I said that I want UKAS. We don't need more than one accreditation on our cert, and that one won't be RAB. I could easily have picked one of the other accreditations, but for our purposes UKAS is the best choice for us.

I'm not saying everyone should/has to have UKAS on their cert for credibility. There are a ton of co's in US that only use RAB. But their registrars may be accredited to UKAS and can offer it if the client wants it.

Jiminey cricket.

I guess I better call the Irish Registrar I work for occassionally and tell them thier certs are weak and not anywhere near as good as the Brit's certs. That'll probably go over as good as a t--d in a punchbowl (or teapot).

Lucinda seems to me as if BVQI has UKAS (as one of 23 accreditations) and lately I have seen a lot of companies switching to a registrar with RAB accreditation only.

As someone mentioned earlier on the subject, 99% of your clients don't give a rats a$$ who your registrar is (unless they have a bad reputation), if you are certified and providing them with quality products/services in a timely manner at a fair price I am thinking they will be happy. You stated you want UKAS does that mean you will not do business with a supplier that is certified if they do not have UKAS on their Cert.?

i apologize if it seems as if we are beating up on you, but you have to be prepared to back-up your comments/opinions with fact and I have not read anything from you that would back up your comments.

Enough is enough

How many times do I have to say that it is my opinion based on accreditation experience? What are you asking for facts for? Here's a fact: the RAB may overlook a nonconformance of a registrar even if it is stuck right under their nose. I say "may" because like all things, there is an outside chance that it won't happen. But I know of it happening at more than one registrar. A definite look-aside, a kick under the carpet.

And why do you refer to the asssessors as RAB assessors vs. UKAS assessors??? I wasn't comparing RAB certification for assessors vs. IRCA certification. I wasn't talking about the assessors at all. I was comparing Registrar accreditation. Quit taking it personally if you are an RAB certified auditor. (which is where some of this hostility is coming from I think).

And I was Opining that I wanted UKAS accreditation for my registrar. Because it is my Opinion that it is more conscientious than RAB.

There are other accreditations that are equally fine, and some that I feel are even tougher. But for our purposes, the UK accreditation is more universal and applies to our field of operations. Our clients would recognize the accreditation mark.
Which is something that alot of companies take into account when they choose their accreditation. Some companies, such as FedEx, carried every accreditation mark available. Other companies would carry the accreditation mark for the country in which they did the most business, or where their parent company was located.

Why am I a pariah because I say that RAB isn't a good enough choice for me? An Opinion formed through my contact with them.

Stand your ground Lucinda..don't give up or even back down an inch if you truly believe what you say (especially here with this bunch of sharks)

It's refreshing to have some new flesh to chew on, some fresh ideas to beat the hell out of, and a new kid on the block to try and whip.

I honestly think some of these guys are being a little easy due to the fact you are a "soft-soldier"

Marc has created here the best outlet, bar none, for folks in our field to thrash out ideas, ventilate, seek solutions and just BS (by the way have you ever had grilled frog frizbee's? They are a roadkill delicacy!!).

Re: Enough is enough

Originally posted by Lucinda
Here's a fact: the RAB may overlook a nonconformance of a registrar even if it is stuck right under their nose. I say "may" because like all things, there is an outside chance that it won't happen. But I know of it happening at more than one registrar. A definite look-aside, a kick under the carpet.

I was comparing Registrar accreditation. Quit taking it personally if you are an RAB certified auditor. (which is where some of this hostility is coming from I think).

And I was Opining that I wanted UKAS accreditation for my registrar. Because it is my Opinion that it is more conscientious than RAB.

Click to expand...

Lucinda, I am sorry but I can say the exact same thing about Registrars that are UKAS, RVA whoever accredited, it is not specific to the RAB alone!

I am RAB accredited and I am sorry for taking it personally, but with your statements you are implying that my certification means nothing is that not so?

Having the opinion that UKAS is better than the RAB is fine, I have a different opinion, that is what makes the world go round. I welcome you opinion and enjoy reading your posts, I was just curious why you feel this way.

My lips are sealed

Carl,

I have smoking gun against RAB and their practice. I won't discuss the registrars who got away with things. I won't tell you the particulars. Sorry, I know that disappoints you, but talking about those kinds of things could hurt people and it would not inspire RAB to clean up their act. It serves no useful purpose.

My experience was with initial accreditation with two accreditation bodies, surv. with them and with other accred. bodies. My experience is also from fireside stories shared within the industry, where there is much movement of office and auditor staff. You know how it goes, people talk, we know things...

I can't share details with you and I realize that it weakens "my case" as it were. But I'm not here to make a case. I stated my Opinion, which I got blasted for. My Opinion is based on things which may not disturb you if you did know of them. Everyone has their own alarm point. It's not like the registrars are wicked or anything.

As you may know from the ABS accreditation suspension last year (by RvA? refresh my memory...), the RAB wouldn't disclose if they were also taking action. They said it is their policy to not disclose that.
So, if the registrar you are using is in bad with the RAB, you would never know about it! Sounds a bit worrisome to me.

Well, Ok, I'm done fussing about this. It's been really fun, but as Carl says: there is work to do and money to be made. Come to Texas some time and we'll have some bar-b-que and beer.

last minute addition: oh my, you guys are quick aren't you? I had barely finished typing this and two more responses are here! Flusters a girl some..
Randy, thanks for the encouragement. I don't mind knocking heads. Some people think I go out of my way to be onery. But actually I learn more from arguing than from agreeing with everything. I even change my mind sometimes! And then I will agressively argue THAT viewpoint!
ISO Guy, if you want RAB on your cert, that's ok. There's companies in the US who want to use the US accreditation mark. The point is whether your registrar is accredited by other countries or not. And if they are not, then they have only been looked at by RAB and have to follow RAB guidelines. They may be a good registrar, it just hasn't been agreed to by anyone other than RAB.
Over and out. This is deadfished now, right?

Re: Enough is enough

Originally posted by Lucinda
How many times do I have to say that it is my opinion based on accreditation experience? What are you asking for facts for?
Why am I a pariah because I say that RAB isn't a good enough choice for me? An Opinion formed through my contact with them.

Click to expand...

Lucy,

Not once did I see you mention that anything was your opinion. Not A "JMHO" or any other qualifier. When you say things, we get the whole version, like it was facts. You can expect opposing views, because many of us have been in the business when you were learning how to stay on a bicycle. That's my guess! If anyone were to assert the things that you have, they would bear the burden of proof. Not because you're "soft" as horny Randy says. Read Barb B.'s, E Wall's, Carol X's posts. They expect no quarter and get none. And, they can draw blood. Right, Carol? It has nothing to do with gender. I happen to think you are extremely intelligent, a term I use for anybody smarter than me. And is this site, they are many. Your experience is obvious. When you say things, but can't reveal why you say it, it will get challenged. Particularly if it goes against the grain of reality. It's OK to have goals and ideals, but separate what you want from what you have. The Philosophy Section is a good place for those lofty ambitions. I've learned a lot from "ISO Man" and "The Real Carl" once I got past the initial feeling of being irritated.:truce: They stuck to their guns and didn't say they couldn't tell anybody why they thought how they did. And, trust me, they took a lot of heat. Don't give up the battle. Don't expect that just because you say it, that's it. Not in the Cove

The 2nd company sent a rep. from their company that "might" be our auditor. I asked him how critical path, as called out in TS-16949, could be realized. He proceeded to ask me if I had a copy of TS that he could "borrow" before he answered the question. I gave him my copy and after I showed him where critical path was noted, he took 5 minutes to answer and said to the group that "Critical Path" was nothing more than having a process flow!!!!!!!!!!!!

Al,

Can you tell me what was the reply of the auditor you chose on critical path? Just Curiousity..