Another First For TQCS International

TQCS International (TQCSI) has become the only Australian certification body to be awarded accreditation to the AS 9100-series quality standards for defence, space and aviation organisations.

The result is that, for the first time, Australia’s defence and aerospace companies can use an Australian company to achieve the highest quality management system certification.

A DTC member, TQCSI opened its Adelaide operations in 1995 to meet demand from South Australian businesses for a local, customer-focused certifier. The company was formally accredited by the international regulator, Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) in 1996 and commenced international operations in 1999.

International Expansion

TQCSI is now the largest JAS-ANZ accredited certification body in the world, operating throughout Australia, the Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. With offices in over 25 countries, it operates in over 40 countries and services over 10,000 certificates.

Head office remains in Adelaide and the organisation’s focus remains fixed on servicing Australian industry.

TQCSI also offers certification to over 20 other internationally recognised standards, including:

• Quality (ISO 9001)

• Safety (ISO 45001)

• Environmental management (ISO 14001)

• Asset management, business continuity, risk management and information security (ISO 27001).

ISO 27001 is currently one of the fastest growing standards and rapidly being adopted across defence and government contracts and organisations.

Craig Bates, TQCSI’s Managing Director, said exorbitant high costs, inflexibility of auditors and certification delays due to liaising with certification bodies in other countries and time zones, have traditionally plagued the AS 9100-series industry.

“Hearing the complaints being made by Australian businesses, TQCSI saw it as our duty to bring this sovereign capability to Australia,” he said.

“So we entered an intensive period of investment, process development and training in order to enable TQCSI’s team of highly experienced auditors to deliver the rigorous standards demanded by the defence and aerospace industries.

“TQCSI now has more Australian AS 9100-series Aerospace Experienced Auditors (AEA) on staff than the rest of the market combined, and full-time staff based in Adelaide, ready to liaise with potential clients.”

Growth Focus

Since entering the AS 9100-series market in April 2020, TQCSI has already grown the market by 5%, and is committed to making the standard more available to Australian businesses who wish to operate in defence industry.

TQCSI has also been supported by the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) via a Sovereign Industrial Capability Grant to develop this new sovereign capability in Australia.

“We are very proud to have achieved this sovereign capability for the Australian defence, space and aviation markets, following an intensive year of effort to ensure our systems and people can deliver the exacting quality standards that are demanded,” Sean Moules, TQCSI’s Program Director, said.

As a 20-year naval veteran, Craig added: “We look forward to providing these new certification standards to our growing customer base and to continue to grow and evolve TQCSI to meet customer demands and deliver the most professional certification services in the world. I am particularly proud to be able to further service the defence industry, after a previous career in uniform”