ABS Quality Evaluations Wins Gold Level CB at Automotive Industry Action Group

At 2022’s Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) Quality Summit, the International Automotive Oversight Bureau (IAOB) awarded the ABS Quality Evaluations (ABS QE) automotive program as a Gold Finalist for the Certification Body (CB) of the year. ABS QE’s Global Automotive Technical Manager and International Automotive Task Force (IATF) lead auditor, Brooke Phenicie, was present to receive the award. 

"Throughout our journey toward this award, we have encountered multiple challenges. However, every single one was a learning experience that strengthened us, ultimately helping us to provide better services to our customers and highlighting the integrity and reliability behind ABS QE’s automotive program. Achieving Gold Finalist for the CB of the Year award signifies our commitment to delivering impeccable expertise and upholding superior safety standards," says Phenicie.

The IAOB Certification Body of the Year program recognizes IAOB Certification Bodies that meet IATF and IAOB standards. All Certification Bodies in the program provide IATF 16949 third-party assessments and certification services to automotive suppliers worldwide. The IAOB recognized thirteen as a Gold level Certification Body. ABS QE was among the two ranked Gold Finalists.

Achieving gold-level CB status is a challenging feat for CBs. CBs face a 100-point scale system centered around performance as an auditing body, certification body and metrics within the IATF database. These metrics include a red supplier score, IATF AMP KPI score, IAOB witness audit nonconformances, IATF database accuracy and entry timelines, and witnessed vs. non-witnessed audits.

Competitors can earn additional points through a partnership with the IAOB on new initiatives and pilot programs. The innovation and dedication behind this partnership help to increase the number of certificates provided and remote audits conducted. Lastly, contenders can earn bonus points through a current remote audit score.

"We are proud that ABS QE has earned this recognition for our high-performance standards," says Dominic Townsend, President of ABS QE. He continues, "As a world-leading certification body, achieving Gold Finalist for the CB of the Year award is a testament to the effectiveness, hard work and dedication towards helping to assure critical processes supporting the automotive enterprise meet the highest quality and safety standards."

About ABS Quality Evaluations

ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. (ABS QE) is a subsidiary of ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (www.abs-group.com). As a world-leading certification body, ABS QE works with companies to improve the performance of their business, systems, people and supply chains through management systems certification, verification, training and assessments, including supply chain and cybersecurity. ABS QE’s global network of auditors plays a crucial role in helping organizations achieve business excellence and obtain the necessary certifications to get products and services to market.

About ABS Group

ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (www.abs-group.com), through its operating subsidiaries, provides technical advisory and certification services to support the safety and reliability of high-performance assets and operations in the oil, gas and chemical, power generation, marine, offshore and government sectors, among others. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1,000 professionals globally. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS (www.eagle.org), a leading marine and offshore classification society.