MIA Honing Accreditation Program

CLEVELAND – The accreditation program for the natural-stone industry, spearheaded by the Marble Institute of America (MIA), is moving towards implementation early next year.
In the latest step in the two-year effort to develop accreditation, the industry trade group will conduct a survey focusing on content to be included on the final examination, 10 standards for accredited companies and a proposed fee structure for taking part in the accreditation process.
“We have turned to the industry for input at several stages of the process,” said Ken Krebs, 2005-06 MIA president. “The input provided by industry professionals in this third round of surveys will provide the necessary feedback we need to complete the process.”
Krebs said the goal is a formal report to the MIA board of directors and general membership at StonExpo 2006 in Las Vegas this November. The official launch would be early in 2007.
In the past 20+ months, a special task force created a mission statement for the program, formulated accreditation standards, developed a content outline for a written examination, and created the program application. It also determined that, at the start, the program would offer two accreditation options: Residential Natural Stone Fabricator and Natural Stone Commercial Contractor.
The work ahead includes outlining details for a site visit for each applicant facility; completing the written exam; developing a marketing plan to promote accredited companies to architects, designers and the kitchen/bath communities; and creating a program budget.
Krebs noted that much of the program development is rooted in feedback received from stone-industry professionals, as well as major stakeholders such as architects and kitchen and bath professionals.
“At each stage of development there has been strong support for the development of an accreditation program,” he said.