MIA Plans Accreditation

CLEVELAND – A plan by the Marble Institute of America (MIA) to launch a major accreditation program for natural-stone companies next year moved forward in March.
An eight-member special task force of industry leaders worked to develop groundwork for residential and commercial accreditation for companies in all phases of the business.
The concept for accreditation, which could be promoted by those companies and individuals achieving such recognition, received overwhelming support in an MIA survey a year ago. A large majority of respondents said they favored industry standards for competency and certification, and felt that there would be advantages for companies that became accredited.
“It was a great meeting and an outstanding start to what we’re trying to accomplish,” said Scott C. Lardner, MIA president. “Though there is much to do before MIA accreditation becomes a reality, we are on the right track which hopefully will lead us to introduce the program next year.
“The Task Force identified the purpose of MIA accreditation as promoting excellence in the natural-stone industry and then recognizing organizations demonstrating compliance with quality standards,” says Mickie Rops, an established and recognized credentialing consultant working with MIA, “so that the public values, has access to, and benefits from consistent, competent, and safe fabrication, installation and sale of natural stone.”
Four major goals for accreditation include:
• Maintaining and increasing competency of the industry, to raise the standards and create a greater awareness of safety. This would include creating accreditation criteria and credentialing those companies and individuals who meet them;
• Increasing the consistency of practice by promoting consistent quality and workmanship;
• In broad terms, protecting the consumer by providing access to companies representing the best attributes of standard practices and serve as a clearinghouse for accredited stone companies; and
• Enhancing the industry’s commitment to the beauty, durability and value of natural stone.
Lardner said that, during the next several months, the task force would undertake additional research, including conducting focus-group interviews and discussions with kitchen-and-bath dealers and architects at their respective trade shows.