PRINCETON, N.J., April 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Global market research firm ORC International today announced it has attained the ISO 20252 certification for quality. Awarded by the CASRO Institute for Research Quality (CIRQ), ISO 20252 establishes quality standards for market, opinion, and social research organizations.
ISO 20252 processes are designed to produce transparent, consistent, well-documented and error-free methods of conducting and managing research programs.
According to Walter Dempsey, US General Manager, ISO 20252 certification "reflects the intense focus we have on quality.ORC International has a hard-earned reputation among our clients for some of the highest quality standards in the industry. This provides them with the confidence they need to make significant business decisions based on the insights our work produces."
To achieve certification, ORC International engaged in an in-depth review of all global processes involved in delivering research services to clients. This structured review also encompassed corporate policies about confidentiality and privacy, data security, employee performance assessment, subcontractor management and systems used to gauge client satisfaction. Results of these reviews were used to improve processes and to develop additional employee training where necessary.
Jeffrey Resnick, Global Managing Director of ORC International stated, "As an industry leader, our certification to ISO 20252 demonstrates our commitment to quality and continuously improving our processes. It is our belief that ISO certification will be a differentiator between top-tier firms in our industry and all others. We are proud to have achieved this milestone."
More information on ORC International's certification can be found on the CIRQ Registry of Certified Companies.
About ORC International
ORC International is a leading global market research firm uniquely able to integrate its people, methods, technology and insights to address its clients' strategic issues, challenges and opportunities. Since its founding in 1938, the company has maintained a passion to drive its clients' success through innovative, integrated research solutions. The company is a founding member of CASRO, a partner of CNN on the CNN|ORC International Poll since 2006 and a partner of NYSE Euronext on its annual CEO Report. To learn more about ORC International, visit http://www.ORCInternational.com
About CIRQ
CASRO formed CIRQ (The CASRO Institute for Research Quality) to provide assessment and certification services to research firms seeking certification to ISO 20252 and/or ISO 26362. CIRQ, a non-profit entity, is committed to providing timely, thorough, and impartial assessments of its customers' quality management systems in order to make a determination regarding certification to ISO 20252 and/or 26362. All CIRQ auditors have extensive experience in the research industry. CIRQ has been established in compliance with all ISO requirements for certification bodies that provide auditing and certification services for ISO 20252 and 26362. In order to conform to its mandate of objective and impartial audits to these ISO standards, CIRQ is independently operated and managed under the oversight of an Advisory Board and submits to an annual audit to ISO/IEC 17065 Standard for Conformity assessment Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services by external authorities on ISO certification bodies.
ORC International Contact:
Christina Hungspruke
Senior Director, Corporate Marketing
Phone: 609.452.5419
E-mail: Christina.Hungspruke@ORCInternational.com
SOURCE ORC International
