Ensuring Compliance and Elevating Quality in Promotional Products for PCNA
The Challenge: PCNA Promotional Products Navigates the Complexity of Global Regulations to Meet Evolving Customer Expectations
For more than a decade, Polyconcept North America (PCNA), the leading source for custom and promotional and customized products, has entrusted QIMA with the critical task of ensuring compliance and quality of their diverse list of promotional items. The initial partnership began with drinkware testing in QIMA's Hong Kong and Buffalo labs, and has since grown to cover a vast range of products.
PCNA recognized the challenge of being a compliance expert in every product category they offered and sought the knowledge of QIMA to bridge the knowledge gap. It was imperative to ensure their products met stringent regulations of local governments where the products were sold and the brand’s own standards. "We brought in QIMA for their knowledge. We didn't want to experience any misses with requirements, and needed assistance to ensure our products were compliant in all markets. The immediate impact was noticeable, particularly in meeting certifications, tests and product label requirements for different countries.” - Kayla Kolber, Senior Compliance Specialist, PCNA.
“We have such a wide range of products, so it’s difficult to be the expert in every product category. We brought in QIMA for their knowledge.”
-- KAYLA KOLBER, Associate Manager: Product and Environmental Compliance, PCNA
Key challenges:
- compliance gaps
- meeting regulatory requirements while balancing aesthetics
- achieving operational efficiency
The Solution: A Comprehensive Approach to Product Testing and Labeling
As a company, PCNA places a top priority on the safety of their products, and the partnership with QIMA plays a tremendous part to help ensure that safety. Despite potential challenges, PCNA values the importance of going beyond minimum requirements, meeting the everevolving customer demands for sustainability, transparency and assurances of health and safety.
The Result: Long-Term Partnership, Consistency and Industry Presence
The decade-long relationship between PCNA and QIMA goes beyond a mere client/service provider dynamic. PCNA emphasizes the significance of the personal relationships built with QIMA's professional staff, underscoring efforts made by QIMA to make the collaboration more personal.
While pricing and capabilities are crucial when looking for a testing and certification partner, PCNA highlighted the key differentiator as the relationship itself. "QIMA doesn't just say 'we want to be partners.' They actually want to be.” Consistency across all lab locations is a vital aspect of this partnership, particularly given PCNA's complex program involving various product categories and materials.
“Pricing and capabilities are one thing, but partnership is something QIMA takes very seriously.”
If PCNA brings on new products or hires new labs around the world, QIMA ensures those onboarding processes align with the standards set in current and previous labs. This commitment to consistency is crucial for PCNA, which operates as an importer for final distributors. With customers having high expectations, PCNA stresses the importance of the extra testing provided by QIMA.
QIMA goes beyond the routine, offering a more in-depth protocol test that sets them apart from other vendors, according to PCNA. The partnership has not only addressed immediate challenges but has also established a long-term, collaborative relationship. This commitment to quality, compliance and a personalized approach has salvaged business relationships and positioned PCNA as a leader in meeting evolving customer expectations in the promotional products industry.
To date, QIMA has established many initiatives to help PCNA build its business successfully, meeting its strict brand guidelines while keeping compliance.
- Protocol review is slated every 6 months
- Technical support is available 24 hours a day to ensure real-time concerns can be addressed
- Multi-site lab coordination to ensure updated requirements are consistent, globally
- QIMA is constantly training its team, underscoring PCNA standards are always met.
PCNA continues to trust QIMA to ensure the quality and safety of its products and has nearly doubled its scope of work since 2020.
PCNA says the industry presence of QIMA has been constant, with its active involvement in the promotional events industry. "Out of all the labs, QIMA is the most present in promotions. Every promotional product I see, QIMA seems to be involved." This presence reinforces the trust that PCNA and other companies place in QIMA, solidifying their position as a reliable partner in the manufacturing and supply chain industries.
