Marble Institute Committee Launches Accreditation Effort
The Marble Institute of America (MIA), a 1,200-member global organization, has initiated a plan to create a major accreditation program for residential and commercial natural stone companies. The plan was given life in mid-April at a meeting of a special task force charged with developing the program. The eight-member group, composed of industry leaders, spent a day laying the groundwork for accreditation, which they hope to launch in 2006 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.