Frequently asked questions
Straight answers, before you even call.
The questions people actually ask before starting a certification or improvement engagement, answered in QSE’s own words.
General
What QSE is and where it works.
What does QSE do?
Quality Systems Enhancement helps organizations earn and keep ISO and sector certifications through three services: consulting, training, and auditing. We guide you from kickoff to certificate using our 10-Step Approach, then hand the system over so your team runs it without us.
Where is QSE located?
QSE is based in Roswell, Georgia, USA. We were founded in 1992 and have worked with 900+ organizations since.
Do you work remotely and globally?
Yes. Our consultants work across 20+ countries, and engagements run on-site, remotely, or as a blend of both. Where your facility is rarely changes what we can do for you.
How do most clients find you?
Most come by referral — from clients we have certified and from registrars and colleagues who have seen the work. After 30+ years and a 100% first-time pass rate, the referral is the marketing.
Consulting
How engagements run.
What is the 10-Step Approach?
It is the proven method we have refined over 30 years to reach certification with minimum or zero nonconformities. Ten stages run from comprehensive training and simplified documentation development, through documentation review, internal quality auditing and implementation assistance, to the Stage One audit, deficiency correction, readiness evaluation, coaching before the audit, and assistance during the audit itself. See the full 10-step approach →
Why keep documentation under 200 pages?
Because a system nobody reads is a system nobody follows. We build one-level documentation, typically under 200 pages, written for the people who actually use it — so it survives audits and stays maintainable for years instead of becoming a binder on a shelf.
Do we own the documentation?
Yes, completely. The documented system is yours to keep, edit, and maintain. Knowledge transfer is the deliverable — the goal is that your team owns and runs the system long after we step back.
How is QSE different from other consultants?
You work with one named senior consultant from start to finish, not a ticket queue. We keep documentation lean and teach your team to run it, so the system outlasts the engagement — rather than leaving you dependent on the consultant who built it.
Standards
Which requirements are covered.
Which standards do you cover?
We consult on 50+ standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, IATF 16949, AS9100, and food-safety schemes such as FSSC 22000, BRCGS and SQF. See all standards →
Can you do multiple standards or an integrated management system?
Yes. We regularly build integrated systems that satisfy several standards at once — for example quality, environmental, and health-and-safety — using shared documentation and a single set of internal audits, so you certify to more with less duplication.
Do you handle sector schemes like medical, automotive, aerospace, and food?
Yes. We lead consulting on sector schemes including ISO 13485 (medical devices), IATF 16949 (automotive), AS9100 (aerospace), and food-safety standards such as FSSC 22000, BRCGS and SQF. Browse standards by sector →
Timeline and cost
How long, and how it is priced.
How long does certification take?
For most facilities, as little as 6–7 months from kickoff to certificate using the 10-Step Approach. The exact timeline depends on your standard, site size, and how mature your current processes are.
What does it cost and how is it priced?
Pricing is scoped to your standard, the size and complexity of your site, and how much of the work your team takes on. Tell us the standard and your timeline and we will give you a clear, specific quote — no jargon, no obligation. Get a quote →
What if we have failed an audit before?
We handle rescue jobs often. We re-audit the system, close the gaps cleanly, and rebuild it to a first-time pass — every failed implementation we have taken on has gone on to certify.
Working together
Who you deal with, and what happens after.
Do you work on-site or remotely?
Both. Engagements run on-site, remotely, or blended — whatever fits your facility, schedule, and budget. Our consultants across 20+ countries make either option practical.
Who will we work with?
One named senior consultant leads your engagement from start to finish. You are not routed through a portal or a rotating team — relationships are how we work.
What happens after certification?
We hand the system over and train your team to maintain it, run internal audits, and prepare for surveillance audits on their own. If you would rather keep the internal-audit workload off your plate, we can also run those audits for you. Explore auditing →
Begin with context
If the answer you need is not here, ask.
Share the requirement, what is happening now, and the outcome or date you are working toward.