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The Mail Distribution Accreditation Scheme (MDAS) is a quality standard, specifically developed to test the procedures and processes of magazine and direct mail production and distribution.
The scheme's objective is to generate customer trust and confidence in the field of both international and domestic mail distribution. Launched in 2009, the scheme was commissioned by the PPA and designed in consultation with both end customers and the Mail Consolidators Association (MCA).
MDAS is process-based, with audits, site visits, checks and measurement. Accredited companies must pass an audit on how they handle, process and produce both international and domestic mail.
The accreditation is renewed annually premised upon successful compliance and having had their performance measured by client audits and customer satisfaction surveys.
The Direct Marketing Association UK is Europe's largest trade association in the marketing and communications sector.
The DMA was formed in 1992, following the merger of various like-minded trade bodies, forming a single voice to protect the direct marketing industry from legislative threats and promote its development.
The Periodical Publishers Association (PPA) is the organisation for magazine and business-to-business media publishers in the UK.
PPA's role is to promote and protect the interests of the industry in general, and member companies in particular.
The association's membership consists of almost 400 publishing companies, who together publish more than 2,260 consumer, business and professional magazines.
The Federation of Small Businesses is the UK's largest organisation lobbying on behalf of and working for small businesses.
The MCA acts as a forum for information share and joint initiatives to enable it's membership to work together to secure and develop the future of the international mail consolidation industry for the mutual benefit of members and their customers.
The aims and objectives for which the MCA is established are as follows to:
Promote best practice by, and maintain standards of, its members
Develop the industry for the benefit of its members and their customers
Promote equality in the industry between private and public postal & parcel suppliers
Inform and educate the market of the benefits of consolidated distribution services
Protect, promote and further the interests of its members
In meeting these aims and objectives the MCA seeks to encourage growth and profitability of the industry.