MDAS was commissioned by PPA, and was designed by clients in conjunction with the Mail Consolidators Association (MCA).
What is MDAS?
The Mail Distribution Accreditation Scheme (MDAS) is a quality standard, specifically developed to test the procedures and processes of magazine mail production and distribution and publishers’ direct mail production and distribution.
The scheme’s objective is to generate customer trust and confidence in the field of mail distribution – both international and domestic magazine traffic and direct mail. For accredited companies (international mail consolidators, international mail distributors, companies offering consolidation services, domestic mail houses and domestic distributors), it provides a competitive advantage over non-accredited companies. For clients, it can provide added value and greater confidence and surety in the selection process.
UPDATE: Having launched in January 2009 as IMDAS (the International Mail Distribution Accreditation Scheme), the scheme was rebranded in January 2011 as MDAS to allow for the inclusion of domestic, as well as international magazine and direct mail traffic. Scheme members are differentiated as follows:
MDAS Plus
Accredited companies handle both domestic and international magazine and direct mail traffic.
MDAS
Accredited companies handle domestic magazine and direct mail traffic.
Stakeholders and audience
The key stakeholders within MDAS are:
• clients (who commission international/domestic mail production and distribution)
• international mail consolidators/ distributors and companies offering consolidation services, domestic mail houses and domestic distributors (i.e. accredited companies)
• PPA (representing publisher clients)
• MCA (representing international mail consolidators/ distributors)
• D&S Consultants (the scheme manager)
The key audience for the scheme is made up of international mail consolidators/ distributors and UK companies offering production and distribution services.
Scheme structure
MDAS is process-based, with audits, site visits, checks and measurement. To become accredited, companies have to apply for and pass an audit on how they handle mail delivered or collected by the consolidator/ mail house/ distributor or mail produced by the consolidator/mail house/ distributor, ready for posting. The accreditation is renewed annually on successful completion of a compliance questionnaire. Companies also have their performance measured by customer satisfaction surveys, and are asked to supply details of some of their clients, who will then be contacted with a request to complete a survey.
Advisory panel
MDAS is overseen by an Advisory Panel comprising the following:
• Mail consolidators/ distributors
• PPA members
• PPA secretariat
• Scheme manager
• Industry independent
Why apply?
The international mail sector is a growing sector, fuelled by opportunities in the expanded EU, particularly within Central and Eastern Europe and the emerging economies. At the same time domestic magazine and direct mail traffic continues to represent significant volumes. MDAS has been developed by publishing clients who use consolidation services - it addresses their key concerns, ensuring they have confidence and trust in using the mail consolidator/ distributor. Therefore it can give accredited companies a competitive advantage over non-accredited companies. MDAS is a powerful discriminator for clients when choosing a mail consolidator/distributor.
Scheme members
MDAS has eleven founder members:
- Air Business
- BTB Mailflight
- Direct Link
- IMX
- Jordan & Co. International
- La Poste
- Mail International
- Postal Logistics
- Total Mail
How to apply
For more information or to apply for accreditation please email nicola.rowe@ppa.co.uk