|  The guarantee of quality treatments depends first and
foremost on the quality of the group of experts mandated
and their energies allotted to this program.
Main Concerns
Since work begins in springtime and that immediate intervention
is crucial for obtaining good results, the mandated firm
must possess a work force ready and present in the sector.
The execution of treatments should never be dependant on
the availability of teams or equipments, without which
the project's quality control would be compromised.
The multidisciplinary team's main concern is to establish
a respected position in the activities sector and does
this by offering first class service and superior target
objectives.
The highly qualified personnel; biologists with biological
control experience is one of the keys to success of our
team. Larval population surveillance and the launching
of control operations cannot be left to chance. Only the
sustained monitoring over the entire territory allows the
proper evaluation of larval development and thus the exact
timing of the launch of control operations.
Using state of the art technologies such as photo-interpretation,
remote sensing, GPS recordings, data analysis using ArcInfo
and the digitization of maps, our team is clearly distinguished
form the competition and our informed clientele rest assured.
Aerial photo surveillance during snow melt is an excellent
tool that provides a complete view of the territory. Photo-interpreters
can read aerial photographs and precisely identify all
potential breeding habitats (larval sites). It is however,
very important to couple ground-level data and aerial data
in order to reassess zones containing very small breeding
sites. These small sites often contain surprisingly high
larval densities that, in addition have asynchronous larval
development rates due to greater temperature changes in
smaller habitats causing increased metabolism of the larvae
there.
In order to impart all relative information
of the biological control programs, a Public Information
Notebook (P.I.N.) is presented to the town at the start
of the project. This notebook will clearly present, with
the help of aerial photographs, maps, figures and short
texts, the different elements of the program. Over the
course of the season, new pertinent information will be
incorporated into the notebook, including nuisance tests
data which will be performed regularly. We suggest that
the P.I.N. be made accessible to the public in municipal
offices and if possible, put on the municipal web site.
Citizens could then obtain pertinent information rapidly
relative to the program and could add their comments in
a reserved space.
Monitoring
 After 24 to 48 hours of treatment, mortality rates should
reach 100%. After 24 hours, the presence of a few dying
larvae is normal, but if larvae persist after 24 hours,
these sites should be treated again. These verifications
are a part of the coordinator's daily tasks. Dosages are
then adjusted accordingly, by keeping with the ultimate
objective of 100% mortality using minimal dosage.
Nuisance testing
Nuisance testing brings satisfaction of a job well done.
By sampling the adult population between two similar and
predetermined stations, the population decline can be quantified.
One station is situated within the town, (e.g., park, beach,
ball park) while the other, a similar site, is situated
outside the town (e.g., neighbouring town park). Accompanied
by a town representative acting as a witness, nuisance
testing consists of waiting at a station for 5 minutes,
then sweeping an entomological net, sampling adults present
(done by horizontal figure eights) during 5 minutes. This
test demonstrates treatment efficiencies, while also helping
to determine the origin of adults and to target any treatment
gaps.
Corrective Measures
The diverse quality controls performed can show certain
weaknesses or problems (e.g., nuisance zones, product failures,
incompetent workers). In such cases it is of utmost importance
to react quickly, to correctly identify the problem and
to bring about appropriate corrective measures.
Evaluation
Every appointed member of the team must have their work
evaluated. Technicians and team leaders are evaluated by
the coordinator, while the former will also give in return
their assessment of the coordinator. This double evaluation
gives, if need be, the supervisor information to bring
about corrective measures quickly. This supervisory measure
helps prevent any litigation, to strengthen the team spirit
and to offer better services.
Group DESFOR's Quality Assurance
Program ISO 9001
The group DESFOR possesses a Quality Assurance
system based on international standards of ISO 9001: 2000
and has been certified since January of 1999.
The enterprise's general objectives include taking all
necessary measures to ensure that employees and clients
are aware of its firm commitment to the quality of its
products and services.
Quality Policy
The management has elaborated a quality policy by which
it strives to reach clients' objectives and to allow them
to profit from its qualified personnel by offering quality
counselling services at a concurrent price for the majority
of contractual agreements.
System of Quality
The group DESFOR has established and maintains
a documented Quality system that assures clients' demands
are met. This system comprises a Quality manual, working
procedures, Quality guidelines, working instructions as
well as procedures necessary for accomplishing Quality
control. The system allows planning and continual improvement
to the procedures to assure that clients' expectations
are met.
Functioning of the System of Quality
In order to support the activities of the
enterprise, the group DESFOR has established coherent working
procedures respecting ISO 9001 norms and in line with Quality
principles of the enterprise.
To ensure that we meet quality demands, we have established
service quality standards of working procedures, so that
our service is acceptable to our client. The planning of
this is documented under various forms.
Quality guidelines are established as pertains to written
procedures appropriate to each activity or process as well
as the identification and acquisition of all means to master
activities, processes, equipment and skills that can be
necessary to reach required quality standards such as:
- Keeping up to date on techniques for mastering quality,
control and experiments;
- Identify adequate monitoring at
appropriate phases of the delivery of service;
- Identify
and prepare reports on quality.
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