Step 1 – Quotation

We will issue you with an obligation free fixed fee quotation for the assessment and certification of your organisation’s management system to the required standard(s). If you require any help at all or you would like a quotation please feel free to contact one of our friendly assessment staff or complete and submit the on-line quotation request form to the right of this page.

 


Step 2 – Application

To apply for certification or to transfer your current certification(s) to us simply complete the back two pages of the quotation and send them to us via e-mail, fax or post. As soon as we have received your application for assessment we will process this in a timely manner.

 


Step 3 – We assign you a Conformity Assessment Manager (CAM)

We will assign you with a Conformity Assessment Manager (CAM) that will be a great fit for your organisation in terms of personality and technical competence. Your Conformity Assessment Manager will oversee the certification process for you; they will ensure that the process runs smoothly and that you are happy 100% of the way through it. If you ever wish to change your Conformity Assessment Manager or your audit team members for any reason at all please feel free to contact one of our friendly office staff, this can be arranged with no questions asked why.

 


Step 4 – Stage 1 Assessment

The Stage 1 Audit usually takes place at your premises and aims to establish that your management system documentation meets the requirements of the relevant standard.

This Stage 1 assessment is to:

  • Assess your management system’s level of compliance with the applicable standard(s);
  • Evaluate your organisation’s physical location and it’s site-specific conditions and to undertake discussions with relevant personnel to determine the preparedness for the stage 2 assessment;
  • Review your understanding regarding requirements of the standard(s), in particular with respect to the identification of key performance or significant aspects, processes, objectives and operation of the management system;
  • Collect necessary information regarding the scope of the your management system, your processes, and your related statutory and regulatory aspects and compliance (e.g. quality, environmental, legal aspects of your operation, associated risks, etc.) that may not have been evident from previous discussions;
  • Review the allocation of resources for the stage 2 assessment and agree with you on the details of the stage 2 assessment;
  • Provide a focus for planning the stage 2 assessment by gaining a sufficient understanding of your management system and site operations in the context of possible significant aspects;
  • Evaluate if the internal audits and management review have been planned and performed, and that the level of implementation of the management system substantiates that you are ready for the stage 2 assessment.

 


Step 5 – Stage 2 Assessment

The purpose of the stage 2 assessment is to evaluate the implementation, including effectiveness, of the client’s management system. The stage 2 assessment always takes place at the physical site(s) of the client.

The objective of this assessment is to:

  • evaluate the level of compliance with the organisation’s management system against the requested standard(s)
  • determine the ability of the management system to ensure that the organisation meets applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements
  • evaluate the effectiveness of the management system to ensure the organisation is continually meeting its specified objectives
  • identify areas of potential improvement within the management system.

If non-conformances are identified during the audit we will either raise Major or Minor CARs, these are explained below.

Major CARs are of a serious nature and relate to the absence of, or the failure to implement and maintain one or more management system elements, or a situation which would, on the basis of available objective evidence, raise significant doubt as to the effectiveness of the management system. For certification assessments Major CARs must be closed out or downgraded to Minor before certification can proceed. For surveillance and recertification assessments all Major CARs must be closed or downgraded within three months.

Minor CARs are those which are not considered to have a serious impact on the effectiveness of the management system implemented by your company and normally relate to isolated non-complying activities. Minor CARs are required to be actioned within three months but formal close-out can be delayed until the next audit visit.

At the closing meeting the assessment team make a recommendation to either proceed with certification or to issue Major CARs that need to be closed or downgraded before certification can be achieved. You are kept in the loop the whole way through the audit process, there are no hidden surprises and we will make your staff at ease throughout the audit.

 


Step 6 – Issue of Certification

Based on audit conclusions, we make a certification decision to grant certification if there is sufficient evidence of conformity, or not to grant certification if there is not sufficient evidence of conformity (or evidence of non conformity).

After a successful stage 2 assessment we process your certification in a timely manner (KPI of less than five business days). You will be provided with a registration certificate and all the applicable certification logos for your use as soon as certification has been processed. Your organisation will also be listed on the International Certifications register of certified companies.

 


Step 7 – Surveillance Assessments

Regular, usually 12 monthly, surveillance visits are carried out following notification of the due date and will cover a limited number of elements of the Management System.

The purpose of the surveillance assessments are to evaluate the continued implementation, including effectiveness, of the client’s management system. The surveillance assessments always take place at the physical site(s) of the client.

If you ever wish to change your Conformity Assessment Manager or your audit team members for any reason at all please feel free to contact one of our friendly office staff.

 


 

Step 8 – Recertification Assessments

Reassessment of a client’s Management System takes place every three years (before the expiry of the current certificate) and follows a similar format to the initial on-site assessment. The client shall be informed of the requirements for reassessment during the final surveillance visit of the three year certification period.

If you ever wish to change your Conformity Assessment Manager or your audit team members for any reason at all please feel free to contact one of our friendly office staff.

 


Questions

If you have any queries regarding the certification process please feel free to contact your local International Certifications office.