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A Company seeking registration to any of the schemes ha to first develop, document, implement and maintain a management system that meets all the requirements of the appropriate standard. The actual process of certification id relatively a straightforward mater. Indeed, most the certification schemes follow the same basic procedures as outlined in the steps detailed below:
STEP 1 – Application
Client's submit the application form.
( Register online )
STEP 2 – Acknowledgement of client’s application
URS office will acknowledge the client's application and request the client to submit the appropriate documentation which addresses the standard, or standards, that certification is being applied for - the documentation required relates typically to policy statements, copies of client procedures and/or sample work instructions.
STEP 3- Certification Quote and Agreement
URS will quote to client based on client applications and client agrees to certification agreement and regulations. See certification regulations.
STEP 4 – Documentation Review
URS auditors formally review the documentation & provide a report to client .If the report is satisfactory, albeit with minor points raised, the Lead Auditor will agree a date(s) for the formal on-site audit to take place.
Where the report is not satisfactory, following the document review, the client will be asked to correct the points raised, prior to the formal on-site audit being arranged.
STEP 5- Initial visit
URS Conducts initial visit, where documentation reviews can be combined with this visit to review and ensure the readiness of client for a formal audit. Client is asked to comply the points raised, prior on formal on-site audit.
STEP 6- Certification Audit
There shall be on site audit to determine whether the systems, described in the documentation, are being followed by the client and that the necessary records are being maintained to demonstrate compliance to the standard(s).
A written report will be produced at the close of the audit and a copy given to the client. Where there are minor non-compliance points raised, the client will need to close out the item(s), prior to registration being recommended; this may mean a limited re-audit of the client's business where major non-compliance points are identified.
Where there are no non-compliance points, certifications will be recommended.
STEP 7- Issuance of certification
URS office reviews the office report & on successful review, formal certificate is issued. The certification is granted for three years subject to successful surveillance visits.
STEP – 8 – Surveillance visits
At each planned period, during three year period the system is surveillance visited and corrective actions are taken by client where necessary.
STEP -9 –Recertification
After the three-year period has elapsed, a triennial review is conducted to ensure that all is in order for a new certificate, valid for a further three-year period, to be issued. The process then repeats as from step six.
NOTES
- As stated previously, the process described in steps 1-9 is in essence the same for all certifiable schemes offered by URS. However, some schemes have slight variations. For example, ISO 14001 requires an intermediate visit to the client, after the document review, but before the formal on-site audit.
- The above referenced visit is required to ensure that significant aspects have been addressed in the determination of the overall management programme.
- TS 16949 and AS 9100 requirements have additional requirements for auditing and as such, the audit man-day times are greater than those published for ISO 9001.
- All man-day requirements are published by the IAF and as such, the client can verify whether any quoted times are reasonable and fair.
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