Our Certification process consist of the following key stages

Step By Step Process

1. Application Submit:

Submit your application online or request a physical copy by emailing info@isocertification.co.uk. Our team will assist you in completing the required details.

2. Application Review:

Our Certification Manager reviews the application to confirm scope, requirements, and suitability. Once approved, you will receive a formal work order and client agreement.

3. Initial Certification Audit (Stage I) :

Once the application review is complete, AGI proceeds with the Stage 1 Audit. This audit evaluates the organisation’s documented management system to confirm its readiness for full certification.

An optional pre-assessment may also be carried out at the client’s request. This trial audit provides a high-level review of the system’s implementation status and highlights any major deficiencies against the certification requirements. The benefit of a pre-assessment is that it allows clients to take corrective action in advance, saving time during the formal audit process.

To ensure impartiality, auditors sign a conflict of interest declaration prior to every visit.

Following the Stage 1 Audit, the Team Leader prepares a detailed report, which is shared with the client. This report is then evaluated by the Audit Manager (AM), and together with the client, a plan for the subsequent Stage 2 Audit is agreed.

4. Initial Certification Audit (Stage II) :

The purpose of the Assessment (STAGE-2) is to ensure that the requirements of relevant ISO standards as addressed by the documented quality system are being complied with. The Auditors will be looking for objective evidence of compliance with the standards, and Non compliances are brought to the attention of the guide and noted on a report form. At the end of assessment, these are discussed and the company’s management representative is asked to sign the report acknowledging that he understands and accepts the findings.

The Assessment is concluded with a “Closing Meeting” at which the Team Leader presents the findings and makes a recommendations, either for certification to the applicable standards of ISO otherwise with a requirement for a verification audit in case of major non-conformances having been identified. 2.5.3 In case where non-compliances are of a minor nature, certification is recommended subject to a corrective action plan that addresses the non compliances and observations raised in the report being submitted together with objective evidences for all non compliances within 60 days. When this corrective action plan and the objective evidences are received at the AGI office, the audit reports shall be verified for conformance against the requirements of the certification standard. The client’s file is reviewed to ensure an independent verification of compliance against certification checklist and grant of certification.

The stage 2 audit shall take place at the site(s) of the client. It shall include at least the following :

Stage 2 Audit – Certification Assessment

The Stage 2 Audit is conducted at the client’s site(s) to verify that the management system is fully implemented and compliant. This audit includes, at a minimum, an evaluation of:

a) Evidence of conformity with all applicable requirements of the relevant management system standard(s) or other normative documents.
b) Performance monitoring, measurement, reporting, and review against defined objectives and targets, as required by the standard.
c) The effectiveness of the management system in meeting legal and regulatory compliance.
d) Operational control of the client’s processes.
e) Implementation and effectiveness of internal audits and management reviews.
f) The extent of management responsibility and commitment to the organisation’s policies.
g) The alignment between requirements, policies, objectives, targets, legal obligations, staff competence, operational procedures, performance data, and internal audit outcomes.

All certified organisations are required to undergo a surveillance audit once per year during the validity of their certification. These audits confirm the ongoing conformity of the management system with the relevant certification standard.

Each surveillance visit includes:

• Auditing selected elements of the management system
• Verifying the effectiveness of corrective actions taken against any nonconformities identified in previous audits

Auditors are required to prepare precise and accurate reports. Where certain elements of the ISO standard (e.g., Design Control) are not applicable to the organisation’s management system, the justification for their exclusion must be carefully reviewed and clearly recorded in the report.

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Information for granting initial certification

The information provided by the audit team to AGI for the certification decision shall be as per AGI procedure shall include, as a minimum,

a) the audit reports,

b) comments on the nonconformities and, where applicable, the correction and corrective actions taken by the client,

c) confirmation of the information provided to AGI used in the application review , and

d) a recommendation whether or not to grant certification, together with any conditions or observations.

AGI shall make the certification decision on the basis of an evaluation of the audit findings and conclusions and any other relevant information (e.g. public information, comments on the audit report from the client).

The audit team/AM shall analyze all information and audit evidence gathered during the stage 1 and stage 2 audits to review the audit findings and agree on the audit conclusions.

QC shall issue the certificate as per procedure

Surveillance audits

Surveillance audits are on-site audits, but are not necessarily full system audits. Surveillance audits planned together with the other surveillance activities so that the certification body can maintain confidence that the certified management system continues to fulfill requirements between recertification audits.The surveillance audits conducted at least once a year and the date of the first surveillance audit following initial certification shall not be more than 12 months from the last day of the stage 2 audit.

The objective of surveillance audit is to:

• Ensure that the client’s management system which was basis of grant of certificate has been maintained on continuous basis.
• Verify and ensure that any changes to management system which might have taken place since last audit meet the requirement of the standard/ specification and implemented effectively
• Ensure on-site audits assessing the certified client’s management system’s fulfillment of specified requirements with respect to the standard to which the certification is granted.
• Ensure that the management system continues to be appropriate to the product/ process/ service offered by client, with the capability of managing and improving performance.
• Assess continual improvement in client’s management systems

Recertification Audit

here shall be recertification after every 3 year of certification .Conduct re-certification audit prior to certification period for continuation of Certificate of registration and subsequently followed up by Surveillance audits as per the accepted proposal. Re-certification audit shall be completed, preferably prior to one month of expiry of the present certificate of registration including the provision of adequate time to close any NCRs.