How to choose a Certification Body

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How to choose a Certification Body
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• QAS International provide consultancy services to
  develop and implement quality, safety,
  environmental and integrated management systems.

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• Once the management system has been implemented,
  internally audited and a management review
  conducted, a company is ready for an independent
  (emphasis on independent) external/third party
  certification audit.

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• There are many certification bodies to choose
  from, and they do vary in price and the range of
  certification types they are qualified to
  perform. The following points should be
  considered when choosing a certification body.

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1. Independence

• The most important criteria for a certifying
  authority is that they are independent to the
  consulting company, ensuring there is no conflict
  of interest as well as an objective review of the
  management system compliance.

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2. JAS-ANZ Certification

• In Australia and New Zealand JAS-ANZ (Joint
  Accreditation System of Australia New Zealand) is
  the organisation charged with providing accreditat
  ion to the conformity assessment bodies
  (certification bodies).

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• The key aim of JAS-ANZ is to prevent unscrupulous
  certifiers from starting up certificate mills
  which pump out ISO 9001, AS 4801 or ISO 14001
  certificates for a price, irrespective of the
  level of organisational compliance. JAS ANZ audit
  the certifying bodies to ensure certifiers are
  adhering to their requirements and you can CLICK
  HERE for more information on JAS-ANZ.

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3. Cost

• Certification body costs can vary significantly
  so obtain a few quotes and then make a decision
  based on all of the criteria listed here. Our
  experience indicates that expensive service does
  not always translate to value for money.

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4. Certified Logos

• Q Whose logo do you get to use once you are
  certified?
• A The certifying body. The most commonly
  recognised CB logo is SAI Global (CLICK
  HERE) which has a red logo and five white ticks
  for Quality so if you absolutely must have
  this logo then you will need to choose SAI Global
  as your certifier.

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• That said all CBs have their own very good logos,
  and these are usually Red or Blue for Quality,
  Yellow for Safety and Green for
  Environmental. For more information on what logos
  are on offer check these CB websites

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• Sci Qual  CLICK HERE
• QMS Certification Services CLICK HERE
• Ausqual CLICK HERE
• Note if you are a JAS-ANZ accredited
  certification body and would like us to add your
  details to this page then contact us.

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5. Audit Schedules

• Certification audits are undertaken in a
  three-year cycle. What you need to find out is
  the cost of the following services
• Surveillance audits these are yearly audits.
  The frequency of these audits is determined by
  the size of your organisation.

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• Recertification audits these audits are
  conducted every three years and are more
  comprehensive than the surveillance audits.

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6. Industry Experience

• Establish whether the certification body has
  auditors with experience in your industry.

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Conclusion

• Our recommendation is to always obtain a
  few quotes from alternative certifying bodies. If
  a consultant insists on a specific certifier then
  probably dont use the consultant as there is a
  good chance your system might not be up to
  standard and he has a deal going with the
  certifier.

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• Your consultant should be able to provide you
  with options to help you find the most affordable
  and appropriate accreditation service for your
  business so CLICK HERE to contact us if you
  require further information.

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• For more information, visit us

http//www.qasinternational.com.au