What is accreditation?
Accreditation verifies the certification body/registrars competence. To fulfil the accreditation criteria, an accrediting authority assesses the certification body/registrar. This is to verify that the certification body/registrar complies with requirements. It is the authorities way of auditing the auditors (certification bodies/registrars like DNV).
What is third party accredited certification?
Accredited certification of management systems is used to demonstrate compliance to a standard. Third party certification bodies/registrars are auditing organizations that provide auditing services to companies that wish to obtain certification to specific standards.
How do I become certified by DNV?
Your management system is always subject to change. A successful management system is one that is improved on a continual basis. However, if not maintained it is possible that a management system will become obsolete. Therefore, accredited certification consists of two stages: the primary certification and maintenance of the certificate thereafter.
- Initial visit
Before the actual certification audit, you can choose to have us make a preliminary visit to your organization. For an initial visit, we send a lead auditor to review your quality manual, check procedures, tour your facilities and briefly check the implementation of your management system. In essence, this is a preliminary audit intended to uncover areas in your management system that might need special attention. During the initial visit the scope and audit program is agreed upon, as well.
- Documentation review
Our lead auditor evaluates your management system manual. The documentation review report summarizes any findings from this process. The report indicates if your organization is ready to proceed with the certification audit.
- Certification audit
During the certification audit, we conduct informal interviews, examinations and observations of the system in operation. It provides us with essential information required for the certification process and assesses the degree of compliance of your companys management system with the requirements of the standard. When found compliant, we issue the certificate.
At this stage you have completed the initial certification and can move on to maintenance of your certification.
- Periodic audits
Each issued certificate has a three-year life period. Upon certification, we will create a periodic audit schedule for regular audits over the three-year period. These audits confirm your companys on-going compliance with specified requirements of the standard. At least one periodic audit per year is required.
- Re-certification audit
After the three years are up, your certification will be extended through a re-certification audit.
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