ISO Certification Process
1.RECEIVE INQUIRY
You will need to fill the inquiry form on our website to understand your requirement. We will use this information to accurately define the scope of audit and provide you with a proposal for certification.
Also you can reach us via phone, WhatsApp, or by sending an email with your requirements, and out team will contact you within 12 hours only.
Afterwhich they will send you a detailed proposal outlining the cost and duration for the ISO certificate to be issued.
2.AUDIT
Once you’ve agreed on your proposal, our team will contact you to book an audit schedule. Your audits will be booked with a UCS Auditor. This audit consists of two mandatory audits that form the initial certification audit (stage 1 and stage 2 audits). Please note that you must be able to demonstrate that your company is fully operational and your management system is in compliance with the required ISO standard requirements, and the management system has been subject to a management review and a full cycle of internal audits.
*Note: there may be additional requirements for some of the more technical standards – we will advise you of the same.
The ISO Certification process is as follows:
• Step 1
• Agreement
• Step 2
• Audit plan
• Step 3
• Certification audit (stage 1 and stage 2 audits)
• Audit report
• Step 4
• Certification decision
• Invoicing and draft certificate
- Step 5
• Final certificate
3.ISO CERTIFICATION
Following a successful two stage audit, a certification decision is made, and if positive, a certificate will be issued by UCS showing conformity with the related ISO standard.
The certificate will be valid for 3 years upon passing the annual surveillance audits. A re-certification audit is done every 3 years.
The ISO certificates are accredited by ASIB- ISO Global Register.
All UCS certificates can be validated through the validation page.
ISO Certification Audit
Stage 1
The purpose of this audit is to confirm that your organization is ready for the certification audit. This audit will take place at your organization where the management system is applied (normally head office), and it will be a documentation review audit.
During stage 1 audit, the auditor will review the internal audit reports and management review process. Certification may not be issued until there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that arrangements for management reviews and internal audits have been implemented, are effective and are well maintained.
Stage 2
The purpose of this audit is to confirm that the management system fully conforms to the requirements of the chosen standard in practice. If you undertake site work or have more than one location that you would like to include in the scope of certification, the auditor will also need to audit these activities / locations.
During stage 2 audit, the auditor will:
- document how the system complies with the standard by using objective evidences
- undertake sample audits of the processes and activities defined in the certification scope
- visit any remote locations, additional sites or remote activities to evaluate the effectiveness of the management system off site
- report any non-conformities or opportunities for improvement
- produce a surveillance audit plan and agree on a date for the first annual surveillance visit
If the auditor identifies any major non-conformity, certification cannot be issued until corrective action is taken and verified. Accreditation requirements stipulate that if this is not completed within 6 months, then certification cannot be recommended without a further stage 2 audit.
Surveillance Audit
Once the certification is obtained, a certificate will be issued and will be valid for 3 years only upon the successful completion of annual surveillance audits (partial audits) and a 3 yearly re-certification audits (full system audits).
Surveillance audits are undertaken annually to ensure that compliance to chosen standard(s) is maintained throughout the three-year certification cycle.
The frequency and duration of surveillance audits is dependent on the following factors:
- size and structure of organization
- complexity and degree of risk related to the activities
- number of management system standards included in the certification scope
- number of sites listed within the certification scope
During the surveillance audit you must demonstrate continual improvement. This is a fundamental requirement of all the ISO standards.
What happens if your business changes during this time?
Don’t worry – we are used to organizations of all shapes and sizes changing on a regular basis including additional locations / activities and increase or decrease in head count. We can provide you with all the options to change and adapt your scope / standards / management system to suit your business requirements – we just need you to be honest with us and let us know if anything changes as soon as possible.
- confirm the accuracy of information that you submitted during the application process
- confirm that the management system conforms to the requirements of the applicable standard
- confirm the implementation status of your management system(s)
- confirm the certification scope
- check the legislative compliance
