Once we have received your acceptance of our proposal, the certification audit process will commence with an appraisal of your organization Integrated management system documentation and the intended scope of certification. This is to determine compliance with the Integrated Management System Standards requirements in order to evaluate readiness of the organization for the stage II audit and also to prepare working documents the audit team will be using during the Stage II audit.

may be completed on your site. In either case you will receive a Stage I audit report outlining any identified shortfalls to enable your organization to take immediate actions prior to undergoing the next stage.

proposed audit itinerary for the on-site stage II audit will also be sent to you in due course including audit team composition, audit timing, audited sites and processes.

This is usually conducted at a suitable period after the Stage I audit, giving you time to implement any corrective actions resulting from the stage 1 findings with maximum time limit of 60 days.

The on-site audit shall determine the organization compliance with your documented system and applicable standard requirements.

All assessment conclusions are based on sampling of audit evidence, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate effective implementation of the management system, control over the processes and progress made towards achieving your stated objectives.

The audit approach aims to contribute value to the process and also ensure that your management system is achieving your goals.

On conclusion of the audit the audit team will hold a ‘closing meeting’ during which findings will be explained and the auditor will confirm whether or not a recommendation for certification can be made at this stage. This recommendation will reflect the level of findings identified during the audit.

After completion of the stage II audit, the audit team will compile a detailed report to be reviewed and approved by an Technical certification signatory. Once the certification decision has been confirmed the certificate is issued to you along with the final report.

the event that there are deviations in the certification audit that are not ted through the submission of proper corrective actions and objective evidence of implementation, re-audit shall be carried out.

Once issued certificates remain valid for three years’ subject to satisfactory maintenance of your management system. Ongoing audits (surveillance visits) are conducted annually to verify continued implementation of your management system in accordance with “planned arrangements” and the requirements within the standard.

The first surveillance must be conducted within 12 months of the last date of the Stage II audit.

The choice of surveillance period will be agreed at the proposal stage and will depend on the scale, nature of your operations and scope of certification. Certain mandatory elements will be reviewed at every visit together with other pre-selected processes.

We will work with you to identify areas that are not conforming to support opportunities for improvement. Itineraries will be forwarded in advance of the agreed audit date.