Certification Process

The Certification Process begins with the completion of the Certification Application form.
The Certification Application form can be initiated by contacting one of our sales team, our sales team works with the client to complete the detailed application form.

This document is mandatory for the consistent application of the relevant clauses of ISO/IEC 17021-(1-23) for audits of Management Systems.
The correct determination of the audit time for an initial audit (Stage 1 plus Stage 2) is an integral part of the application review for any client organization.
Minimum determined man days:
• Initial Audit (stage 1 & 2) = based on IAF mandatory document (clients size / man-days table)
• Surveillance 1 = 1/3-man days of initial audit (stage 1 & 2) man days
• Surveillance 2 = 1/3-man days of initial audit (stage 1 & 2) man days
• Re-certification = 2/3-man days of initial audit (stage 1 & 2) man days

On receipt of the application, the scheme manager reviews the application and the supplementary information provided to ensure that:

(a) The information provided is sufficient for the conduct of the audit
(b) There is clear common of understanding between Accent Technical Service (ATS) and the applicant in matters related the certification
(c) Accent Technical Service (ATS) has the competence and ability to perform the certification activities as requested by the client
(d) The scope of certification, location of the applicant’s operations, audit man days required to complete the audit and other factors influencing certification activity, namely language, safety conditions, threats to impartiality etc., are taken into account.
(e) If not applicable, Design and Development clause is excluded with proper justification as mentioned below:
a. Standard Market Product – Only procuring and selling (no processing involved). Ex. Company is only involved in trading business.
b. As per Customer Sample/Specifications/Drawings – For design to be exempted in case of manufacture as per sample, then the customer will also have to give the specifications of the materials used and the manufacturing tolerances.

The review of the application the planning section head shall either accept or decline the application for certification. When Accent Technical Service (ATS declines the application for certification as a result of the review of application, the reasons for declining an application shall be documented and made clear to the client.

Based on the review of the application/request for quotation as above if Accent Technical Service (ATS) decided that it has the ability to perform the certification, a quotation is prepared in the prescribed format, sent to the applicant for his approval along with the following documents of this procedure. The quotation has two components of cost; one, a fixed registration fee including royalty cost and second, a variable audit fee which depends on the number of audit man days to be deployed for auditing of the client. These rates are reviewed and decided by managing director once in six months.
On receipt of the accepted quotation, it is reviewed again to confirm that there are no changes made by the applicant in the quotation. In case of any difference the same is resolved with the applicant and accordingly a revised quotation is sent

On acceptance of the quotation by the applicant Accent Technical Service (ATS) enters into a legally enforceable agreement with the applicant for certification. After signing the certification agreement Accent Technical Service (ATS shall plan to complete other certification requirements. Signatures of both the concerned parties on the agreement shall render the document legally enforceable.

Accent Technical Service (ATS) shall develop an audit program for the full certification cycle at the time of review of application, stage–1 and stage–2 to clearly identify the audit activities required to demonstrate that the client’s management system fulfills the requirements for certification to the selected standards.
The audit program will include a two-stage initial audit (stage-1 & stage –2), surveillance audits at least in the first and second years and a re-certification audit in the third year prior to expiration of the current certification.

Plan: Accent Technical Service (ATS) make an audit plan for each audit, identified in the audit program, regarding the conduct and scheduling of the audit activities along with details of audit team members and their roles.

Audit: is an audit focused on a documentation Review, detailed assessment of the ordinations business practices specifically to identify all the documents that support what the client claims the organization does and how such documentation meets the requirements of a given standard.

Report: Accent Technical Service (ATS) shall review the audit report to confirm that the objectives as stated in section 4.2.1 above are met and that all necessary information are provided to plan for stage-2 audit. On the basis of the stage-1 audit findings Accent Technical Service (ATS) shall inform the client about any possible cancellation or postponement of the stage-2 audit.

Plan: Depending on the stage-1 audit findings Accent Technical Service (ATS) shall allow sufficient time to the client to resolve document review findings and other areas of concern identified by the auditor.

Audit: Perform the audit using the appropriate guidelines. Review of the system should involve following orders through the system, starting with contract review through shipping /installation including all related processes and their interfaces. Appropriate sampling shall be used to collect information and the methods used for collective information shall include interviews, observation of activities and review of documents & records. Only information that is verifiable shall be taken as audit evidence and the same shall be recorded. The audit evidence shall be evaluated against the audit criteria to generate the audit findings.

Report: The audit team shall analyze all information and audit evidence gathered during stage-1 and stage –2 audits to review the audit findings and agree on audit conclusions. Discuss the findings among themselves and summarize the reporting to the client management.

This procedure is applicable to all audits (initial audit, surveillance and re certification) carried out on clients during the certification cycle. submits the audit reports as identified in the respective procedures, for initial audit, surveillance, special audit, and re-certification, to Accent Technical Service (ATS) for review and approval.

The stage 1 and stage 2 audit reports are completed and submitted to ATS.
ATS certification determination committee consisting of ATS Senior Manager(s) and ATS Technical manager (who have not been involved in the auditing process for the given client) reviews the:
• certification proposal
• any other notes, observation and supporting evidence available
• stage 1 & stage 2 audit plans
• stage 1 & stage 2 audit reports
• stage 1 & stage 2 auditor recommendations for certification
The ATS certification committee will make a fair and just determination on granting or refusing certification to the given client.
The ATS certification determination committee submits their finding to the ATS administration team for processing the certification

Accent Technical Service (ATS) shall issue the certificate against the applicable standard to the client provided that,
 Accent Technical Service (ATS) has verified the effectiveness of the corrective actions in case of major non-conformance or accepted the corrective actions for minor non-conformance as stated in section 3.4. or as required by the specific management system standard
 Accent Technical Service (ATS) has taken a decision in client’s favor
The Certificate is the property of Accent Technical Service (ATS). and shall be produced to Accent Technical Service (ATS) as and when requested.
The certification will be valid for a period of three years from the date of approval of certification, subject to the satisfactory maintenance of the Management System as confirmed through agreed surveillance audits

Surveillance audits shall be conducted regularly at the client site at least once in a year to confirm that the Client’s Management System continues to conform to the requirements of the standard to which it is certified.
The first surveillance audit shall take place within twelve months from the last day of the stage –2 audit and failure to comply with this requirement will lead to suspension and subsequently withdrawal of certification.
For the non-conformity raised during the surveillance audit the conditions stipulated in section 3.5 shall be applicable
In the case that a surveillance audit cannot be carried out because the client’s operations are affected owing to factors outside its control, e.g.: employee union strike, natural calamity, etc. the case shall be presented to Accent Technical Service (ATS) for a decision.
Accent Technical Service (ATS) shall submit a formal report to the client

The purpose of re-certification audit is to confirm the continued conformity and effectiveness of the client’s management system as a whole and its continued relevance and applicability for the scope of certification.
The Re-Certification audit shall include site audit and shall consider the performance of management system over the period of certification and shall also include a review of previous surveillance audit reports. The re-certification audit may have a stage –1 audit in situations where there have been significant changes to the management system, the client or changes to legislation.
Accent Technical Service (ATS) shall conduct the re-certification audit at least 60 days in advance to the expiration of certification so that the client has time to implement corrective actions before the expiry of the certification
For non-conformity raised during the audit, the conditions specified in section 3.4 become applicable.
Accent Technical Service (ATS) shall submit a formal report to the client.

Accent Technical Service (ATS) shall conduct special audits under the following conditions,
• Extension of the scope of certification already granted, on the request of client. This could be clubbed with routine surveillance audit.
• To investigate complaints received by Accent Technical Service (ATS) about the client.
• Follow up audit in case of suspension.
• Follow up audit for Major non-conformance reported in any of the audits namely, certification, surveillance and re-certification
• Changes in Accent Technical Service (ATS)’s certification requirements
• Transfer of certification
• Reduction in scope as requested by the client
• Decisions by the Certification Panel based on the results of the review of the audit reports to re-verify and confirm certain aspects of the management system.

Accent Technical Service (ATS) shall suspend certification in cases

 The client’s certified management system has persistently or seriously failed to meet certification requirements, including requirements for the effectiveness of the management system.
 The client does not allow surveillance and re-certification audits to be conducted at the agreed frequencies.
 Wishful misuse of logo & reference to certification.
 Non-compliance to submission of Corrective action as stated procedure P06.
 Voluntary suspension requested by the client
 Non-payment of dues to Accent Technical Service (ATS)