ISO 17021 - choosing a CERTIFICATION Body

Choosing a certification body

When choosing a certification body to carry out ISO 9001:2000 (or ISO 9001:2008) or ISO 14001:2004 certification, these are the aspects the organization needs to take into account.

• The first point is that an organization can implement ISO 9001:2000 (or ISO 9001:2008) or ISO 14001:2004 without seeking certification. The best reason for wanting to implement the standards is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of company operations. Certification of the management system is not an ISO 9001:2000 (or ISO 9001:2008) or ISO 14001:2004 requirement.
• Deciding to have an independent audit of the system to confirm that it conforms to ISO 9001:2000 (or ISO 9001:2008) or ISO 14001:2004 is a decision to be taken on business grounds: for example
  • if it is a contractual or regulatory requirement
  • if it is a market requirement or to meet customer preferences
  • if it falls within the context of a risk management programme
  • or if the organization thinks it will motivate staff by setting a clear goal for the development of its management system.
• Criteria to consider include:
• evaluate several certification bodies
• bear in mind that the cheapest might prove to be the most costly if its auditing is below standard, or if its certificate is not recognized by the organization's customers
• establish whether the certification body has auditors with experience in the organization's sector of activity
• establish whether the certification body implements, or is migrating to ISO/IEC 17021:2006, Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems
• Another point to clarify is whether or not the certification body has been accredited and, if so, by whom. Accreditation, in simple terms, means that a certification body has been officially approved as competent to carry out certification in specified business sectors by a national accreditation body.

In most countries, accreditation is a choice, not an obligation and the fact that a certification body is not accredited does not, by itself, mean that it is not a reputable organization. For example, a certification body operating nationally in a highly specific sector might enjoy such a good reputation that it does not feel there is any advantage for it to go to the expense of being accredited. That said, many certification bodies choose to seek accreditation, even when it is not compulsory, in order to be able to demonstrate an independent confirmation of their competence.

The list of accreditation bodies with their contact information and links to their Web sites can be found on the Internet site of the International Accreditation Forum(www.iaf.nu), under "Members" > "Accreditation members". In general, accreditation bodies' Web sites contain an up-to-date list of certification bodies that they have accredited which can be used for selecting a certification body.

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