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CERTIFICATIONS
ISO 9001 (Quality Management System – QMS)
The certification process | First contact | Pre-Audit | Assessment (Audit) |
| Keeping the certificate, surveillance visits | Re-assessment |
| ISO 9001 Training | ISO 9001 Client list |
The certification process
Every approval process is unique. We can only talk about some common factors they all share. Our main objective is to help you get your system approved as quickly and as effectively as possible.
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First contact
The first contact is usually made through enquiries and often by phone or email. As our business thrives on providing world-class service, it is our preference to visit the company first, in order for us to get a better understanding of the processes and the environment in which the company operates.
After careful assessment and discussions on the requirements of the company, a written proposal will be forwarded to you for your review.
Upon acceptance of this proposal, a suitable date is decided upon for the first assessment to take place.
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Pre-audit
The pre-audit is designed to help you to prepare for the actual certification process. Although this is not a requisite, it allows you, with our assistance, to identify weaknesses and areas of improvement, whilst giving you the time to rectify or improve on them before the actual audit. It can be reviewed as a “mini audit” before the final assessment.
At the end of the visit the auditor can advise you whether your system is ready for the certification assessment or what areas, if any, may require correcting before the final assessment.
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Assessment (audit)
The system should have been implemented and running for some time before the assessment takes place, usually for at least three months. The reason for this time period is that the system has to provide an auditing trail and show objective evidence that it actually works.
At the start of an assessment a group of qualified Amtri Veritas assessors will come and do the assessment with you. The purpose of this is to audit your Quality Management System for compliance with the ISO standard.
The assessment will start with a brief meeting. Senior Management should be included and participate at all times. During this meeting, the Lead Auditor (Lead Assessor) will explain the purpose and scope of the audit, method of auditing, audit timetable and the method of reporting of any non-conformances that will be observed during the audit.
The audit is conducted as a sampling process. Our assessors will not go into the details of every aspect of your procedures. They will assess only until they have adequate evidence or confidence that the system or procedure is implemented.
At the end of the assessment, the Lead Auditor will compile a report, documenting all problems that have been encountered and will then categorises them.
Amtri Veritas categorise the problems as "small" and "big". If a “small” problem is found, certification may be granted subject to addressing those problems, which will be verified during the next surveillance visit. If a “big” problem is found, certification will only be granted once this problem has been addressed.
The Lead Auditor then convenes a closing meeting, summarising the findings and requesting corrective actions to be addressed. The time scale for the corrective actions is decided between the Lead Auditor and the Quality Management Representative.
The follow-up action may be that the company has to provide documentary evidence or that the auditor has to undertake a further visit to clear the problems. The company will be awarded certification when the problems are cleared or that the Auditor accepts the Company's proposal of corrective actions.
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Keeping the certificate, surveillance visits
The certification awarded is valid for a period of three years. During the three years Amtri Veritas will conduct surveillance visits at regular intervals. The surveillance visits are shorter than the original assessment and are there to ensure continued compliance. You will be informed well in advance to arrange a time that suits both parties best.
During the surveillance visits, selected parts of the system will be assessed and any previous problems to be cleared will be checked.
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Re-assessment
At the end of the 3-year period, Amtri Veritas will carry out a re-assessment visit. This visit will allow us to validate your certificate for another 3 years. The amount of time needed for your re-assessment will be determined by the results of the previous 3 years and will be outlined in a new 3-year contract.
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