ACCREDITATION PROCESS
What Is Accreditation
Accreditation is an endorsement of a conformity assessment body's (CAB's) competence, credibility, independence and integrity in carrying out its conformity assessment activities.
In everyday language the terms accreditation and certification are often used interchangeably. In the conformity assessment industry however, these terms have very different and specific meanings.
ISO's formal definition of accreditation is "third party attestation related to a conformity assessment body conveying formal demonstration of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks." (ISO/ IEC 17000:2004)
Certification is "third party attestation related to products, processes, systems or persons." (ISO/ IEC 17000:2004)
GAF-SAI only accredits organisations who provide certification and/ or inspection services. These organisations are known as Conformity Assessment Bodies (or CABs).
GAF- SAI accepts applications for accreditation from Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) around the world. The five general steps that apply to GAF-SAI accreditation are outlined below.
GAF-SAI accepts applications for accreditation from Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) around the world. The five general steps that apply to GAF-SAI accreditation are outlined below.
Benefits Of GAF-SAI Accreditation
GAF-SAI accreditation delivers a number of important benefits to conformity assessment bodies that enhance confidence in conformity assessment.
Highlight your competence
By meeting GAF-SAI's internationally-recognised policies and procedures on a regular basis you highlight your competence in performing conformity assessment activities.
Demonstrate your independence
For an effective assessment to occur the independence of the conformity assessment body is paramount. GAF-SAI accreditation emphasises the independence of the conformity assessment body in performing the assessment.
Gain international recognition
GAF-SAI increases the likelihood of smooth access to overseas markets for companies using GAF-SAI accredited certification and inspection services.
Benchmark your performance
Regular assessments by GAF-SAI's audit teams allow you to determine whether you are performing your assessment activities correctly and to appropriate standards, as well as providing your business with a benchmark for measuring future performance against.
It's the mark of the Professional
GAF-SAI operates in a third party assessment environment. Third party assessment is recognised around the world as the highest level of assessment, and GAF-SAI accreditation demonstrates to your customers and others that your conformity assessment services are meeting the highest levels of professionalism in the conformity assessment industry. GAF-SAI accepts applications for accreditation from conformity assessment bodies around the world.
Accreditation Process
Assessment procedure - AP - F2
This section explains what is required in becoming accredited by GAF-SAI, from initiation to accreditation. It is an abridged version of the GAF-SAI document Procedures and Conditions of Accreditation
Scope of Accreditation
Detailing the scope of an organisation's technical activities is one of the distinguishing requirements of accreditation. To do this it is necessary to specify the range services that are provided under the control of your organisation's technical and quality systems.
In granting accreditation, GAF-SAI will specify the following details in the scope of accreditation:
- The services provided
- Test/inspection methods used
- For calibration laboratories, ranges of measurements and least uncertainties
Advice and assistance
In the first instance, please contact GAF-SAI for advice and assistance about which accreditation programme is right for your organisation. You will be sent an application form and helpful information for getting started.
Formal Application
Please complete the application form we provide when responding to your initial enquiry. The information requested is essential to us for selecting the appropriate technical expert(s) and to brief them prior to their visiting your organisation. Some of the important information we need in the questionnaire is:
- Legal status of the organization
- The staff members your organisation
- Quality Manual
- Each site for which accreditation is sought.
Applications must be accompanied by the application fee detailed in the current issue of the relevant GAF-SAI fee schedule.
Authorised Representative
A senior staff member of your organisation must be nominated to represent it in all
dealings with GAF-SAI. This person is the GAF-SAI point of contact with your organisation and is known as the Authorised Representative. All correspondence, invoices, etc which GAF-SAI sends to your organisation will be addressed to the Authorised Representative.
The Authorised Representative may be any senior staff member from either the technical or managerial staff. It is important that they are in a position of sufficient authority to ensure your organisation complies with the criteria for accreditation at all times. There are advantages in nominating a person who is not closely involved in the day-to-day operation but has authority over it.
Documentation Review
Before the on-site assessment of your organisation, manuals and supporting documents making up the technical and quality systems will be comprehensively reviewed by us to ensure compliance with the relevant general criteria (the standards), the relevant specific criteria and other criteria as detailed in this section. Prior to or during on-site assessment, you will be notified of any significant changes needed to the documents.
- The objective of GAF-SAI assessments is to confirm that your organisations is actually doing what its manuals say it will do and that it meets good practice for that discipline. During its on-site visit, the assessment team will focus on the technical operations, the quality system, the competence of signatory applicants and key technical personnel, and on the methods used. The team may wish to witness audits relevant to the scope.
-
The assessment begins with a meeting between the Assessment Team and the senior staff of your organisation. This opening meeting provides anopportunity for:
o The timetable and scope of the assessment to be finalised
o A review of the Accreditation Questionnaire
o Resolution of any immediate queries that the assessors or staff may have.
-
The assessment ends with an closing meeting where representatives of your organisation are given the summary of findings, including details of any areas of non-compliance that have been found and guidance on correcting them. All findings will be fully discussed before the Assessment Team leaves.
Within ten working days of the visit, your organisation will receive a comprehensive written report on the assessment findings, which were discussed at the closing meeting. The report will place the findings into two categories:
-
Corrective Action Requests (CARs) are actions that your organisation must carry out before accreditation can be granted. CARs usually relate to non-compliance with the General or Specific Criteria.
- Recommendations are actions that your organisation is urged to carry out in the interests of good practice, but are not considered CARs.
- The ANAS - BNR will grant accreditation, issue a Certificate of Accreditation and publish the name of your organisation, together with details of the scope of accreditation, in the GAF-SAI Directory, which can be viewed at any time at www.anasbnr.us
