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QualityTerm

Certification

Certification is the process in which an independent body establishes that your organisation meets a standard or scheme and confirms this with a certificate that is valid for a limited time.

Explanation

You first build out your management system and then have it assessed by a certification body. The body carries out an audit, reviews documents and evidence, talks to employees and reports its findings. Once any nonconformities are resolved, the certificate follows.

A certificate does not last forever. It has a period of validity and the body returns in between for checks. If the findings are then serious or are left open, the certificate can be restricted or withdrawn. How often and for how long is set out in the scheme and in your agreements with the body.

Certification is different from working to a standard. You can follow ISO 9001 without being certified. The certificate is proof towards clients and principals, and some ask for it when you tender or want access to projects. A gap analysis, internal audits and a management review are the usual preparation.

Example from practice

A contractor who wants to take part in tenders that ask for a certificate first does a gap analysis, carries out internal audits and holds a management review. The certification body's audit follows after that.

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In BrydgeOne

Where you work with Certification

Audit-ready checkSee what is still missing, clause by clause. GAP analysisSee at a glance where you fall short of the standard. AuditsPlan internal audits and log findings. ISO 9001Quality ISO 14001Environment ISO 45001Health and safety VCASafety for contractors
Knowledge base

Keep reading

Preparing for a certification audit: checklist for the final weeks and the day itselfPreparing for a certification audit is mostly about making sure you can show what you already do. This guide gives a checklist for the final weeks and audit day, describes what auditors often ask and explains how to handle findings. Introducing ISO 9001: how to set up a quality management systemISO 9001 is the most widely known standard for quality management. It helps you deliver consistently what customers expect and keep getting better. Here is how to set up a system that fits your organisation instead of a pile of documents. Preparing for VCA certification: a checklist for your organizationDo you want to become VCA certified or keep your certificate? Then you want to know in advance what an auditor looks at and what evidence you need at hand. This checklist helps you approach the preparation in a practical way.
Glossary

See also

Certification bodyCertification bodyInternal auditInternal auditGap analysisGap analysisBeing audit-readyBeing audit-readyManagement reviewManagement review

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