Certification of Organizations

ISO Certification is the Common Language in Today’s Global Market.

INTI.Q is a MSECB Authorized Partner. Our goal is to ensure that our customers have a comprehensive and effective certification process.

The MECB Management System Certification program is accredited by International Accreditation Service-IAS to ISO/IEC 17021-1 Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems. IAS is part of the IAF-MLA Multilateral Recognition Agreement where all participating countries create policies/mandates /guidelines for accreditation bodies to follow. This assures that there is a global acceptance on the management system requirements that are being implemented and audited. This process uses ISO standards that provide the global recognition to the certificate being issued.

MSECB uses IAF mandates and ISO/IEC 17021-1 to ensure competent audit teams, with adequate resources, following a consistent process and reporting audit results in a consistent manner. It also helps create confidence among regulators, consumers, suppliers, and other stakeholders that certificates granted by one certification body are effectively equivalent to that offered by another.

Management System certification is a third-party audit performed by a certification body such as MSECB who, upon verification that an organization is in conformance with the requirements of the ISO standard, will issue a certificate. This certification is then maintained through regularly scheduled annual surveillance audits by the registrar, with re-certification of the management system performed on a tri-annual basis.

5 steps in getting your certification started
1. Complete MSECB application
2. Review and approve proposal, terms, and conditions
3. Schedule audit dates
4. Audit will take place
5. Receive certificate

What is a Third-Party Assessment?
Third party audits can be mandatory (depending on the standard/regulation and the industry sector) or they can be voluntary. In both cases, the organization wishing to be audited will have to contract the services of a qualified organization to perform an independent and objective audit such as registrars (certification bodies) or regulators. This process is completed for certification, registration, attestation, validation or verification purposes.

Sixteen steps to start your path into an ISO certification.
1. Identify what standard you are seeking certification to
2. Purchase the standard (national standard body or https://www.iso.org/store.html
3. Select a consultant/coach
4. Select a registrar
5. Schedule certification target audit date
6. Create a budget
7. Create a timeline
8. Select internal audit team
9. Schedule training for you and team
10. Schedule a Gap analysis/Pre-assessment
11. Start implementing management system
12. Schedule internal assessment
13. Take proper corrective actions
14. Schedule management review
15. Conduct certification audit with registrar
16. Receive certificate

INTIQ will help you achieve your business needs and assist you with the certification process. We will be with you every step of the way.

Types of Audits Initial Certification

Pre-assessment
The pre-assessment is an optional service that is offered for companies that wish to get the highest possible understanding of their readiness prior to undergoing a certification assessment.

The findings of the pre-assessment audit do not count towards the certification audit. A full report is delivered after the completion of the audit.

Certification Audit Requirement

  • The initial certification audit has two parts stage 1 and stage 2.
  • The surveillance audits are normally conducted annually or semi-annually depending on the client’s needs.
  • The certification contract is a three-year agreement.
    • Year one – certification audit
    • Year two – surveillance 1
    • Year three – surveillance 2
    • Year four – re-assessment

MS Certification Process

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Stage 1 Audit

The general objectives of stage 1 are to (this may vary depending on the standard:

a) review the client’s management system documented information;
b) evaluate the client’s site-specific conditions and to undertake discussions with the client’s personnel to determine the preparedness for stage 2;
c) review the client’s status and understanding regarding requirements of the standard, in particular with respect to the identification of key performance or significant aspects, processes, objectives and operation of the management system.
d) obtain necessary information regarding the scope of the management system, including: the client’s site(s); processes and equipment used; levels of controls established and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
e) review the allocation of resources for stage 2 and agree the details of stage 2 with the client.
f) provide a focus for planning stage 2 by gaining a sufficient understanding of the client’s management system and site operations in the context of the management system standard or other normative document.
g) evaluate if the internal audits and management reviews are being planned and performed, and if the level of implementation of the management system substantiates that the client is ready for stage 2.

Stage 2 Audit

The purpose of stage 2 is to evaluate the implementation, including effectiveness, of the client’s management system. The stage 2 takes place at the site(s) of the client. It will include the auditing of at least the following:

a) information and evidence about conformity to all requirements of the applicable management system standard or other normative documents.
b) performance monitoring, measuring, reporting, and reviewing against key performance objectives and targets
c) the client’s management system ability and its performance regarding meeting of applicable statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements.
d) operational control of the client’s processes.
e) internal auditing and management review.
f) management responsibility for the client’s policies.

Certification decision

Upon the completion of the audit the auditor will provide their recommendation for certification to MSECB Certification Board for review and approval. Once this process is completed a certificate will be issued for the period of three years.

Surveillance Audits

Surveillance audits are required to be conducted annually. They are on-site audits, but are not necessarily full system audits, and needs to be planned. The auditor confirms client’s management system continues to fulfil requirements
Each surveillance for the relevant management system standard shall include:

a) internal audits and management review.
b) a review of actions taken on nonconformities identified during the previous audit.
c) complaints handling.
d) effectiveness of the management system with regard to achieving the certified client’s objectives
e) progress of planned activities aimed at continual improvement.
f) continuing operational control.
g) review of any changes.
h) use of marks and/or any other reference to certification.

Recertification audit

The purpose of the recertification audit is to confirm the continued conformity and effectiveness of the management system as a whole, and its continued relevance and applicability for the scope of certification. A recertification audit will be planned and conducted to evaluate the continued fulfilment of all the requirements of the relevant management system standard or other normative document. This will be planned and conducted in due time to enable for timely renewal before the certificate expiry date.

Multi-site

Organizations are growing and expanding. If your organization has more than one location with a single management system, INTIQ can assist on determining if you qualify for a multisite audit. Requirements may vary depending on the certification scheme. Below find basic requirements:

  • The organization shall have a single management system.
  • The organization shall identify its central function. The central function is part of the organization and shall not be subcontracted to an external organization.
  • The central function shall have organizational authority to define, establish and maintain the single management system.
  • The organization’s single management system shall be subject to a centralized management review.
  • All sites shall be subject to the organization’s internal audit programme.
  • The central function shall be responsible for ensuring that data is collected and analyzed from all sites and shall be able to demonstrate its authority and ability to initiate organizational change as required in regard, but not limited, to:
    • system documentation and system changes;
    • management review;
    • complaints;
    • evaluation of corrective actions;
    • internal audit planning and evaluation of the results; and
    • statutory and regulatory requirements pertaining to the applicable standard(s)

      • .

Multiple standards

Many organizations have the requirement to meet more than one standard. We have auditors in multiple disciplines that can provide you with the support you need whether is a combine and/or integrated audit.

Integrated Management System: A single management system managing multiple aspects of organizational performance to meet the requirements of more than one management standard, at a given level of integration. A management system may range from a combined system adding separate management systems for each set of audit criteria/standard, to an Integrated Management System, sharing in single system documentation, management system elements, and responsibilities.

Transfer Your Certificate

If you are thinking about transferring your certification to MSECB this guide is designed to help you do just that.

Reasons for transferring
Not all certification bodies are the same – at INTI.Q we believe our clients deserve value for money and a great, personal service. That means certification audits that add value to your organization and help to improve your organization as well as meeting the certification, regulatory and customer requirements.
Benefits of transferring

  • Expert assessors – INTI.Q boasts some of the top expert assessors across the globe, vastly knowledgeable in their sectors and industries.
  • Great service – you’ll receive a knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and individual approach from your INTI.Q team
  • Competitive pricing – INTI.Q continually monitor the industry to make sure our pricing is fair, competitive, and completely transparent
  • Opportunities for improvement – a fresh assessment approach can revitalize your audits and identify new opportunities for improvement
  • Integrated certification – combining multiple certifications is a more efficient and effective use of budget and resources
  • Multi-site certification – bringing separately certified sites under one certification if more manageable and cost effective

What you can expect:

    • Practical advice. We help you understand the technical requirements and stages of the certification process in plain English.
    • Improvement focus. We not only assess your compliance with your chosen standard, but we also aim to identify opportunities for improvement at every audit
    • Comprehensive service. We provide a complete range of certification services with global coverage enabling you to integrate certification for greater efficiency
    • Great value. No hidden fees, competitive rates, and access to world-class auditors

Why INTI.Q?
At INTI.Q we pride ourselves on being an authorized reseller of MSECB a global certification body. Our goal is to ensure that our customers have a comprehensive and effective certification process. This means we can be responsive to your specific needs and changes within your industry, while ensuring that we retain and grow our expertise by sharing our knowledge across the planet. We are passionate about helping our clients to improve their products, processes, and people so they can deliver excellent customer satisfaction.
By adding a commonsense approach into the mix, we can ensure that we not only deliver the right certification for you, but we can ensure we stay ahead of the game and support you as your business grows.

Steps to transferring
There is a simple 5 step process to transferring your certification to MSECB and it can take as little as 1 week. Follow these steps to ensure a quick and easy transfer to MSECB:

    • You can contact us and we will guide you step by step to complete your MSECB application at info@intiq.biz or call us on (305) 330-6337.
    • INTI.Q will issue you with a quotation for your transfer and ongoing certification.
    • Once the quote is accepted a Pre-Transfer Review will take place to transfer your certificate. This will be offsite unless you have outstanding non-conformities which have not been closed by your current certification body.
    • MSECB will issue a new certificate which is aligned to your existing certification cycle.
    • You will inform your current certification body of your transfer.

* Please note some Certification Bodies may charge a cancellation fee, so please check your terms and conditions carefully prior to making any decision.

Remote Audits

MSECB offers remote audit techniques to supplement the traditional on-site audit activities when appropriate. If there are any unforeseeable circumstances such as COVID-19 which does not allow the audit to be conducted on-site. MSECB has established the necessary policy for conducting the audit remotely in a secure manner.

This policy provides guidance on how MSECB plans, manages, and facilitates remote audits, and is consistent with IAF MD 4:2018, IAF ID 3:2011 and IAF ID 12:2015.

Remote audit can be used at MSECB discretion, but the accreditation body must approve the process and receive proper justification. MSECB and the client are aware of the risks and opportunities of the information and communication technologies used and the impacts that they may have on the validity and objectivity of the information gathered. For more information, please contact us at info@intiq.biz