PRECERTIFICATION PROCESS PART 1

When choosing your certification body be sure to read and understand the stage 1 and document review requirements.? Each certification body does it differently but they all generally following these steps.

Application - obvious for some but if you don't apply and pay the fee, your certification is going nowhere.? Some certification bodies will negotiate this fee, and most will not charge it at all should you integrate other management systems, or you are transferring a certification.

Document review - as it implies, you must submit your quality management system for scrutiny against the standard.? Some certification bodies may ask you to send records as well.? Some will conduct a phone interview, and some will require a site visit.? One requires you to complete a 20-page checklist and then requires their auditor to confirm each of the details on site, independent of the risk footprint which at times is a monumental waste of time.

Stage 1 - is verification of the company's readiness to undergo the certification review.? This stage will focus on the results of the document review and the volume of records that will determine the effectiveness of the quality management system.

At this time, you must make sure at least the majority of your internal audits have been conducted.? A number of certification bodies require all of the audits to be done.? Make sure at least two management reviews have been conducted and at least 5 or more full cycle corrective actions.? Training records, sales and purchasing records are next, followed by processing data and others.

Then it is the call of the auditor whether the certification audit will take place.? Depending on the certification body, the lead time will be between a week and a month away (and possibly longer if you want a November / December or May / June time slot.