certification

Each certification body has a different process for booking an audit.  Some are more difficult than others and you need to find out very early in the selection process what their process is so that you can compare the service delivery to your expectations.  Some guidelines to the various expectations include.  If you have more than one site in more than one state, ask for a 'national coordinator'.  Find out what are the lead times for making a request for an audit.  Some certification bodies have very strict engagement rules and quite specific requirements for the records generated before a certification audits can take place.  What is the lead time for changing an audit date?  The rule of thumb is that if you do this with 4 weeks notice, there should not be any implied penalty.  Some have sliding scales based on lead times.  Our advice is don't accept any penalty and that open communication should circumvent any lead time issues.  However, some certification bodies believe they are far more important than the client and will insist on trying to impose penalties.  Others just have unwieldy large bureaucracies that cannot handle flexibility.  Others will assign you a dedicated client manager who will work with you to ensure both parties can be accommodated.  If the certification body requires written confirmation, find out what format will be acceptable and use it.  Some guidelines / prerequisites for planning you first certification audit include; all mandatory procedures are written and implemented.  Records of these procedures have been generated and demonstrate effective implementation.  One record is not effective implementation.  Awareness training of all relevant staff has been conducted and recorded.  At least 2 management reviews have taken place.  At least 5 nonconformances and resulting corrective actions have been effectively implemented and closed.  The majority of your internal quality audits have been conducted.  Be careful, some certification bodies require all audits have been completed.  Ensure the relevant people will be available.  Ensure practical, comfortable and 'secure' work spaces can be made available for the auditor.  Provide them with lunch.  It can't help but it can't hurt.  Ask for an audit plan and expect one.  Some certification bodies have quite exhaustive precertification visits, documentation and expectations.  get them f]defined and meet them.  And at the end of the day if all seems a bit difficult, just give us a call and we will ensure you get the service and outcomes you deserve.