Accreditation of Management System Certification Bodies

Accreditation of Management System Certification Bodies

ISO 17021 Standard specifies general principles and requirements for the competence, consistency and impartiality of the audit and certification of management systems of all types

ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 contains principles and requirements for the competence, consistency and impartiality of bodies providing audit and certification of all types of management systems (e.g. quality management systems, environmental management systems among others).
Certification bodies operating to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 do not need to offer all types of management system certification. This standard is intended for the use by certification bodies and accreditation bodies. Certification of management systems is a third-party conformity assessment activity and bodies performing this activity are therefore third-party conformity assessment bodies.

Certification of a management system provides independent demonstration that the management system of the organization:
  • conforms to specified requirements;
  • is capable of consistently achieving its stated policy and objectives;
  • is effectively implemented.
Conformity assessment, such as the certification of a management system, thereby provides value to the organization, its customers and interested parties.
Accreditation by KENAS for management system certification bodies demonstrates that an organization has met the international standard (ISO/IEC 17021) for management system certification and is able to competently audit and certify management systems. A certification body’s scope of accreditation indicates which management systems it is accredited to audit and certify e.g.
  • ISO 9001- Quality Management Systems (QMS)
  • ISO 140001-Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
  • ISO 18001- Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSAS)
  • ISO 15000- Energy Management Systems( EnMS)
  • ISO 27001- Information Security Management Systems (ISMS)
  • ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS)
  • Uniformity in execution and reporting method for the people carrying out the activity.
  • Reduced penalty in case of disputes
  • Meeting the accreditation requirements
  • Reduced customer complaints
  • Proof of conformity to specified requirements

The advantages of using an accredited management systems certification body are:-

  • Confidence in receiving a high level of service from accredited CBs, as these are regularly assessed by Accreditation Bodies to ensure they demonstrate competence and adherence to ISO/IEC 17021.
  • Auditors from CBs (Registrars) are competent to audit companies looking for certification.
  • Certification Bodies will audit clients in an impartial manner, and carry out its activities and audits in the basis of evidence.
  • Certification Bodies will be responsive to complaints from customers and other parties.

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