Start

Contact and agreement

  • Quote request, company information is collected.
  • Inventory of skills and resources.
  • Internal decision that resources are available: competent auditor, time and location (geographic).
  • Quote sent with contract terms.

Quote sent within 2 working days.

Planning

Preliminary work including inventory

  • Program and letter sent to customer – approx. 2-3 weeks before audit date

Audit

On-site visit

  • Audit is carried out at the current facility (office as well as manufacturing and possibly warehouse). For ISO-based audits (e.g. ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000) the initial audit is carried out in two stages – Stage 1 and Stage 2.
  • Opening meeting to inform about how the audit is carried out and the continued certification process.
  • Final meeting on site with written summary of deviations/observations during the audit.

Response to corrective actions from customer – within 28 days of audit.

Completion

Supplementary facts are submitted

  • After the audit, the client usually needs to submit documentation (photo, copy of document, screenshot, etc.) that shows how corrective actions have been taken or are planned to be taken.
  • The auditor previews these actions and accepts them before they are sent to the reviewing auditor. Supplementary documentation may be required.

Preview within 5 working days.

Decision

Review by Chief Auditor

  • The review auditor reviews all documentation from the auditor (report) and the client (documentation on corrective actions).
  • The review auditor makes a decision on approved certification and a certificate is issued.
  • The review auditor can also reject certification and new planning is started for a new process.*
  • Certificates issued by ControlCert may, in some cases, be withdrawn or temporarily suspended. There are possibilities to recreate certificates under certain circumstances.

A decision on certification is made within 5 working days.

Follow-up

To renew the certificates, follow-up visits are made. For most certifications, this is done annually. For ISO-based certifications, the certificate runs on a three-year cycle with two follow-up audits in a row and then recertification after 3 years. Changes in the scope usually occur in connection with an audit but can also occur between audits. In these cases, an assessment is made whether additional visits are required or whether documentation can support a change in the scope. Requirements from the standard owner for the current standard must be considered and complied with.

*Decisions can be appealed within 14 days, read more here >