Audit & Certification
An effective management system says a great deal about your organization. It shows you are dedicated to optimizing your operations. It demonstrates your commitment to quality, safety and security. It proves you have full visibility of your processes and resources. It underlines your commitment to sustainability. It shows your dedication to raising employee motivation and customer satisfaction. SA 8000, ISO 9001 QMS, ISO 14001 EMS, 18001 OHSAS, ISO 27001 - Information security management, ISO/IEC 17025:2005Testing & Calibration Laboratories, HACCP, ISMS, FSS, WRAP, IRIS, ISO 50001, ISO 13485
IMI is a premium quality, safety and sustainability solutions provider that specializes in testing, inspection, auditing, certification, training and knowledge services. So, when it comes to choosing a partner to help you promote a culture of continuous improvement, look to IMI.
Management Systems Certification
What is a management system?
A management system is a proven framework of processes used by an organization to ensure that all tasks required can be fulfilled in order to achieve objectives. In a small organization there may not be an official system, just ‘our way of doing things’. Often ‘our way of doing things’ is not written down, instead it is in the head of the staff. However, the larger the organization the more likely it is that there are written instructions about how things are done. This makes sure that nothing is left out and that everyone is clear about who needs to do what, when and how. When an organization systemizes how it does things, this is known as a management system.
Management system standards
Some of ISO’s most well-known standards are management system standards. They provide a model to follow when setting up and operating a management system. Like all ISO standards, they are the result of international, expert consensus. Therefore, by implementing a management system standard, organizations can benefit from global management experience and good practice. These standards can be applied to any organization, large or small, whatever its product or service and regardless of its sector of activity.
An effective management system has many benefits including:
- More efficient resource use
- Improved risk management
- Increased customer satisfaction as services and products consistently deliver what they promise
All ISO’s management system standards are based on the principle of continual improvement. An organization or company assesses its current situation, fixes objectives and develops policy, implements actions to meet these objectives and then measures the results. With this information the effectiveness of the policy, and the actions taken to achieve it, can be continually reviewed and improved.
Audits and Certification
Audits are a vital part of ISO’s management system approach as they enable the company or organization to check how far their achievements meet their objectives. External audits also play a role in showing conformity to the standard. Certification (third party conformity assessment) is not the only way to show conformity to management system standards. It is the formal recognition, through a certificate, that the management system you apply conforms to the requirements of a standard.
IMI management system certification services
IMI is a management system certification organization offering services to all industries. The scope of services is extensive in the fields of quality, environment, energy, occupational health and safety, food safety, and other critical sectors. IMI employs experienced and well-trained auditors qualified in their respective sectors, and is able to add value to clients’ businesses. The audit approach is designed to assist the organisations in achieving their objectives by providing input into continuous improvements. IMI offers a wide scope of certification services enabling organizations to select one or more services integrated to improve value and reduce redundant auditing.
IMI diverse range of accredited certification services includes:
Additional management system certification services offered are:
The route to certification
Step 1: Proposal for Certification – Contact AVRV and exchange of preliminary information. AVRV provides you a proposal based on the size and nature of your organization, detailing the cost and time involved.
Step 2: Optional pre-audit – You may decide to perform pre-audit to assess the readiness of your organization for the audit. This stage is optional
Step 3: Stage 1 Audit – Readiness review of your management system to verify the status of your organization for certification that includes compliance of your documented system, examination of key elements of the system and planning of next audit steps. At the end of this step you will receive a report summing up all findings (critical and non-critical).
Step 4: Stage 2 Audit – Evaluation of the implementation and systems effectiveness through observation of working practices, personnel interviews and examination of records. At the end of this stage all audit finding will be presented to you by the lead auditor that include nonconformities, observations, opportunities for improvement and strong points.
Step 5: Technical Review and Issue of Certificate subject to successful audit – The Certification Manager of AVRV will conduct a technical review of the adequacy of the audit files to confirm the issuance of a certificate. This means that you have to address all possible non-conformities identified in previous stages of the audit.
Step 6: Surveillance audit – Each year the validity of the certification remains subject to successful surveillance audits. Every twelve months we will verify that the management system conforms to the requirements of the standard and drives continuous improvement.
Step 7: Re-certification – After 3 years and shortly before the expiry of the initial certificate our routine visit will be extended to enable a re-certification audit.