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NQAQSR CERTIFICATIONS

NQAQSR was established in 1992, as a training & certification body to assist organizations in India in their march to obtain quality systems certification with the the timely auditing services. Since then it has provided most economical certification to over 2800 companies comprising major public sector undertakings as well private sector enterprises both in manufacturing & service sector.
CERTIFICATIONS

> ISO 9001:2008
> ISO 14001:2004
> OHSAS 18001:2007
Thursday, 23 Feb 2012

Our Certification Process

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NQAQSR has designed global processes for certifications that are in line with professional standards and international rules. Upon contacting NQAQSR Certification, clients learn about the main steps and processes associated with our certifications, as well as their rights and obligations when applying for management systems certifications. NQAQSR Certification makes this information publicly available for interested parties.

 

What is accreditation?
Accreditation verifies the certification body/registrar’s competence. To fulfill the accreditation criteria, an accrediting authority assesses the certification body/registrar. This is to verify that the certification body/registrar complies with existing requirements. This is the authorities’ way of auditing the auditors (certification bodies/registrars like NQAQSR).

What is third party accredited certification?
Accredited certification of management systems is used to demonstrate compliance to a standard. Third party certification bodies/registrars are auditing organizations that provide auditing services to companies that wish to obtain certification to specific standards.

How to become certified by NQAQSR?
A successful management system is one that is improved on a continual basis. Both your management system and certificate have to be maintained. Therefore, accredited certification consists of two stages: the primary certification and maintenance of the certificate thereafter. We apply our Risk Based Certification approach to both stages.

Initial certification
  • Input dialogue
    To tailor the audit, we need to know what is important to your organization. We have to get a clear understanding of your business strategy and conditions that affect your ability to reach said strategy. Subsequently 1-3 focus areas on which the audit will focus are identified. The focus areas should be linked to the management system and reflect the risks or opportunities that are most important to you. Agreeing on focus areas is a collaborative effort, and our auditors can help suggest focus areas if necessary. Top management should be involved at this stage.
  • Documentation review
    Our lead auditor evaluates your management system manual. The documentation review report summarizes any findings from this process. The report indicates if your organization is ready to proceed with the certification audit. The documentation review can be performed prior to or conducted as part of the initial visit.
  • Initial visit
    Before the actual certification audit, we will make a preliminary visit to your organization. The initial visit can be combined with the documentation review. The purpose of the initial visit is twofold:
  • To check your readiness for the certification audit, i.e. to review your manual, check procedures, to see your facilities, and briefly check the implementation of your management system.
  • To review focus areas input and agree on three to five particular focus areas upon which the audit will focus. Based on this, the scope and audit plan are agreed upon.
  • Certification audit
    The certification audit consists of informal interviews, examinations, and observations of the system in operation. During this process, we assess your management system’s degree of compliance with the requirements of the elected standard and performance in identified focus areas. When found compliant, we issue the certificate. Findings related to the focus areas will be presented at the end of the audit in a closing meeting and included in the audit report. At the closing meeting, you can also provide input regarding the focus areas, i.e. should any new focus area(s) be included in future audits.
    Maintenance of certificate
    At this stage you have completed the initial certification and can move on to maintenance of your certification.
  • Periodic Surveillance audits
    Each issued certificate has a three-year life period. Upon certification, we will create a periodic surveillance  audit schedule for regular audits over the three-year period. These audits confirm your company’s on-going compliance with specified requirements of the standard while re-evaluating performance in focus areas. At least one surveillance audit per year is required.
  • Re-certification audit
    After the three years are up, your certification will be extended through a re-certification audit.

 

Region of Operation

We operate in Indian Geographical Region only

 

Certification Process For

A: QMS ISO 9001:2008 Standard

B: EMS ISO14001:2004 Standard

C: OHSAS 18001:2007 Standard

The certification process which consists of the following major steps, as commenced

1. Stage – I audit is carried out for identification of any areas of concerns and also the documents review. It is conducted to identify and correct any major deficiencies in the implementation of management systems and assess the effectiveness of implementation, identification of the legal aspects, statutory and regulatory requirements, time frame to proceed for the stage 2 certification audit.

2. Stage – II audit conducted to assess the complete documented Quality/ Environment/ OH &MS management system and verify demonstration of its satisfactory operation as per the standards.

The company is granted Certification upon successful review of the reports after the Lead Auditor's recommendations are confirmed by the Certification committee of NQAQSR. And corrective action plan as needed is received and confirmed as adequate by Quality Manager /Technical Co-Ordinator.

All audits are conducted with utmost regard to confidentiality and professional ethics and provide a positive enriching experience to everyone involved.

Certificates are valid subject to the successful conduct of surveillance audit before the due date.

Recertification after 3 years should be done before the date of expiry to maintain the continuity of the certificate.

 

Cancellation:

If a company requests cancellation of its Certification, the details are recorded on the Change of Company details form by the AM, for authorization by the SM. The company’s certificate must be returned to NQAQSR before cancellation can be confirmed by the SM. Further, the name of the organizations shall be deleted from the NQAQSR list of certified companies.

 

Suspension or withdrawal of certificates
What happens if an organization fails to maintain their management system and certification?

 

Suspension

NQAQSR has a transparent procedure for suspension or withdrawal of certificates. This is applicable in situations where organizations persistently and seriously fail to maintain compliance with the management system standard or due to other situations.

CEO NQAQSR shall suspend certification in serious cases like:-

a) The client’s certified management system has persistently or seriously failed to meet certification requirements, including requirements for the effectiveness of the management system,

b) The certified client does not allow surveillance or recertification audits to be conducted at the required frequencies,

c) The certified client has voluntarily requested a suspension.

 

Withdrawal

Under suspension, the client’s management system certification is temporarily invalid. NQAQSR client agreement has enforceable arrangements with clients to ensure that in case of suspension the client refrains from further promotion of its certification. The certification body shall make the suspended status of the certification publicly available on the website and shall take any other measures as deemed appropriate.

Failure to resolve the issues that have resulted in the suspension in a time established by NQAQSR shall result in withdrawal or reduction of the scope of certification. The suspension would normally before 3 months and shall not exceed 6 months. The NQAQSR – client agreement has enforceable arrangements with the certified client concerning conditions of withdrawal ensuring upon notice of withdrawal of certification that the client discontinues its use of all advertising matter that contains any reference to a certified status.

 

Reduced Scope

CEO NQAQSR may reduce the client’s scope of certification to exclude the parts not meeting the requirements, when the client has persistently or seriously failed to meet the certification requirements for those parts of the scope of certification. Any such reduction shall be in line with the requirements of the standard used for certification.

 

Communication

Upon request by any party, NQAQSR shall correctly state the status of certification of a client’s management system as being suspended, withdrawn or reduced. The same will also be available on NQAQSR website for public information.