Management Systems certification imposes stringent disciplines on the audit team’s expertise of the certifying body. QCS is an internationally recognized certifying body and our certification process are synonymous with high quality.
Our assessment process is fully guaranteed through accreditation by the “Accreditation Service For certifying bodies Europe Ltd (ASCB)”, member of “Global Accreditation Forum(GAF)” an international network of accreditation regimes. To date ASCB has accredited globally over 90 certification bodies, registered over 3500 assessors, auditors and quality related personnel achievements; and certificated over 30,000 organizations. All certificated bodies, organizations and products are placed on the “International Register Of Quality Assessed Organization (IRQAO) that has a live search function, providing the user with instant validation of the authenticity of any ASCB- and other accredited certificate holders.
Certification is performed by neutral ‘Third Party’ organisations known as Certification Bodies(CB”S) or ‘Registrars’ in north America. In the early eighties the number of CB”S were minimal but there are about quite a handful of them in the UK today. Certification bodies are classified in two groups, namely “Accredited and Non Accredited”.
Management system Certification bodies which are accredited inspires comparatively more Re-assurance to the consumers and public. This is because their competencies and performances are being constantly monitored by an independent higher Authority known as Accreditation boards as per the international standard of ISO 17021 . It is also to be noted that all global accreditation boards need to comply with the technical standard of ISO17011.
There are two relevant accreditation regimes operating from the United kingdom since 1995, namely Accreditation Service for Certifying Bodies (Europe) Ltd [ASCB (E)] and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) often referred to by their initials as ASCB (E) and UKAS.
Their logos are known respectively denoted as the ‘Euro-tick’ (showing a rectangle with the European stars a tick and their initials) and the ‘Crown and Tick’ (showing a crown above a tick above the words “Quality Management” all within a square box).
The street credibility of Un accredited certification bodies are less compared to Accredited certification bodies, as their performances are not monitored by an independent external authority for impartiality. Often these companies are found to be actively involved with rendering consultancy services to their certified clients against the stipulated requirements of ISO 17021. They offer the provision of Quality manuals and consultancy together with a ISO 9001 certificate under a single package.
Commonalities between ASCB and UKAS:
The key difference being UKAS is affiliated to IAF (international accreditation forum) while ASCB(E) is affiliated to GAF(Global Accreditation forum).
As per IAF policies and Regulation of European parliament [Regulation (EC) 765/2008] only one accreditation board from each member State is allowed IAF membership and thus get the status of National accreditation board. This enables UKAS and other parties to promote their accreditation regime as the “Sole National accreditation board” or the “ only government approved accreditation board” . While both these statements are true but if they are commonly used to misinterpret that there cannot be any other accrediting bodies, which is simply not true. For example government itself has appointed non UKAS accreditation board for their cyber essential certification scheme. .
ASCB Background
We lift the following text directly by ASCB , for the convenience of our clients.
On ASCB’s basis and “government recognition”
“In 1995, ASCB, the Accreditation Service for Certifying Bodies (Europe) Ltd. was formed to accredit a range of non-governmental certifying bodies that assess products, personnel and management systems.ASCB is a private limited company registered in England and Wales registered number 3132143. The company is therefore registered as a trading concern with the appropriate United Kingdom authorities.The authority vested in ASCB Ltd is that assigned to them by the certifying body and by the organisation in respect of the accreditation services contracted.No claim as to statutory, legislative, authority, prominence or right given by any other party unless specified by ASCB Ltd is claimed. Organisations are advised that ASCB Ltd provide accreditation services and are known to the U K Government Department of Trade and Industry as doing so”.
ASCB’s International affiliations and Central Registration system of Accredited certificates
“ASCB belong to the Global Accreditation Forum (GAF), an international association for accreditation, which promotes best practices in quality assurance worldwide. To date ASCB has accredited over 90 certification bodies, registered over 3500 assessors, auditors and quality related personnel achievements; and certificated over 30,000 organisations. All certificated bodies, organisations and products are placed on the International Register (IRQAO) that has a live search function, providing the user with instant verification of the authenticity of any ASCB- and other accredited certificate holder” .
Please click below to view QCS accreditation certificate :http://www.ascb.co.uk/Statement/215Statement.pdf
Please click the following link to read more on regulations governing Accreditation in the international community: http://www.qcspl.com/cp/upload1/regulations%20governing%20accreditaion&%20certifications-F.pdf
