FAQ

FAQ

WHAT IS CERTIFICATION?

Certification is the act of verifying the conformance to standard or other requirements. A certification body audits an organization and, if appropriate, a certificate of conformance to a given standard (for example, ISO 9001 for quality management systems) is issued. With regard to management systems, the terms certification and registration are used interchangeably.

WHAT IS A CERTIFICATION BODY (CB)?

A CB (also known as a registrar) is a third-party company contracted to evaluate the conformance of an organization to the requirements of the appropriate standard(s) and issue a certificate of conformance when warranted

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS CERTIFICATION?

Benefits of implementing quality management systems include increased operational efficiency; Confidence in the market place and in our public services is essential. Trust is placed in the products and services on offer often without a second thought by the customer, such are the regulations and standards against which products are manufactured and services provided.

WHAT IS ACCREDITATION?

Accreditation is the means by which an authoritative body gives formal recognition that an organization (such as a CB) is competent to carry out specific tasks. Accreditation provides assurance to a CB’s customers that the CB continues to operate according to internationally accepted criteria.
Accreditation is used to validate or verify the conformance of a certification body to the requirements of national and/or international criteria.
An accreditation body is an organization that grants the authority to issue certificates to the certification body. An accredited certification body is an organization assessed and recognized by an accrediting body for its competence to audit and issue (and withdraw) certification attesting that an organization, product, or person meets the requirements of a standard or other requirements.

HOW LONG ARE ACCREDITATIONS VALID?

Accreditations are generally valid for a period of five years, but must be monitored by GABCB on a regular basis.