How to Audit a new Certifying Body
Hi Everyone,
Does anyone know of any tool (audit procedure/checklist) to audit / assess a potential new certifier body before/during/after a site audit exercise for evaluation of their capabilities? have someone done it and can you share key learnings? thanks!
Greetings Ana19,
This is a bit odd, as you don't generally assess a certification body, since this has been done by the accreditation body (IAS in your case). They assess you and your statement kind of contradicts the whole idea of audit objectivity and independence. The only assessment you can perform beforehand is economic terms, reputation, communication, accreditation etc and afterwards you can add audit experience (like knowledgability of auditor on standard and legislation and even if the findings make sense or not) but you shouldn't screen the CB according to if you like the mock audit.
It would be a bit more acceptable if you were employing a CB services as a first (for yourselves) or second party (for your suppliers) auditor.
Regards
in your example, you'd only be assessing that particular auditor who may or may not be an independent contractor
IMHO there is no tangible tool that allows you to determine to what extent the CB is ethical and has integrity
I get your question two ways:
Audit a certifying body: in this you should be an accrediting body.
Aust AS a new certifying body: you need to in contact with relevant standard. Once you meet the needs of the standard authority. Then, you will make a some administrative procedures i.e., pricing, checklists, days of audits, reports writing, CAPA system, digital or software based auditing...
I get your question two ways:
Audit a certifying body: in this you should be an accrediting body.
Aust AS a new certifying body: you need to in contact with relevant standard. Once you meet the needs of the standard authority. Then, you will make a some administrative procedures i.e., pricing, checklists, days of audits, reports writing, CAPA system, digital or software based auditing...
Thank you Sayed, it is the second option, I should have said assess the CB for their services (not audit them). I am wondering if someone has done it in a formal way (created a checklist with the components you mentioned such as: pricing, report writing, accurate of NCR, etc). I think is important to document the comments if you are witnessing a mock audit so you an share out in a complete manner. There is a lot going on during the audit too. I am trying to identify how can I best support this assessment during the mock audit, thanks.
in your example, you'd only be assessing that particular auditor who may or may not be an independent contractor
IMHO there is no tangible tool that allows you to determine to what extent the CB is ethical and has integrity
Thank you Scampi. I understand. Looking to assess them for as many areas as possible such as communication, accuracy of NCR, digital tools, etc. thanks for your reply.
Greetings Ana19,
This is a bit odd, as you don't generally assess a certification body, since this has been done by the accreditation body (IAS in your case). They assess you and your statement kind of contradicts the whole idea of audit objectivity and independence. The only assessment you can perform beforehand is economic terms, reputation, communication, accreditation etc and afterwards you can add audit experience (like knowledgability of auditor on standard and legislation and even if the findings make sense or not) but you shouldn't screen the CB according to if you like the mock audit.
It would be a bit more acceptable if you were employing a CB services as a first (for yourselves) or second party (for your suppliers) auditor.
Regards
Hi Evans, thanks for your reply. I think I used the words incorrectly. I should have said assess or evaluate but not audit them. Yes the areas you mentioned is what I am looking for such as reputation, communication, following the standard consistently, knowledge, etc. I was wondering if there is such tool or I would probably create a checklist to document the assessment because it is a lot of capture. I thought maybe someone had done it prior and would have some learning or insights. thanks for your help.