Systems Certification Process
The certification process for organizations and services stands out for the importance of quality, sustainability and good governance in its evaluations.
System certification process and steps to achieve it
Certification is the recognition of teamwork, the effort of organizations and companies... It is the well-deserved reward for those companies that decide to start the path of certification and improve their organizational processes and their competitive capacity.
Here are the steps needed to achieve this:
REQUEST FOR A QUOTE FROM AENOR
Leave us some basic information so that we can send you a personalized and non-binding offer. It only takes a minute.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE OFFER
Once you agree with the offer presented to you by AENOR, you must complete the "Acceptance of Offer" annex. From here, the certification process has begun.
AUDIT TEAM ASSIGNMENT AND AUDIT PLANNING
AENOR will inform you of the name of the Technician Responsible for your certification. He or she will assign an audit team. The audit team will contact you to plan the audit.
AUDIT
When the scheduled date arrives, the audit team visits your offices, evaluating the non-conformities or deviations and also your strengths. Based on this analysis, our experts determine the scope, in order to "limit" the application of the management system, and the requirements of the evaluation to be carried out.
On the last day of the audit, the audit team will prepare an Audit Report, which will be read to your organization in a final meeting.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Based on the deviations detected during the audit and reflected in the report made, the organization has a period of 30 days to submit the Corrective Action Plan.
AWARD AND CERTIFICATION
If the audit team considers that the corrective actions applied are adequate, it issues a proposal for the granting of the certificate. If they are not, it asks the organisation for a review of the Corrective Action Plan. The auditor proposes its decision to the Evaluation and Decision Committee, which has the final decision. Once the certificate has been approved, it is issued and sent to the organisation together with the licence to use the AENOR mark, and the certification mark can now be used on invoices, delivery notes, website, etc.).
EXTRAORDINARY AUDIT (in some cases)
Prior to the decision not to grant a certificate, there is the possibility of carrying out an extraordinary audit (only in the necessary cases).
ANNUAL MONITORING
The company should conduct internal audits at planned intervals to report on the management system, its maintenance, and opportunities for improvement.
For their part, AENOR experts will carry out an annual follow-up audit to verify the adequacy of the system implemented to the standard and help the company to detect possible deviations.
RENEWAL
A renewal audit is generally conducted every three years, in which the requirements are evaluated in greater depth than in the annual follow-up.
What is the business certification process like?
Certification demonstrates that a management system complies with the requirements established by a reference standard or regulation. The certification process includes several assessment stages, from the initial application and audit planning through certification approval, surveillance, and renewal.
Below, discover the steps required to obtain an AENOR certification and how each stage of the process is carried out
REQUEST A QUOTATION FROM AENOR
Provide some basic information so we can send you a personalized, no-obligation proposal. It will only take a minute.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROPOSAL
Once you agree with the proposal submitted by AENOR, you must complete the "Proposal Acceptance" form. From this point on, the certification process officially begins.
ASSIGNMENT OF THE AUDIT TEAM AND AUDIT PLANNING
AENOR will inform you of the name of the Technical Manager responsible for your certification. This person will assign an audit team. The audit team will contact you to plan the audit.
AUDIT
On the scheduled date, the audit team visits your facilities, assessing any nonconformities or deviations as well as your organization's strengths. Based on this analysis, our experts determine the scope of the management system and the requirements of the assessment to be carried out.
On the final day of the audit, the audit team prepares an Audit Report, which is presented to your organization during the closing meeting.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Based on the deviations identified during the audit and recorded in the report, the organization has 30 days to submit a Corrective Action Plan.
CERTIFICATION APPROVAL AND ISSUANCE
If the audit team considers the corrective actions implemented to be adequate, it issues a recommendation for certification approval. If not, the organization will be asked to revise its Corrective Action Plan. The auditor submits the recommendation to the Evaluation and Decision Committee, which makes the final decision. Once certification is approved, the certificate is issued and sent to the organization together with the AENOR trademark usage license. The certification mark may then be used on invoices, delivery notes, websites, and other materials.
EXTRAORDINARY AUDIT (in some cases)
Before a decision is made to deny certification, there is the possibility of carrying out an extraordinary audit (only where necessary).
ANNUAL SURVEILLANCE
The company must conduct internal audits at planned intervals to assess the management system, ensure its maintenance, and identify opportunities for improvement.
In turn, AENOR experts carry out an annual surveillance audit to verify the system's compliance with the standard and help the company identify any potential deviations.
RENEWAL
Generally, every three years, a renewal audit is conducted, during which requirements are assessed in greater depth than during the annual surveillance audit.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Certification Process
How do you start a certification process with AENOR?
The process begins by requesting a quotation from AENOR. After the required information is provided, AENOR prepares a customized proposal and, once accepted, the certification process formally begins.
How is the certification process planned?
After the proposal is accepted, AENOR assigns a Technical Manager and an audit team. The team contacts the organization to plan the audit and organize the subsequent stages of the process.
What happens during the certification audit?
The audit team performs the assessment and identifies any deviations or nonconformities, as well as strengths. At the end of the audit, it prepares an Audit Report detailing the findings.
What happens if deviations are identified during the audit?
The deviations are documented in the audit report, and the organization has 30 days to submit a Corrective Action Plan.
When is an AENOR certification granted?
If the corrective actions are considered adequate, a recommendation for certification approval is issued. The final decision rests with the Evaluation and Decision Committee and, once approved, the certificate is issued.
How is a certification maintained and renewed?
AENOR conducts annual surveillance audits and, generally every three years, a renewal audit that assesses requirements in greater depth.
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