Certification schemes

A need for a common certification scheme to ensure the integrity of the certification process world-wide. 

Prior to the publication of ISO 9000, several nations had developed national quality system standards, with many used only in the procurement of military equipment. With the emergence of the NATO Quality Control System standards in 1973, the Quality Panel of the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers set out to develop an equivalent standard for non-military applications. The result was BS 4891, which was published in 1972. In 1974 this was followed by BS 5179 with the title Operation and Evaluation of Quality Assurance Systems. However, BS 5179 was intended only as a guide and it was not until 1979, with the publication of BS 5750, that major purchasers in the UK had a standard that could be invoked in contracts. A certification scheme was eventually established in 1983, following the UK government s white paper on competitiveness ... 

ISO 9000 is not a statutory requirement and neither is certification, hence certification is voluntary. However, suppliers may be under pressure to obtain registration to ISO 9001, ISO 9002, or ISO 9003 in order to tender for contracts. Within the ISO 9000 certification scheme, the certification industry is regulated by accreditation bodies. An International Accreditation Forum (lAF) attempts to harmonize accreditation practices world-wide through ISO Guide 61. The accreditation bodies authorize certification bodies to conduct certification to prescribed standards - a process that is called accreditation. The accreditation body performs witness audits and desk audits of the certification body to ensure compliance with the conditions of accreditation. 

These measures, however, were insufficient for the automotive industry. Hence a global certification scheme has been developed that addresses each of these weaknesses and as a result creates a very robust system that will yield tremendous benefits for the industry (see also Part 1 Chapter 5). 

The certification business has grown enormously in the last ten years. The International Accreditation Forum (lAF) recorded 616 accredited certification bodies in January 1999. The experience of the vehicle manufacturers with ISO 9000 certification led them to question the wisdom of so many certification bodies chasing the same business in a competitive market. The results seemed to indicate that cost reductions by the certification bodies led to a decline in the quality of auditing and that was the opposite of what the vehicle manufacturers wanted. The vehicle manufacturers had not seen a significant rise in product quality as a result of ISO 9000 and they believed this was partially due to the quality of the accreditation and certification schemes being operated as well as inadequacies in the quality system standard. When the four national automotive schemes were launched, great emphasis was placed on regulating more closely the accreditation and certification schemes. From a customer perspective, the ISO 10011 scheme had some particular problems ... 

Since 1994, the automotive industry in the USA and Europe has been operating quality system certification schemes that extended the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 10011, and EN 45012. One of these schemes was addressed by my QS-9000 Quality S /stems Handbook, published in 1996. In the same year the automakers of the USA and Europe formed the International Automotive Task Force (lATF) which, in cooperation with the technical committee of the International Organization of Standardization (TO 176), produced ISO/TS 16949. Use of and registration to this new standard is currently voluntary. It is intended that following the first revision to incorporate ISO 9000 2000, the ISO/TS 16949 certification scheme will be mandated by all major vehicle manufacturers on their Tier 1 suppliers. As a result, the standard will be cascaded along the supply chain, ultimately reaching all suppliers to the global automotive industry. 

In December 1998 I was fortunate to be invited to participate in the development of the ISO/TS 16949 certification scheme and later to represent the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on the lATF Training Council, set up to design the auditor qualification program. I would therefore like to acknowledge Bob Lawrie and Robert Coles of the SMMT for providing the opportunities in which I was able to learn about the lATF and ISO/TS 16949. 

It is to be hoped that the variety of certification schemes will not multiply, or the client is likely to be confused rather than informed. When making his choice he may usefully remember that the criteria of good quality systems are as applicable to service organizations as they are to manufacturers, and that clarity regarding the objectives of the service offered together with practical common sense in providing this service are the real indicators. 

Authorities, c/o Parklands, 825a Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 8RE CWSIP Certification Scheme for Weldment... 

It can be seen from what has been said that the technology of surface preparation and coating application is complex. Attention to detail cannot be ignored and every effort must be made to train painting inspectors as well as possible. Certification schemes are, without doubt, a positive step in this direction and should be supported. 

I would work and cooperate on the development of a standard certification scheme for ChL. Further promotion of this concept through a global partnership between Akzo Nobel and UNIDO. 

European Commission. 2003. Guidance Document for the Evaluation of the Equivalence of Organic Producer Group Certification Schemes Applied in Developing Countries. European Commission, Brussels. 

For farmers to be able to sell their products, consumers require sufficient confidence in the organic production and marketing processes to be willing to buy. Over the last 20 years, considerable effort has been expended by both public (state authorities) and private (e.g. farmers associations) organisations into developing a well-functioning certification scheme. As a result, many countries have credible organic standards and certification procedures. Availability of markets... 

Apart from the importance of consumer confidence in the product, which is encouraged through a trustworthy and known certification scheme, a stable supply (e.g. through the involvement of supermarkets) and relatively low prices are important for organic agriculture to expand (Michelsen etal. 1999). 

Reliable and credible standard-setting processes and certification schemes. 

Governmental economic incentives including taxation, duties, subsidies and certification schemes... 

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