Involved parties
The evaluation missions are driven by authorized auditors.
- The accreditation is nominative and is awarded depending on the standard (provided that the standards are independent)
- The accreditations are awarded according to a strictly limited perimeter, mainly based on the appreciation of two criteria: expertise and experience.
- The accreditations are awarded by the issuers of the standards.
Process
As part of its evaluation work, COFICERT ensures the application of the requirements of the ISO 17021 standard.
As a reminder, ISO 17021 is a standard dedicated to the certification bodies that provides the principles and the guiding lines to be followed, within the frameworks of the audits related to the system certifications.
A Quality and Conformity Responsible within the Control department of COFICERT makes sure that the requirements of the standard 17021 are strictly respected within each mission assigned to COFICERT.
The evaluation according to a standard, relies on 4 criteria :
Coherence
Aiming for a logical methodology and organization among the elements.
Competence
By hiring the resources holding the knowledge, the know-how and the technical ability, to cover a specific theme.
Independence
By avoiding any direct and indirect relation between the parties.
Impartiality
By the capacity to respect the neutrality, fairness and objectivity conditions.
Interest
the interest of the evaluations according to a standard is double :
1. The diagnostic
It is about establishing, at a particular moment, the analysis of an evolving situation under the basis of the specifications of a given repository. The diagnostic, realized within a voluntary or mandatory initiative, is done within a strictly limited perimeter.
The objective being in the end to issue a number of justified opinions and argued positions, on each evaluated theme related to the object of the assessment. These themes are addressed individually, according to a predefined methodology. The applied methodologies are based on a scientific and objective approach, the diagnostic becoming thus a reliable tool to assist the decision making and an efficient operating guide. Furthermore, the recurrence of the evaluation mechanism leads towards a sustainable information system, allowing a continuous comparison over the time, within a dynamic situation.
Lastly, as a result of the conducted assessment, an in-depth report comes to support the diagnostic. The report will serve on one side, as a basis aiming to push forward the project of improving the good practices in terms of governance, and on the other side it allows to rule on the certification decision.
2. PDCA
It comes down to conduct an improvement process, through the resolution of identified problems and according to a predefined cycle allowing to implement an action plan built on structured methods, orienting the decisions towards more adapted and sustainable solutions. The cycle is symbolized by the Deming Wheel.
The acronym PDCA derives from the construction: Plan Do Check Act. These terms make reference to a tool used within the management of the quality of the processes. This cyclical tool, encourages by its construction the continuous improvement of the procedures.
The "PDCA" cycle is based on 4 phases :
P : Plan = Planify
This step consists of correctly defining the problem, in order to identify precisely the best suitable solution. A step whose purpose is to define an action plan, including: planning, agenda, participants.
D : Do = Realize
This step consists of the implementation within the strict respect of the previously defined actions.
C : Check = Verify
This step consists of verifying the efficacy of the carried actions. This can be done through measures, indicators and/or observation. The execution delays are established according to the nature of the intervention. When some actions may prove inefficient, readjustments could be realized, by coming back to the step “P”.
A : Act = ensure and improve
This step consists of closing the approach, by making sure of the sustainability of the good results achieved, out of the implemented actions.
