What is accreditation and why is it necessary?
Accreditation demonstrates that an organization meets specific quality standards and enhances its reliability within the industry. It is typically required in areas such as conformity assessment bodies, laboratories, certification organizations, healthcare, and education. As SERTİFİKE, we provide support to our clients at every step of the accreditation process, from the beginning until the accreditation is issued, for organizations operating in the field of conformity assessment.
How does the accreditation process work?
The accreditation process is primarily conducted through the determination of relevant regulations and standards, preparation of necessary documentation, and the execution of relevant audits. Document review, training organization, and internal audits are crucial phases of this process. Simply creating documents is not sufficient for accreditation requirements; relevant documents, records, and the results of conformity assessment activities must be implemented in a traceable manner.
Which documents are important in the accreditation process?
Important documents in the accreditation process can vary depending on the relevant sector and standard, but generally, the following documents are critical:
Accreditation Standards:
The appropriate EN ISO/IEC 17000 series standards relevant to the activity should be selected (e.g., EN ISO/IEC 17025, EN ISO/IEC 17020). Accreditation bodies such as ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Council), IAF (International Accreditation Forum), or EA (European Accreditation) publish detailed guidance documents regarding the application procedures and principles of the relevant accreditation standard. Additionally, guidance documents and procedures published by the accrediting body (e.g., Türkak – Turkish Accreditation Authority) are also included in the process.
Policy and Procedure Documents:
General declarations and documents, including the policies established by the organization seeking accreditation in areas such as quality management, environmental management, and occupational health and safety. These documents define the organization’s overall strategy and quality objectives.
Quality Manual:
This fundamental document describes the organization’s quality management system and its operation. It includes detailed explanations of the organization’s policies, distribution of responsibilities, and business processes.
Procedures and Instructions:
Documents that contain procedures and instructions about the steps, workflows, equipment, and methods used during the organization’s activities. For example, testing and calibration procedures for laboratories are important in this context.
Records and Reports:
It is necessary to document all activities and results during audits in the accreditation process. Calibration results, test reports, and records of corrective actions are among these documents.
Internal Audit and Review Reports:
These are the results of the organization’s review of its quality management system and internal audits. These documents are essential for the continuous improvement of the process and must be presented during the accreditation audit.
Corrective Action Reports:
Documents showing how non-conformities identified during audits were addressed. These reports play an important role in documenting corrective and preventive actions.
These documents must be meticulously prepared and kept up to date to successfully complete the accreditation process.
