In a globalized world, accreditation has evolved from a voluntary practice to almost a necessity for conformity assessment organizations. At Sertifike, we provide accreditation consultancy services for organizations that offer testing, inspection, and various certification services under the following standards:
Accredited organizations ensure that their issued certificates or reports are recognized worldwide under Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA and MLA) signed among the European Accreditation (EA), the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Accreditation, by establishing a common framework in terms of technical requirements, plays a significant role in facilitating international trade. Moreover, accredited organizations, through coordination among themselves, enhance their technical competencies and improve the quality of their services. You can also receive turnkey services from Sertifike to accredit your services.
Laws and regulations requiring accreditation for testing, inspection, and certification services are quite common. One well-known example is the European Commission, which has made accreditation mandatory for Conformity Assessment Bodies wishing to perform certification activities for CE marking by establishing technical regulations for products. Accreditation under EN ISO/IEC 17065 for product certification bodies, EN ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection bodies, and EN ISO/IEC 17025 for testing laboratories is mandated not only by the European Union but also by various countries participating in international trade through different regulations. Accreditation embeds an organization in the international traceability chain by enhancing its competence and service quality. This guarantees the accuracy and reliability of the organization’s activities.
Countries and international trade unions they form (such as the European Union, Gulf Cooperation Council, Eurasian Economic Union, etc.) aim to create a common language for economic operators and manufacturers regarding product trade through technical regulations to remove barriers to trade. The implementation and enforcement of these technical regulations are carried out through certification bodies called Notified Bodies, which operate under a specific identification number. While these regulations define the roles and responsibilities of Notified Bodies, ministries and competent authorities in countries are responsible for inspecting and authorizing these Notified Bodies.
Conformity assessment and certification organizations, therefore, must be officially appointed by the competent ministries in accordance with legally mandated technical regulations (e.g., CE certificate, UKCA certificate, EAC certificate, SASO certificate, FCC certificate, etc.) to provide services in compliance with these regulations. This appointment process is called “notification,” and the organization is officially designated as a Notified Body with a specific identification number.
In addition to local authorities and trade blocs, there are various widely accepted certification programs on an international level. The certification programs developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and IECEx are highly prestigious and globally recognized programs independent of legal requirements. Particularly in the United States, standard-setting associations and companies (such as ASTM, ASME, UL, etc.) can create certification programs that are widely accepted worldwide.
At Sertifike, we offer more than just accreditation; we provide Notified Body consultancy as part of our innovative services. Below, you can find some of the regulations and certification programs for which you can receive consultancy services to become a Notified Body:
At Sertifike, we share our extensive experience in accreditation across numerous standards and various product certification programs through our accreditation and notification consultancy services, which are offered to organizations seeking accreditation. Within the scope of this service, we guide organizations through the following stages, provide necessary training, and complete all required preparations:
Document ScanningThe first step is to identify the regulations, guidelines, and standards related to the field in which the organization wants to be accredited. A list of external documents is created, relevant documents are obtained, and document reviews are conducted. Sertifike experts perform this scan for you, expediting the identification of requirements.
Organizing TrainingPersonnel working in accredited organizations must be knowledgeable about the relevant accreditation standard, especially those in technical and key roles who should have a solid understanding of accreditation concepts. At Sertifike, we organize practical training sessions covering accreditation standards to enhance your team’s technical understanding.
Document PreparationCommon requirements exist in all accreditation standards. Among these requirements, operating certain fundamental elements of the quality management system is crucial. At Sertifike, we quickly complete all types of documents, including handbooks, schemas, procedures, instructions, reports, and forms, which are necessary during the accreditation process, saving organizations from unnecessary delays.
Qualification of PersonnelPersonnel competency is one of the most critical aspects of all accreditation systems. In accredited organizations, the organizational chart should be prepared to extend to all personnel, starting from top management. Additionally, determining roles, authorities, and competence criteria within the organization is essential. At Sertifike, we offer solutions that lead to deeper competence among your personnel through technical training, exams, observations, and qualification processes.
Creating Project Demo FilesThe processes of conformity assessment described in procedures and documents need to be operated. Organizations have the chance to review their own system by operating the activities they want to perform as if they were already accredited. In this phase, Sertifike experts who create documents for you provide the necessary training and coordination for the creation of demo files.
Internal AuditBefore the accreditation audit, organizations should review their internal systems. At this stage, qualified personnel, including oral interviews, should objectively audit all elements of the quality system selected by Sertifike’s expert pool based on the principle of objectivity. This way, we ensure that the organization has addressed all deficiencies before the accreditation audit.
Although the accreditation preparation process may vary depending on the accredited field and industry, the fundamental elements are as described above. Depending on the conformity assessment and testing activities already carried out by the organization, new investments, equipment purchases, or business developments can also be designed during our consultancy services.