What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is the third-party attestation process that enhances the credibility and reliability of the Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs). It helps with laboratory tests, inspections, certification reports, and certification bodies by assuring independent, consistent, and impartial services.

Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), including testing and calibration laboratories, conduct assessments professionally and meet global standards. It sets the benchmark against international standards and enhances consumers’ trust and confidence in your services. It demonstrates an organization’s ability to perform its task with competency and impartiality.

Accreditation Procedure.

The Accreditation process deployed by IOA Services can accommodate all types and sizes of organizations that can be carrying our wide range of activities. IOA Services Accreditation can be applied by all applicants without having any geographical limitations and can be granted internationally. Accreditation can be given to all organizations that are ready to follow the policies and rules of IOA Services.

IOAS follows the accreditation procedure in 4 stages:

Application phase

Assessment phase

Accreditation phase

Surveillance phase

Already IOAS Accredited

Verify Certificate

1. Application phase

Accreditation form submitted by interested conformity assessment body
Where necessary IOAS personnel interact with the interested conformity assessment body and solve their doubts and queries
Application is reviewed by Accreditation Committee and brief report is submitted to the management
Based on the joint decision concluded by the management and committee, the conformity assessment body is informed about the next course of action

2. Assessment phase

Board communicates assessment dates to the conformity assessment body, obtains confirmation, and subsequently schedules site visits. During this visit, IOAS shall assess the technical competence, skill, and knowledge of auditors as well as back office staff.
IOAS’s competent personnel will initially review the management system developed by the conformity assessment body. The assessment duration differs cause of the size of the CAB and the complexity of the process.
An assessment report in detail shall be recorded along with shortfalls and conformities.
Shortfalls may be corrected by the conformity assessment body by implementing necessary measures within the stated time frame of 60 days from assessment date.
Where necessary, corrective actions implemented by the conformity assessment body are re-assessed after mutual agreement.

3. Accreditation phase

An accreditation committee evaluates the assessment report and decides on whether the accreditation should be granted.
When decided to grant the accreditation, IOAS declares the successful completion of accreditation procedure and notifies the conformity assessment body about the same.
IOAS, then issues accreditation certificate accompanying with annexure as necessary specifying the scope of services.
When accreditation is granted, the conformity assessment body’s details are updated in IOAS registrar

4. Surveillance phase

When issued, the accredited certificate is generally valid for Four years. IOAS intend to ensure that the conformity assessment body comply with all necessary requirements and also maintain management system in order to deliver expected service to end customer. Surveillance audit is scheduled every year. Upon successful completion of five years, conformity assessment body enters into new contract for subsequent four years, that is called as re-accreditation

Benefits of Getting Accredited

It improves the credibility and reliability of Certification Bodies (CBs) providing third-party inspection services. It enhances consumers’ and clients’ trust in your audit reports and certification processes. It gives formal recognition and creates brand awareness for your services and products in the market.

☛ For Business

It ensures the integrity of conformity assessment reports and procedures of Certification Bodies (CBs). It builds trust and confidence among the stakeholders while promoting your products and services.

- It reduces risks by implementing internationally recognized standards for conformity assessment frameworks. It ensures a higher level of quality by fulfilling your requirements.
- It reduces accreditation costs by reducing and removing duplication of efforts, downtime, re-testing, product failure, and re-auditing.
- It facilitates global trade by implementing internationally recognized standards to enhance customers’ trust and confidence in your products and services.

☛ For Laboratory and Calibration Bodies

It recognizes the competency, consistency, and impartiality of the laboratory and calibration bodies for conducting audits processes and certification processes.

- It helps to select reliable testing, calibration, and measurement services to meet the needs and requirements of customers.
- It builds a long-term relationship with the clients and related stakeholders by assuring accurate and reliable results.
- An accreditation ensures public protection by using extensive measures to create a safe and clean environment.

What are Accreditation Bodies?

Accreditation bodies are the controlling entities that determine the suitability of any participating certifying entity, government-owned or operating under a contract with the government. According to ISO/IEC 17011:2004, accreditation is a formal third-party confirmation of a conformity assessment body’s competency to carry out a particular conformity assessment.

How to Apply for Accreditation.

The application for accreditation starts with the filling of the form and submit it duly filled. The accreditation process is followed by an assessment- onsite and offsite.

The conclusion on the process of issue of accreditation finishes off with the decision-making for the accreditation.
The applicant can apply by filling out the online/offline application.

The application form can be downloaded through the below link.
IOA Services Accreditation is granted to an organization that can demonstrate compliance with national/international standards.

The details of the standards can be obtained from the relevant website of ISO or the national standard organizations.

Accreditation

Accreditation Procedure.

What is Accreditation?