Registration Certificate Dual Accreditation Marks (UKAS and ANAB)

[BubbaDog56]

We recently successfully completed our ISO 9001:2008 registration audit, and should be receiving our certificate before the end of the year. Our registrar is accredited with both UKAS and ANAB, and is asking if we have a preference for which mark (or both) that we would like on our certificate. Is there an advantage to dual accreditation marks? Though we are based in the US, our major project clients are worldwide. TIA for any inputs and insights.

 

[Reg Morrison]

Re: Registration Certificate Dual Accreditiation Marks (UKAS and ANAB)?

TIA for any inputs and insights.

I would deliberately stick with the UKAS (only) accreditation. While very unlikely, you, as the registrant, could be the subject of a witnessed audit, where the AB auditors witness your CB auditors performing an audit of your system. For the fact that UKAS is UK based and you are in TX, it would be very unlikely you would ever have to go through one of these witnessed audits or a market surveillance audit conducted by the AB.

UKAS recognition is universal. And I am sure the CB would charge you extra for a dual accreditation.

 

[BubbaDog56]

Re: Registration Certificate Dual Accreditiation Marks (UKAS and ANAB)?

Reg,
If I'm reading your response correctly, the primary reason to select UKAS would be to minimize the possibility of a witnessed or market surveillance audit?

 

[drgnrider]

Re: Registration Certificate Dual Accreditiation Marks (UKAS and ANAB)?

I have always been taught that the accreditation is universal; basically as long as the AB is recognized, it is acceptable.

We are in the U.S. and hold the UKAS mark. Not sure why that one was originally chosen over the ANAB mark, but it probably has something to do with our "owners" being in Europe.

And as Reg said, yes, my CB charges over $1,000 for EACH additional mark. :mg:

I would deliberately stick with the UKAS (only) accreditation. While very unlikely, you, as the registrant, could be the subject of a witnessed audit, where the AB auditors witness your CB auditors performing an audit of your system. For the fact that UKAS is UK based and you are in TX, it would be very unlikely you would ever have to go through one of these witnessed audits or a market surveillance audit conducted by the AB.

UKAS recognition is universal. And I am sure the CB would charge you extra for a dual accreditation.

Reg, never thought of it this way, but I like your way of thinking!

 

[AndyN]

Re: Registration Certificate Dual Accreditiation Marks (UKAS and ANAB)?

For the fact that UKAS is UK based and you are in TX, it would be very unlikely you would ever have to go through one of these witnessed audits or a market surveillance audit conducted by the AB.

What is this based on, BTW? Why would the (minimal) threat of undergoing an AB witness audit be criterion for selecting an accreditation?

My experience is that, as long as the AB is an IAF member, most markets rarely care which one is chosen - due to mutual recognition, along with other reasons.

 

[Paul Simpson]

We recently successfully completed our ISO 9001:2008 registration audit, and should be receiving our certificate before the end of the year. Our registrar is accredited with both UKAS and ANAB, and is asking if we have a preference for which mark (or both) that we would like on our certificate. Is there an advantage to dual accreditation marks? Though we are based in the US, our major project clients are worldwide. TIA for any inputs and insights.

Hi, BubbaDog56. I'd suggest you ask your registrar about any additional costs for having dual accreditation logos. Also you can ask them if any witness audits might lead to a cost for you but I doubt it. Accreditation costs are generally borne by the registrar wherever they are incurred.

There is also a mutual recognition abreement between accreditation bodies (AB) and your accreditation with UKAS will assume that ANAB accreditation is covering all bases.