Interesting Discussion IAF CertSearch Database - Repository of "properly" Accredited Management System Certs

Sidney Vianna said:

Added a poll to the discussion, as I am interested to know if organizations want to be listed in this database.

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Apparently nobody here at The Cove has received the notification about the database, judging by the lack of responses to the poll. I also would like to point out that people might start confusing the actual certificates issued by the CB's and the message from the database that states "this certifies...." The database does not certify anything; the database should basically confirm the validity status of a certificate issued by CB's. And, like @jmech did, I randomly checked the validity status of an organization and, ironically, the IAF database shows ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certificates as VALID. Think about the irony. The IAF who made it ABUNDANTLY clear that certificates issued to the 2008 edition of ISO 9001 and 2004 edition of ISO 14001 would cease to be valid on September 16, 2018, has a database showing invalid certificates as VALID.

After "launching" the database with serious data integrity questions, it seems the database is closed for searches again and, the launch date keeps moving, as reported in the IAF newsletter:

Data - Garbage in, garbage out.

I have no idea what the eventual outcome will be, but the delays speak volumes.

I agree, Marc. The failed launch speaks volumes about the ineptitude of the people involved. This type of database should be a welcomed mandate to promote integrity and accountability in the management system accredited certification business, just like the IAQG OASIS database is THE CORNERSTONE and most critical piece of the Aerospace ICOP Scheme.

Unfortunately, the lack of vision and leadership by the involved parties and the greed of a few who want to monetize this database means that, once again, this is going to be a major blunder, a fiasco.

I can't predict what will eventually happen, but it is definitely not looking good.

Part of the problem becomes they get people excited about it, but failure after failure makes people lose interest (and trust).

Interestingly, just saw a post in LinkedIn by UKAS about an effort to develop their own database. Check UKAS on LinkedIn: "Excellent input from customers, stakeholders and government as we kick off a project to develop a database of accredited certificates. This will increase the value and accessibility of accredited certification, and provide procurers with a single source of verification #increasingvalue of #ukas #accredited #certificationbodies"

to what I posted:

Why now? How does this dovetail with the IAF CertSearch database? As someone who has been voicing the need for an IAQG OASIS-like database for all ISO MSS accredited certificates for 15 years, I find the timing of this UKAS initiative very odd, vis a vis the current IAF led effort to establish a global database.

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Very strange, indeed, the timing for UKAS to announce this, as it seems to deflate the IAF led effort, especially if that would be mean double/additional work by CB's to manage data in different databases...a revolt might be coming.

Let's remember that ANAB tried, unsuccessfully, a similar effort; check Has anyone used the "Certification Totals" feature on ANAB Website ?

Sidney Vianna said:

Interestingly, just saw a post in LinkedIn by UKAS about an effort to develop their own database. Check UKAS on LinkedIn: "Excellent input from customers, stakeholders and government as we kick off a project to develop a database of accredited certificates. This will increase the value and accessibility of accredited certification, and provide procurers with a single source of verification #increasingvalue of #ukas #accredited #certificationbodies"

to what I posted:

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Well, it looks like someone at UKAS deleted my post and a couple of other ones from the LinkedIn discussion they started. Looks like they do not appreciate "probing questions". It does not surprise me.

From the lack of responses to the poll in this thread, I have an impression that very few certified organizations have received the invite to be listed in the database. After the unsuccessful (premature?) roll out of the online database and subsequent retreat, it looks like a lot of work is being done behind the scenes for another re-launch of the IAF Certsearch database.

A flyer for certified organizations has been recently released and you can access it, by clicking on the picture below:

One thing that might be revealing (or even damaging to some) when the IAF Certsearch database gets going again is the potential for ANAB Accredited certificates having been issued to organizations located in countries where the practice is prohibited by ANAB. I had created a thread about such sanctions @ Geographic Limitations of ANAB-Accredited Certification

The current version of ANAB's Accreditation Rule is posted below.

This forthcoming database may reveal if this Rule has been violated. Or not.

3 months after the botched roll out, no news yet when the database will be back, "up and running"....