Compelling reasons for a certifying agency to withdraw a ISO certificate?

[ktc812]

What are the compelling reasons for a certifying agency to withdraw a ISO certificate from a profit making organization ?
How much time will they allow before it is being done? ( no doubt it may depend upon the reasons)

 

[Jen Kirley]

What are the compelling reasons for a certifying agency to withdraw a ISO certificate from a profit making organization ?
How much time will they allow before it is being done? ( no doubt it may depend upon the reasons)

Hello, welcome to the Cove!

I did a search and found these sites that talk about your question:

http://www.siq.si/Frequently_Asked_Questions.726+M57d0acf4f16.0.html

http://www.iso.org/iso/en/xsite/con.../certification/complaints.html?printable=true

I did not find a time frame until a certificate is withdrawn. I am sure the time varies with the circumstances.

I hope this helps!

 

[Randy]

The absolute #1 and the quickest would be for not paying your bill for the Registrar's services!

 

[Sidney Vianna]

What are the compelling reasons for a certifying agency to withdraw a ISO certificate from a profit making organization ?
How much time will they allow before it is being done? ( no doubt it may depend upon the reasons)

Randy is right on the money for the number 1 reason.

The other reasons are:

failure, by the certified organization, to implement effective corrective actions by due dates. Normally there is an escalation process for non-conformities to be fixed. Prior to a certificate being revoked, some registrars have an intermediate, suspension status.

failure to provide access to the system being certified.

failure to maintain communication. I mean, total disregard to requests for updated information from the Registrar.

There is NO pre-determined Industry Standard for timeframes. Each case and each registrar might have different timeframes.

And PS. "ISO Certificates" terminology SHOULD not be used. http://www.iso.org/iso/en/iso9000-14000/publicizing/publicizing_3.html

 

[Wes Bucey]

And PS. "ISO Certificates" terminology SHOULD not be used. http://www.iso.org/iso/en/iso9000-1...licizing_3.html

I hope folks understand the difference between "casual comments" about "ISO9k2K" and formal comments about "ISO9001:2000" - one being an implied "shorthand" and the other being the correct, legal term. There is a proper time and place to use either and we hope our casual use does not create ambiguity.

Many of us (commentary to the contrary on the ISO website notwithstanding) still bristle at the use of the single term "certificate" as opposed to "certificate of registration."

 

[Sidney Vianna]

What are the compelling reasons for a certifying agency to withdraw a ISO certificate from a profit making organization ?
How much time will they allow before it is being done? ( no doubt it may depend upon the reasons)

From ISO CD 17021, the document that, when published will replace ISO Guides 62 and 66:

9.6 Suspending, withdrawing or reducing scope of certification
9.6.1 The certification body shall have a policy and documented procedure(s) for suspension, withdrawal or reduction of certification and define the consequences of suspension, withdrawal or reduction.

9.6.2 The certification body shall suspend certification when:
 a certified management system has persistently or seriously failed to meet certification requirements, including requirements for the effectiveness of the management system;
 the certified organization does not allow surveillance or recertification audits to be conducted at the required frequencies; or
 the certified organization has voluntarily requested a temporary suspension.

9.6.3 Under suspension the client’s management system is still certified. The certification body shall have enforceable arrangements with its clients to ensure that in case of suspension the client refrains from further promotion of its certification. The certification body may take any other measures it deems appropriate including publication of the suspension.

9.6.4 Failure to resolve the issues in a time established by the certification body shall result in withdrawal or reduction of certification.

9.6.5 Upon request by any party, the certification body shall correctly state the status of certification as being suspended.

9.6.6 The certification body shall reduce the certified organization’s scope of certification to exclude the parts not meeting the requirements, when the certified organization has persistently or seriously failed to meet
the certification requirements for those parts of the scope of certification. Any such reduction must be in line with the requirements of the standard used for certification.

9.6.7 The certification body shall have enforceable arrangements with the certified organization concerning conditions of withdrawal (see 8.4.2 (d)) ensuring upon notice of withdrawal of certification that the client discontinue its use of all advertising matter that contains any reference to a certified status.
Please keep in mind that ISO 17021 is NOT released yet. So, this is just fyi.

 

[celeo]

Withdrawal of Q-certificate have been when there is a systematic failure of implementation of documented system (or vice versa) coupled with total lack of management committment. Non-conformances are to have written response and be implmented or have a committment to a schedule to implement within two months.
Regulatory certificates are a different matter (such as EC certificate). Withdrawal of these effectively remove the possibility of shiping to that total market. There are those who have tried to beat the system and unfortunately suffered the consequences.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

Regulatory certificates are a different matter (such as EC certificate). Withdrawal of these effectively remove the possibility of shiping to that total market. There are those who have tried to beat the system and unfortunately suffered the consequences.

I beg to differ. If you try to beat the system, especially for a REGULATED-TYPE certificate, you BETTER suffer the consequences.