How to choose the right Certification Body (Registrar)?

Paul Simpson said:

And 17021 says a CB shall not certify another CB.

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Indeed. Paragraph 5.2.4 states that. Which is very odd. Notwithstanding the fact that a CB having their QMS certified by another CB would be very strange, I don't agree that the ISO/IEC 17021 should prohibit the possibility.

Having worked for a major CB in the UK for over 7 years and received audits from 3 different accreditation bodies, I would suggest that they are more rigorous than ISO 9001 audits.

Colpart said:

Having worked for a major CB in the UK for over 7 years and received audits from 3 different accreditation bodies, I would suggest that they are more rigorous than ISO 9001 audits.

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You are probably right. But the inconsistency that afflicts the CB auditors also affect the AB assessors. The peer review process used by the IAF members is not transparent enough. We only have a glimpse of the problem when we notice that an "Accreditation Auditing Practices Group" is formed...

Colpart said:

Having worked for a major CB in the UK for over 7 years and received audits from 3 different accreditation bodies, I would suggest that they are more rigorous than ISO 9001 audits.

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Hi, Colin and my welcome to the Cove. I wish I could have the same positive comments about accreditation body audits - you have obviously had better experiences than I!

Paul Simpson said:

Hi, Colin and my welcome to the Cove. I wish I could have the same positive comments about accreditation body audits - you have obviously had better experiences than I!

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Thanks for the welcome Paul - I do not think AB audits are great but I think they are better than many CB audits I have witnessed.

Sidney Vianna said:

You are probably right. But the inconsistency that afflicts the CB auditors also affect the AB assessors. The peer review process used by the IAF members is not transparent enough. We only have a glimpse of the problem when we notice that an "Accreditation Auditing Practices Group" is formed...

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**** right! I can't go into details yet - I'm probably going to do a Jim Wade and get another log in to put some details up here. Sorry, Jim if you still come by!

We have a couple of associations for CBs - maybe it would be possible to compare notes and feedback to the senior management at the ABs on what their customers think of them.

Paul Simpson said:

We have a couple of associations for CBs - maybe it would be possible to compare notes and feedback to the senior management at the ABs on what their customers think of them.

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UKAS regularly publish their customer satisfaction survey results. Feel free to browse.

In reply to the original question: Re: How to choose the right Certification Body (Registrar)?

Ask the 3 following questions:

Do they have what it takes?
Never compromise the integrity of an audit?
Value added is their motto?

See what Randy comes up with....

thanks all

OK Sid, I'll accept the challenge.....

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