Re: Definition of 1st, 2nd and 3rd party audits
From the ISO website:I looked in the Wiki for this definition and couldn't find anything. Maybe after discussion we can add.
First-party assessment. This is the technical term used when conformity assessment to a standard, specification or regulation is carried out by the supplier organization itself. In other words, it is a self-assessment. This is known as a supplier's declaration of conformity.
Second-party assessment. This indicates that the conformity assessment is carried out by a customer of the supplier organization. For example, the supplier invites a potential customer to verify that the products which it is offering conform to relevant ISO product standards.
Third-party assessment. In this case, the conformity assessment is performed by a body that is independent of both supplier and customer organizations. An example is ISO 9000 certification where an organization's quality management system is assessed by an independent "certification" or "registration" body against the requirements of an ISO 9000 standard. If the system conforms to the requirements, the certification/registration body issues the organization with an ISO 9000 certificate.
Such third-party assessment may be required in certain business sectors by government regulations. It may be specified by the customer, or the supplier organization may choose it as a way of differentiating its product or service from others on the market.
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