Steps to your quality certificateAustria
We support you on your way to your certification. Here (PDF) you can find more information about the certification process.
1. First information
The client lays the foundation for establishing a management system by purchasing standards and regulations, attending information events, and interviewing organizations that have already obtained certification about their experiences. During the following personal briefing with Quality Austria, the client's needs are analyzed and the organization is provided with detailed information on the entire audit process. As a first step, the company identifies specific aspects of certification planning. Based on the collected data, the required audit time is estimated based on international specifications. The aspects that influence the audit duration (requirements of the on-site time standard) are as follows:
- The size of the organization expressed in terms of employment status and work shifts as well as the number of locations subject to audit
- The complexity of the system and its degree of integration
- Specificity of the area subject to certification
- Are all elements of the system applicable, e.g. product or service design?
- „"Maturity" of the system
2. Decision making
The rationale for establishing the system must now be aligned with corporate business goals. This should result in a project plan: Assessing internal resources is just as important as determining external costs (if necessary for consulting, training, and certification). It is also recommended to prepare a timeline. Based on this planning, a decision regarding certification can now be made.
3. Create and implement the concept
At this stage, the following priorities can be set:
- Build know-how about the selected management system (e.g. training qualityAustria for Quality or Environmental Managers)
- Standard requirements analysis and company implementation planning
- Training employees in the basics of Management Systems (closed training sessions) qualityaustria) and from changed processes and procedures
- Implementing newly designed processes and anchoring them in the company
4. Short audit (optional)
A short audit can help identify progress in implementing the management system in specific areas, functions, processes, or specific requirements of a standard or regulation. The appropriateness of specific specifications and implementation measures should be assessed in a timely manner to identify misinterpretations of standards and regulations, thereby preventing additional expenses. Employee confidence and motivation will be promoted.
5. Certification Audit Phase 1
This audit is part of the certification process and serves to assess the management system's certification maturity. It covers the following objectives:
- Identification of key processes, objectives and relevant legal requirements
- Assessment of company-specific aspects
- Assessment of management documentation
- Decision on readiness for Certification Audit Phase 2
- Defining the further procedure and audit planning for the Phase 2 Certification Audit
6. Certification Audit Phase 2
In Phase 2 of the Audit—no later than six months after Phase 1—processes and requirements are audited based on random samples. The focal points are:
- Verification of compliance with requirement models based on a pre-defined audit plan
- Presentation of the system development: Strengths and potential of the system
- Identifying opportunities for improvement
- Assessment of the suitability and adequacy of the management system in relation to the company's objectives
7. Your Certificate
Due to its accreditation, Quality Austria is authorized to issue certificates or declarations of conformity that are recognized worldwide. The rights of use are transferred with the issued certificate. Certificate qualityaustria is considered proof of compliance and is used for internal and external communication of successful certification to ensure better opportunities in the market and in calls for tenders.
8. Continuous further development and improvement of the system
In the interests of continuous improvement, the management system is to be continually developed in line with the strategic orientation. To this end, Supervisory Audit will be carried out within two years after certification (1st surveillance audit - no later than 12 months from the certification date; 2nd surveillance audit - no later than 24 months from the certification date). In the third year after the initial certification, Recertification Audit with an application to re-issue existing certificates.
Benefits for the Customer
Our quality auditsAustria focus on creating value for our clients:
- As part of the audit, we examine whether the relevant necessary requirements are met.
- We believe that client expectations significantly influence the objectives and benefits of the audit,
- that the auditor's competences have the highest priority and
- that the results and impact of the audited management system are crucial.
As an accredited certification body, we are committed to upholding the values independence i objectivity. That's why our competencies are regularly checked and certified.
As a national representative IQNet, we are also authorized to issue IQNet certificates, which are valued all over the world.
The competencies of an auditor are of great importance
We focus on solid knowledge and competence in the field of management systems, striving to secure and improve the business quality of our clients.
- Auditors qualityAustria has these competencies and diverse knowledge of the industry because, in addition to their daily work, they work as experts, managers or consultants.
- They have in-depth knowledge of the relevant standards and continuously undergo extensive professional and methodological training.
- It is important that auditors clearly understand qualityaustria of the relationships between cause and effect, as well as possible consequences - intended and unintended.
Furthermore, we consider the value-oriented attitude of auditors as a central element and reinforce this attitude by collegial embedding in a community of experts qualityaustria and in an organizational environment supporting organizational and management competences.
Focus on customer expectations
Quality audit projectAustria
Our audit philosophy
- Client expectations significantly influence the objectives and benefits of an audit.
- The competencies of an auditor are of great importance.
- The efficiency and impact of a controlled Integrated Management System is crucial.
- People meet during an audit.
- An audit with the right attitude and values leads to the desired audit quality.
Characteristics such as independence, transparency, understandability, professional due diligence, illustration of facts, integrity and confidentiality are obvious for audits qualityAustria. Audits qualityaustria contributes in an understandable way to the company's success in the context of this philosophy.
Quality audit categoriesAustria
Our audit services are divided into several categories. The structure is impartial; the greatest value is achieved when the audit conducted also aligns with the client's objectives, achieving the best possible cost-benefit ratio. Of course, Integrated Management System audits are clearly compliant with normative specifications (for example, ISO/IEC 17021-01 or ISO 19011). Audit Categories qualityaustria are not strictly separated from each other and the structure is chosen taking into account pragmatic considerations - they differ in terms of characteristics and objectives, resulting in different scopes of activities both in relation to methodological audit design and goal setting.
Audit Category Overview
Focus audit
Quality Austria defines focus audits as audits with highly specific, prescribed topics or emphases. Unlike an accredited certification audit, the focus of a focus audit is not on all aspects or the entire system. The focus may, for example, be on a specific product (product audit), a process (process audit), a specific topic, or even a function (procurement, sales). A focus audit can be conducted as a standalone audit or integrated with another audit as a supplement. This type of audit can be combined with an accredited certification audit or a contract audit to a limited extent, provided the specific objective does not conflict with the accreditation rules and sufficient time is allocated.
Innovative approach audit
Innovation means renewal, change, and the market implementation of change. Innovations can affect products, processes, methods, but also strategies and business models. The following questions are relevant to innovation approach audits: What incentives for renewal and change can an audit provide? What opportunities and future potential—for the product, process, methods, or business models—can be identified during the audit? An innovation approach audit clearly differs from a classic management system audit for compliance verification. Therefore, topics such as variability, learning, courage, strategy, agility, culture, and governance are prioritized in an innovation approach audit.
Audit of jointly agreed criteria
Joint Criteria Audits are a collective term and are based on collaboration with organizations such as advocacy groups, government bodies, associations, or companies (e.g., "Work and Family Audit," "Label for Social Integration Enterprises," "Audit with the Association of Waste Management Companies/ÖVGW Technical Association for Gas and Water"). Audit criteria and audit processes are typically developed jointly with collaborating partners, who typically contribute their industry and technical expertise; Quality Austria provides expertise in audit design and execution. The collaboration project is partner-specific. A joint audit is an audit in which two or more auditing organizations collaborate to organize the audit. This type of audit is performed when one of these organizations cannot provide all the accreditations desired by the client or is not represented in the client's region. The principle of single client contact remains in effect.
Research audit
Research audits investigate, uncover, and clarify. These audits identify potential gaps or deficiencies to improve security (for example, legal certainty).
Contract audit
Quality Austria defines contract audits as audits conducted under a contract with a regulatory agency or association. Typical examples of contract audits can be found in the automotive industry (contract partner VDA-QMC), food safety, and railways (IRIS standard in contract with UNIFE).
Accredited certification audit
This category includes audits that have been processed as part of a national accreditation program in accordance with international standards (such as ISO/IEC 17021-01). These audits cover initial certification and monitoring or serve as the basis for extensions (re-certification). Government approvals, such as those for the EMAS Regulation or accredited product certifications, are also part of this category.
