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ISO 14001 ยท Lecture 28 of 30

The ISO 14001 Certification Audit Process

Concept map
graph TD CERT["๐Ÿ† ISO 14001<br/>Certification"] CB["๐Ÿข Accredited<br/>Certification Body"] ACC["โœ… ANAB or UKAS<br/>under IAF"] CYCLE["๐Ÿ”„ Certification<br/>Cycle"] S1["๐Ÿ“„ Stage 1<br/>Documentation"] S2["๐Ÿ” Stage 2<br/>Implementation"] ISSUE["๐Ÿ“œ Three-year<br/>Certificate"] SURV["๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Surveillance and<br/>Recertification"] FIND["๐Ÿ“‹ Audit<br/>Findings"] NC["โš ๏ธ Major and Minor<br/>Nonconformities"] CERT --> CB CB --> ACC CERT --> CYCLE CYCLE --> S1 S1 --> S2 S2 --> ISSUE ISSUE --> SURV CERT --> FIND FIND --> NC style CERT fill:#4A90E2,color:#fff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style CYCLE fill:#7ED321,color:#000,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style CB fill:#F5A623,color:#000,stroke:#333 style FIND fill:#BD10E0,color:#fff style NC fill:#FF6B6B,color:#fff
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Key takeaways

  • ISO does not certify organizations directly; accredited certification bodies perform audits and issue certificates.
  • Certification bodies are accredited by authorities like ANAB or UKAS under the IAF mutual recognition arrangement.
  • The cycle runs from a stage 1 documentation review to a stage 2 implementation audit, then a three-year certificate.
  • Annual surveillance audits in years one and two precede a recertification audit at the end of year three.
  • Findings are classified as major or minor nonconformities, observations, or opportunities for improvement.

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