Start-up
In the start-up phase, we will find out your wishes and examine the conditions for certification. Together we go through the certification process. You will get all the information you need about what a certification means and how it is done.
Once the information is compiled, you will receive a quote based on the basis and scope of the certification.
Transfer from another certification body
If you are already certified, you can change to SBcert through a transfer audit. If there are no obstacles, the transfer is carried out in connection with ordinary surveillance or recertification audits at no additional expense.
Planning the audit process
The auditor contacts you and plans the audit and visit schedule for you. As a rule, this is done in connection with ordering the review service.
Stage 1 audit
The first activity is the Stage 1 audit. This audit is mandatory and the documented management system and other materials are reviewed by the auditor who will conduct the remainder of the audit. The purpose of the initial audit is to:
The result of the initial audit will be a list of comments about our observations and any deviations that need to be addressed.
Stage 2 audit
This audit is always carried out at your location. The purpose of the audit is to ensure that the management system meets the requirements specified by the standard. The auditor reviews the management system to see if it is comprehensive and implemented in the business. If the audit shows that the system is implemented and meets the formal requirements, the auditor recommends that a certificate be issued for the business. The audit report is sent to the Certification Committee for review and decision on the issuance of certificates. If there are discrepancies, they must be corrected before a certificate can be issued. If there are major deviations, a return visit must be carried out before the certificate can be issued.
The certificate is valid for 36 months from the certification audit, provided that the audit program is followed and that these audits show that the management system is working well.
Surveillance audits
After the initial audit, surveillance audits are usually carried out once or twice a year. These are planned in together with you. The audit program will be sent to you a few weeks before the visit.
Surveillance audits are a requirement to maintain certification. During the audit cycle, i.e., until the re-certification, the entire system shall be audited.
The time interval between the ongoing audits for not exceed 12 months.
Re-certification
Every three years, a re-certification is carried out. This is in many ways like the certification audit and is done on the entire business. The aim is to review the entire business and define what improvements have been achieved during the three-year period. Recertification is a requirement in the standard for continued certification. The re-certification planning is done so that any deviations can be corrected before the certificate expires.
The recertification consists of two parts:
- An analysis of how the management system works. The audit manager reviews the reports from completed follow-up audits.
- An increased follow-up of the different parts of the management system working as intended in the business.
Decision-making process
After the audit, the audit leader makes a recommendation on certification, continued certification, suspension of certification, termination of certification and, where applicable, extension or reduction of scope.
After a step 2, certification audit, the audit leader can also recommend that you are not ready for certification.
In most cases of refusal to certify, you have the opportunity to correct deviations within the specified time and then receive a new assessment and recommendation.
The audit leader’s recommendation is assessed by an audit auditor who makes the final decision.
In all cases of refusal of certification, an assessment is made by our audit manager who will forward to the certification committee for final decision.
Certificate
On this page you will find up-to-date information about which of our customers have a certification from Scandinavian Business Certification.
Impartiality
Our commitment to impartiality
For Scandinavian Business Certification, it is important that we provide a service characterized by integrity, trust and objectivity in all relationships with our customers.
In order to ensure that our business is not affected by stakeholders and that the certification process takes place independently and in an impartial manner, we continuously assess our relationships with the stakeholders. All employees and subcontractors sign a code of conduct/confidentiality agreement in which the persons guarantee confidentiality and impartiality.
Scandinavian Business Certification conducts certification activities and is subject to the regulations covered by this. Scandinavian Business Certification is not allowed to assist companies and organizations with advice and advice regarding the development of management systems. This applies, for example, to documentation of management systems, advice on decisions or implementation solutions for management systems.
The CEO of SBcert reviews the assignment together with the account manager and ensures that it is carried out without questioning impartiality and integrity.
Review Board
Scandinavian Business Certification has a review board that regularly reviews our operations to ensure that it is run with independence and objectivity. The board’s task is to:
- Contribute to strengthening the impartiality of certification activities
- Prevent commercial and other interests from affecting certification activities
- Advise on matters related to trust in certification
- Review the business to ensure that it complies with our guidelines and procedures
- Review so that special interests do not become dominant
- Handling complaints/appeals against certification decisions
Appeal routine
When the review board receives the case, together with any documentation, the matter will be prepared.
Once the preparation is completed, the decision-making basis will be sent to stakeholders, complainants and Scandinavian Business Certification, for review and possibly further supplements.
When all supplements are included in the dossier, it is reviewed by the review board, which provides a written assessment with comments, decisions on the matter and the grounds for the decision.
The decision is communicated to the complaining party and Scandinavian Business Certification. In cases where Scandinavian Business Certification has made errors, corrective action shall be taken. The review board’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.
Appeal against decisions
Scandinavian Business Certification’s auditors always strive to make an assessment based on the evidence presented at the audit. The Certification Committee bases its decision on the audit report and other available facts. If you as a customer feel that the decision is wrong, there is always the opportunity to appeal a certification decision.
Appeals shall be made directly to the Review Board by e-mail: granskningsnamnd@sbcert.se
For the purpose of an appeal against a decision, the following shall always be stated:
- Name and organization number
- Purpose of appeal
- Any evidence for your appeal
Appeals against certification decisions must be made within six weeks of the certification committee’s decision.
Confidentiality
Our auditors shall exercise caution when handling information communicated during their work. All information handled during the audit is considered confidential. Information relating to auditing shall not be used improperly. The information may not be passed on to third parties unless that party is legally entitled to this information.
This is regulated in our Code of Conduct, as well as in the agreements each auditor must sign to work for Scandinavian Business Certification.
Operations policy
Scandinavian Business Certification’s primary mission is to meet the requirements and expectations of our significant stakeholders through systematic, independent and objective audits. Our modern working methods and high competence create and maintain confidence in our services.
Our audits are based on a number of principles that ensure that we achieve similar conclusions under similar circumstances, independent of the auditor. The principles give the client added value in efficient, reliable and improvement-creating audits as an improvement tool.
Our audit principles mean that:
- We conduct audits with integrity, full confidentiality, independence and objectivity.
- We report impartially, truthfully and accurately.
- We are thorough, professional and well-founded in our reviews.
- Our audits and their conclusions are based on facts and verifiable evidence.
Through our internal processes, we ensure that we meet regulatory authorities’ requirements for us as an organization as well as for our services.
We review and evaluate internal processes and working methods as part of continuous improvement of our own operations.