You will need to follow the requirements specified in the standard, be prepared for the audits and rectify any nonconformities. The initial certification audit is divided into a Stage 1 Audit and Stage 2 Audit. Upon satisfactory audits, you will achieve certification which is subject to surveillance audits.
Stage 1 Audit
The main objective of Stage 1 is to review the documented information in your system and exchange information to determine the state of readiness for Stage 2. The interval between Stage 1 and Stage 2 should be long enough to allow you to resolve the problems identified during Stage 1.
Stage 2 Audit
For the agreed scope of certification, the objectives of this audit/visit are to:
- Determine the conformity of your process with the audit criteria
- Determine your organization’s ability to comply with the applicable requirements
- Identify areas of potential improvement (where appropriate)
- Check all products/product categories in the scope comply with the requirements
Surveillance
Surveillance audits shall be carried out at least once a year to verify that, as a certified organization, you continue to comply with the applicable requirements.