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Accreditation is an endorsement of a conformity assessment body’s (CAB's) competence, credibility, independence and integrity in carrying out its conformity assessment activities.
Accreditation is the formal attestation that a model or simulation is acceptable for use for a specific purpose. Accreditation is conferred by the organization like British Accreditation Registrar, best positioned to make the judgment that the model or simulation in question is acceptable. That organization may be an operational user, the program office, or a contractor, depending upon the purposes intended.
Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies (such as British Accreditation Registrar); hence they are sometimes known as "accredited certification bodies”. The accreditation process ensures that their certification practices are acceptable, typically meaning that they are competent to test and certify third parties, behave ethically and employ suitable quality assurance.
The accreditation process determines, in the public interest, the technical competence and integrity of organizations such as those offering testing, calibration and certification services (commonly referred to as conformity assessment).
ISO’s formal definition of accreditation is “third party attestation related to a conformity assessment body conveying formal demonstration of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks.” (ISO/ IEC 17000:2004)
Certification is "third party attestation related to products, processes, systems or persons." (ISO/ IEC 17000:2004).
British Accreditation Registrar only accredits organisations who provide certification and/ or inspection services. These organisations are known as Conformity Assessment Bodies (or CABs).
British Accreditation Registrar Accredited CABs provide certification and inspection services to organisations. Common schemes that CABs certify are quality management systems (QMS) based on the ISO 9001 standard, and environmental management systems (EMS) based on the ISO 14001 standard.
Requirements for Accreditation Bodies accrediting Conformity Assessment Bodies has been contained in ISO 17011:2004 standard. British Accreditation Registrar being a responsible and globally recognized for its fair practices, self-complies to the said standard.
Simply put, accreditation is value / accreditation is recognition. Reaching into our communities through public, private, and professional conformity assessment bodies, accreditation is proof that a program has met certain standards necessary to produce product /service that are ready to satisfy the intended purpose.
Accreditation is an assurance that the communities who serve us have a solid foundation and are capable of leading the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the welfare, social and safety needs of the public.
Accredited conformity assessment is essential for independent or co-related decision-making and risk management. Organizations can save time and money by selecting accredited and therefore competent and standard conformity assessment services.
Accredited conformity assessment can provide a competitive advantage and facilitates access to export markets throughout the globe – with the aim of acceptance.
Accurate measurements and tests carried out in compliance with best practice have the potential to limit product failure, control manufacturing costs and foster innovation.
Accreditation is objective proof that conformity assessment bodies conform to recognized standards. It is the internationally recognized system that is used to develop and sustain the highest standards of performance.
Accredited conformity assessment gives consumers confidence through ensuring consistently high standards in the quality of products or services purchased. Accreditated conformity assessment bodies give a confidence that the product / service is safe in terms of its intended use.
British Accreditation Registrar delivers benefits to conformity assessment bodies that enhance confidence in conformity assessment amongst the various communities it works:
By meeting British Accreditation Registrar's internationally-recognized policies and procedures on a regular basis the CAB highlights its technical and financial competence in performing conformity assessment activities.
For an effective assessment to occur the independence and impartiality of the conformity assessment body is the most important. British Accreditation Registrar accreditation emphasizes the independence of the conformity assessment bodies in performing the assessment. The baseline is: There shouldn’t be any bias at any stage of assessment. British Accreditation Registrar makes this sure.
Through the formal arrangements British Accreditation Registrar has with a number of other international accreditation organizations; it increases the likelihood of smooth access to overseas markets for companies using British Accreditation Registrar accredited certification and inspection services.
Regular assessments by British Accreditation Registrar's audit teams allow to determine whether the CAB is performing the assessment activities correctly and to appropriate standards, as well as providing business with a benchmark for measuring future performances.
British Accreditation Registrar operates in a third party independent assessment environment. Third party assessment is recognised around the world as the highest level of assessment, and British Accreditation Registrar accreditation demonstrates to communities and others that the conformity assessment services are meeting the highest levels of professionalism in the conformity assessment industry. British Accreditation Registrar accepts applications for accreditation from conformity assessment bodies around the world.