What is Accreditation

UNAB accreditation sends a clear message. It says your certification or inspection body can be counted on to perform its duties in an authoritative and impartial way. It flags that you have been approved by an independent third-party as a professional body that acts with integrity when certifying or inspecting for conformity assessment. Third party accreditation is recognised around the world as the highest and most credible type a certification or inspection body can obtain.

What are the benefits of Accreditation

UNAB accreditation is internationally recognised. This symbol of assurance offers you many direct benefits.

• Highlights your competence and credibility
• Confirms you are independent and impartial
• Gives you international recognition with the international accreditation organizations
• Enables you to benchmark ongoing performance against relevant standards.
• Informs your clients you have meet the highest level of assessment and professionalism in the industry.
• Flags your ability to meet mandatory regularly requirements.
• Strengthens your ability to compete overall.

Accreditation throughout the market chain is increasingly important. The business world we live in is growing quickly and is highly complex with many inspectors and certifiers operating without accreditation. This is risky for all players, right through to the ultimate consumer.Without accreditation there is no certainty that goods and services can be depended upon. On the other hand, accreditation provides certainty in a world where standardisation and certification are an integral part of the global economy. And it supports trade and commerce.

What system UNAB use to accreditation

UNAB accreditation process is systematic and comprehensive in its assessment of an applicant’s capabilities and systems. Before our Governing Board grants an accreditation, the conditions of accreditation as set out in our detailed accreditation manual must be met. Our accreditation process is open, transparent, fair and ethical every step of the way. Once accreditation is granted, you sign an accreditation deed and agree to all of its undertakings. We then monitor compliance and request adjustments or withdraw your accreditation should you not be fully complying. After expiry, bodies need to apply to be re-accredited.

Our Schemes

Management Systems Certification Bodies
Calibration and Testing Laboratories
Product Certification Bodies
Inspection Bodies
Proficiency Testing Providers
Personnel Certification Bodies
Good Manufacturing Practice
Good Laboratory Practice
Good Distribution Practice for Medical Devices
Good Clinical Practices
Green House Gas validation & verification bodies
Bespoke Accreditation

 

Management Systems Certification Bodies

UNAB accredits management system certification bodies on the basis of the ISO/IEC 17021 standard. Certification bodies are assessed based on their independence, integrity and technical competence. They have to demonstrate a level of competence, within their area of operation and the audit organization management systems that fulfils the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000 or other international standards.
A certification body’s scope of accreditation indicates which management systems it is accredited to assess and certify:

• Quality Management Systems
• Energy Management Systems
• Environmental Management Systems
• Food Safety Management Systems
• Occupational Health And Safety Management Systems
• Information Security Management Systems
• Service Management Systems
• Business Continuity Management Systems
• Management Systems For Manufacturers of Medical Devices

All certification bodies are eligible to apply for the above accreditation schemes.

 

Calibration and Testing Laboratories

UNAB accredits laboratories on the basis of the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. UNAB accreditation is only granted for specific tests and calibrations in specific fields. Laboratories are only allowed to issue endorsed reports for accredited tests and calibrations.
Scope of Accreditation
UNAB offers specialty programs in the following areas:

• Agriculture, food, animal health, and plant protection
• Calibration
• Environmental
• Non Destructive Testing (NDT)
• Fasteners
• Forensic
• IT security evaluation and testing
• Mineral analysis
• Test method development and non-routine testing
• Medical laboratories
• Proficiency testing

All certification bodies are eligible to apply for the above accreditation schemes.

Product Certification Bodies

UNAB accredits product certification bodies on the basis of the ISO/IEC 17065 standard.Product certification bodies determine whether products, services or manufacturing processes meet requirement. A major difference is that they do not just inspect a single sample or a single batch but they also inspect the company. They also assess subsequent products to verify if a batch of products meets the specified requirements for example? And verify the consistency if the next batch is produced in the same way. Complying manufacturers can use the relevant mark. A product certifying body continues to provide ongoing supervision.

Inspection Bodies

UNAB accredits inspection bodies on the basis of the ISO/IEC 17020 standard.Inspection covers a wide array of activities/services. It is the examination of a product design, product service or process/plant. It also involves determining its conformity, either against specific requirements or on the basis of professional judgment. Achieving effective inspection is important in maintaining the safety of plant machinery, equipment, structures and systems in operation.