Once your company has established a management system and is working effectively for 2 months at least you may send a request to TCB for certification of your management system The steps for certification to most management system standards are very similar. The process steps are covered below:

1. Company profile: Please submit your Company Profile in the specified form .TCB will review your request as per established procedure, Accreditation mark, business of your company , products or services, your processes, certification scope . specific locations or sites, applicable SIC or IAF sector codes, certification standard/s effective number of personnel, number of shifts, and etc. to be able to prepare a quote.
2. TCB submits a Quote: As soon as we receive your completed Company Profile, we will provide you with a no- obligation quote. TCB will provide you with a fixed-price quote for the Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits, and the two Surveillance audits. Pre assessment is optional.
3. Signing Contract for Certification: The signed Application for Certification becomes a legal contract to conduct the certification activities. Upon signing by both the parties. the contract becomes is a legal agreement to conduct the certification activities. It includes confidentiality requirements and the right of access to your company to conduct audit activities. We will assign one of our qualified auditors who will interact with your MR and finalize the team ,date and audit plan when audit activities will be carried out.
   Payment is due after each audit activity. You will receive an invoice for fees and expenses your payment must be made prior to issuance of your certificate.
4. Pre-Assessment (optional): A Pre-Assessment audit may be conducted additionally at the request of the client to evaluate / assess your readiness to continue on to the Stage 1 and 2 audits . Pre-Assessment audit is optional , and cover the entire scope of your certification or selected areas of your company . Pre-Assessments are conducted in a similar fashion Certification or Surveillance audits are conducted except that TCB's shall not issue any non-conformity and shall provide a detailed report for you to take actions. Even though unlikely, a pre-assessment audit observations does not mean that there can be no other areas of concerns during stage 1 and stage 2 audit and does not guarantee successful certification.
   Benefit of Pre-Assessment Audit.
   Pre-Assessment audit allows your company to understand the audit process and how exactly TCB's auditors will conduct the certification audit e.g types of questions in audit interview, records /document reviewed to eliminate any unexpected surprises. Clients staff members will gain full insight of standards interpretation, requirements and gain more confidence to demonstrate conformity and address any identified weak areas in your management system. Companies will have a better understanding of the extent of the implementation and effectiveness of their management system. This confidence paves a way for smoother certification audit. TCB will issue a Pre-Assessment audit report that details the activities not meeting the requirements of the applicable standard. The auditors are not to provide and consultation or advice during any audit activities.
5. Certification Audit
   Stage 1 Audit :Certification is a 2-stage process. For the on-site Stage 1 audit, TCB auditor will check your company's manual and system procedures. The purpose of the Stage 1 audit is to evaluate your location and site-specific conditions and to determine preparedness for the Stage 2 audit. In order to become certified, your company must demonstrate that your management system has been effectively implemented to achieve results which is assessed by TCB auditors during stage 2.
   Stage 1 audit will include review of management system, documentation, procedures m mandatory records, review of your understanding and implementation of the standard and compliance to applicable legal (e.g. quality, environmental, legal aspects of the operation, associated risks, etc.), verification of scope and other relevant information, a review of your internal audit and management review and planning for the Stage 2 audit. The audit may identify any areas of concern that could become nonconformities during the Stage 2 audit. You will receive a written report detailing the audit findings.
   Stage 2 Audit: At this onsite Stage 2 audit (the Certification audit), TCB auditor will conduct interviews, examine records, and observe your company's activities. The Stage 2 audit determines whether your organization has successfully documented and implemented all of the requirements of the specified standard. The Stage 2 audit involves on-site interviews, review of documents and relevant records, and observation how processes are operated with consistency to determine the implementation of the standard. This audit may also include reviews any areas of concern identified in Stage 1.
   Nonconformities - Nonconformity is non-fulfillment of a requirement which is categorized as Major and Minor.
   A major nonconformity is complete the absence or total failure of a system to meet a standard requirement. Several minor nonconformities of a requirement access the organization can represent a total failure of the system and thus be considered a major nonconformity. A situation that raises significant concerns about the ability of the client organization to achieve its intended results can also be considered as a major nonconformity. A major nonconformity may require a follow up audit of the applicable clause or sub clause before recommendation for certification.
   A minor nonconformity is an isolated departure and does not threaten failure of a system completely.
   A minor nonconformity will generally be addressed by you submitting a response to the Lead Auditor before you can be certified. Depending on the standard, the corrective action for a minor nonconformity may not necessarily be closed prior to certification. A written audit report, containing any nonconformity, is issued after the audit.
6. Corrective Action: At the conclusion of the Stage 2 audit, nonconformities (NCRs) will be documented and identified as either major or minor. If nonconformities are found clients need to assess the root cause of the problem and take appropriate action and advise TCB . Major Nonconformity needs a follow up. Minor nonconformities can be internally closed and assessed by TCB during next surveillance. Non-conformities need to be resolved in a timely fashion as per TCB's rules for Certification .
7. Issuance of Certificate: Based upon the auditor's recommendation and the certifier's decision, the Certificate will be issued. The Audit teams recommendation will be based on the successful completion of the Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits and resolution of all nonconformities when identified. The issuance of the certificate timeframe varies however clients certificates typically in 30-45 days. Certification is valid for three years, subject to continued maintenance of your management system and upon your adherence to TCB's Certification Regulations which is assessed during annual surveillance.
8. Surveillance Audits: TCB conducts surveillance audits annually or earlier if requested by clients. A surveillance audit is an on-site audit conducted on selected processes/elements/department etc based on criticality of processes, risks encountered and previous audit results in a fashion that all elements are re-audited during the 3 year certification cycle.
   In addition, surveillance audits also includes use of certification mark of TCB and the accreditation body's mark, status and closure of audit nonconformities and customers' complaints if any.
9. A Re-certification audit: Upon the expiry of initial certification cycle of 3 years , the recertification is conducted at three-year intervals thereafter. Recertification process does not require a stage 1 audit as you continue to management system periodically audited by TCB. Your organization will have the advantages and benefits of maintaining a long-term partnership with TCB which includes a familiar, knowledgeable auditor who will continue to work with you to add value to your company.

We request clients to start the recertification process at least two months prior to the expiration of your certificate. This will allow TCB plan and conduct audit to ensure continuity of your certification.

Please contact TCB at tsa@tr-cbl.com for any clarification and advise on your certification process, We would be more than happy to respond to your request promptly.