In today's competitive environment, an organization has to be managed more effectively and efficiently in order to manage various types of risk exposure and to take on challenges such as increasing cost, demanding customers and everlasting change. Based on the Deming PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle, a management system has proven to be an effective means for an organization to manage its business. It offers a platform for the organization to:
- Consider external and internal factors that are relevant to its purpose and its strategic direction and that affect its ability to achieve the intended result(s);
- To address risks and opportunities;
- To establish policy, objectives and performance indicators;
- To control and monitor or measure in-house and outsourced processes; and
- To verify, analyse and improve performance.
In short, the benefits of implementation include:
- Enhanced stake holder satisfaction;
- Platform for management/process control and improvement;
- Minimization of risk and instillation of a prevention culture;
- Improved product, process and system performance;
- Facilitation of staff training and induction, together with an improved staff relation;
- Demonstration of due diligence; and
- Improved financial performance through increased sales, reduced cost (e.g. insurance premium) and minimized cost of failure.
Although the abovementioned benefits can be derived without certification, the benefits of third party certification are two folded:
- Promotion (confirmation of compliance through a third party) and enhancement of customer confidence; and
- Regular surveillance by a third party to ensure system integrity via a value-added external audit report as input for continual improvement.
Since the publication of ISO 9001 in 1987, international management system standards have flourished. The publication of the ISO Annex SL allows ISO Technical Committees to publish ISO management system standards based on the same high level structure, identical core text and common definitions. It facilitates the integration of management systems of different disciplines.
Presently HKV offers third party certification service to the following standards:
- Quality Management Systems, ISO 9001:2015;
- Environmental Management Systems, ISO 14001:2015;
- Occupational Health and Safety Management systems, ISO 45001:2018;
- Food Safety Management Systems, ISO 22000:2018 (and HACCP);
- Information Security Management Systems, ISO 27001:2013; and
- Energy Management Systems, ISO 50001:2018.
In accordance with ISO 17021-1, the following is a typical certification process flow:
- conducting the opening meeting;
- performing document review while conducting the audit;
- communicating during the audit;
- assigning roles and responsibilities of guides and observers;
- collecting and verifying information;
- generating audit findings;
- preparing audit conclusions;
- conducting the closing meeting.
(including granting, refusing, maintaining, renewing, suspending, restoring, withdrawing and expanding or reducing the scope of certification).
Based on established HKV procedures, the following process steps will be followed:
- Certification recommendation (any type) prepared by our audit team and/or administration function;
- Establishment of an independent and competent review committee;
- Review of submitted documentation by the review committee; and
- Customer is informed of the decision: acceptance, or rejection (in the case where documentation is found to be unsatisfactory)
If HKV is not able to verify the implementation of corrections and corrective actions of any major nonconformity within 6 months after the last day of stage 2 audit, HKV shall conduct another stage 2 audit prior to recommending certification.
In accordance with HKV certification agreement, the certification customer agrees and acknowledges that the ownership and the right to use of Certification Mark remain with HKV. When the Client has achieved and maintained the Certification status, it is licensed to have the right to use the Certification Mark (and the Accreditation Mark as applicable) and the HKV name in conjunction with its HKV certification, and with respect to those activities which have been certified. The Marks shall be used in a manner which is not misleading and cannot be applied onto products.
Information about certifications granted, suspended or withdrawn shall be addressed in writing to the HKV head office.
To request for information, or to raise a complaint or appeal, customer may contact HKV by telephone or other written means. A customer may raise an appeal if he/she is not satisfied with i) the outcome of a complaint, or ii) a certification decision of HKV.
HKV Administration shall acknowledge such complaint or appeal.
The General Manager (GM) shall further investigate into the case and discuss with both sides to arrive at a conclusion. The GM shall not investigate into complaints related to the GM himself, in which case an independent party shall be named by the Director to handle such a complaint. For appeals relating to the GM, an HKV Director shall collaborate with one or more Advisory Board members to come to a conclusion.
The customer shall be notified of the result of a complaint or an appeal.
