Certification Guide

Welcome to the Certification Guide section of ACSQ S.r.l. This section aims to be a complete and detailed guide covering the entire path leading to the required System Certification. A step-by-step process to follow, starting from the www.acsq.it website, towards the issuance of the certificate of conformity to the preferred Standard.

1. Obtain a Quote from the website
2. Signing the Contract
3. Three-Year Audit Plan
4. Assessment Method
5. Issuance of the Certificate
6. Surveillance Visits
7. Non-Conformities (NC)
8. Certification Renewal
9. Appeal Procedure

Obtain a quote from the website

It is possible to request and obtain a cost quotation for a specific Certification in a short time by filling out the appropriate form found on the "Receive Certification Offer" page. Filling out the form and sending the request is not binding. Contact via email, although provided for, is a secondary option.

Signing the Contract

After receiving the Certification Application from the client, ACSQ will proceed to review the request and, in case of a positive evaluation, will issue an Application Acceptance document (Contract) which the applicant must countersign and return to ACSQ via email or mail. The contract is considered valid, and therefore ready for signing, for a maximum of 30 days following the date of transmission by ACSQ.

Three-Year Audit Plan

Before the Certification audit, a Three-Year Plan will be released, scheduling the visits to be carried out over the three-year period to maintain the Certificate. For every scheduled visit, ACSQ will send the client an appointment confirmation communication containing the client's registry and certification data, as well as data regarding the audit team.

Assessment Method

Within the process leading to the certification of a management System implemented in the company, the Assessment Method consists of two distinct and separate moments:

• Stage 1: The first phase of the evaluation involves examining the applicant's documentation to verify its conformity with the management system to be certified and its implementation status. Further general requirements will also be monitored during this phase, such as, by way of example: status of infrastructure, equipment and instruments, and compliance with mandatory requirements. At the end of the evaluation, the Auditor produces a report and agrees with the applicant on an appointment for the subsequent phase.
• Stage 2: The second evaluation phase is carried out by verifying compliance with the relevant standards, the management system documentation, and records, including through interviews with employees and collaborators involved.

Issuance of the Certificate

When the applicant fully satisfies both evaluation phases (Stage 1 and Stage 2), the Lead Auditor sends the reports to the ACSQ Technical Committee, with any recommendations for approval. In case of a positive outcome, the certificate of conformity to the Standard will be issued. The certificate will be included in the ACSQ register of certificates, which is available to the public through the ACSQ corporate website. The Certification thus obtained is valid for three years and is subject to the positive outcome of at least two surveillance visits to verify the maintenance of the standard. The Certificates remain the property of ACSQ.

Surveillance Visits

The certification contract is valid for three years, during which surveillance audits are scheduled. The first surveillance visit is scheduled within 12 months from the date of the Certification Decision, coinciding with the Certificate issuance date. The second surveillance visit is scheduled in the calendar year following the first surveillance. For certification processes requiring a higher number of visits or validity periods other than the three-year standard, ACSQ will provide an audit program illustrating the timing and locations for the verification of each single visit.

Non-Conformities (NC)

In the event of a negative outcome of the surveillance audit, 2 distinct cases may occur:

1. Minor NCs. If the Lead Auditor identifies minor NCs, they will issue an NC report, which also expresses the timeframe for resolution, and will recommend to the Technical Committee to maintain the validity of the Certificate, subject to the review and acceptance of the applicant's correction and corrective action plan.
2. Major NCs. If the Lead Auditor identifies major NCs, they will issue an NC report, which also expresses the timeframe for resolution and whether or not an additional audit is necessary, and will recommend to the Technical Committee not to maintain the validity of the Certificate.

Certification Renewal

If the applicant does not communicate cancellation within the terms stated in the certification contract, the Certification Renewal audit is performed before the expiration date shown on the certificate. Subject to verification of any changes occurred in the organization's structure and infrastructure, in the scope of certification, or with reference to mandatory requirements, the process proceeds with the Stage 2 verification only.

Appeal Procedure

An organization may file an appeal against decisions and actions taken by ACSQ towards it, within the scope of the signed certification contract (certification not issued, suspension, revocation, requests for supplementary or special audits), within 14 days from the date of communication of the relevant decision. The appeal may be sent via PEC (Certified Email) or via registered mail and must contain, under penalty of inadmissibility, at least:

1. Date;
2. Name of the organization;
3. References to the act issued by ACSQ against which the appellant is appealing (date, any protocol number, subject of the communication, means by which the notification was received);
4. Description of the ground(s) for the challenge with pertinent references to laws, standards, regulations, contract clauses, ACSQ regulations, previous communications, inquiries, or decisions;
5. Any documentation supporting the request must be sent as an attachment.