Hi All,
Hope this helps:-
NON CONFORMITY:
Critical:- There is a failure to comply with a product safety or legal issue.
Major:- a): There is a substantial failure to meet the requirements of a state ment of intent
and/or
b): There is a failure to meet any mandatory clause of the standard
and/or
c): A situation which would on the basis of available objective evidence raise significant doubt as to the conformity of the product being supplied.
PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING NON-CONFORMITIES (for initial certification):
Critical:- Where the non conformity has been established the company shall not gain certification until the non conformity has been corrected and corrective action verified by the certification body undertaking a further visit.
Major:- No certificate shall be issued until mjor non-conformities have been demonstrated as having been corrected.
It is normally expected that major non-conformities will be corrected within 28 working days of the evaluation taking place, either permanently or teporarily (providing the solution is acceptable to the certification body) and the certification body can verify the corrective action has taken place. This can be achieved either by objective evidence being submitted to the certification body or by the certification body undertaking a further visit.
If there is no temporary solution or there is a justifiable delay to implementing a permanent solution, then providing an acceptable statement of explanation is received by the certification body within 28 working days, the company may remain in the certification programme for up to 3 months, but will remain uncertified and will only be certified following verification of the corrective action being implemented. If the major non-conformity cannot be closed out within the 3 month period, the process of certification will commence again i.e. full evaluation.
If there is no formal commitment to implementation of corrective action received by the certification body within the 28 working day post evaluation period, or if there is a failure to meet the timescale proposed in the non-conformity summary sheet without justification, the company does not remain in the certification programme. The company will the require a further evaluation visit in order to be considered for certification.
It is expected that it will normally be possible for major non-conformities to be resolved withing the 28 working days. Whilst there is no time limit on resolution of the non conformity the company cannot be certified until the major non-conformity is satisfactorily resolved.
(Ongoing evaluation):
Critical:- Where certification has been in place and a critical non-conformity is found at a subsequent visit, certification must be immediately suspended.
The company shall not re-gain certification until the non conformity has been corrected and corrective action verified by the certification body undertaking a further visit.
Where no or inappropriate corrective action is undertaken within 28 working days certification shall be revoked. The company shall then have to re-apply for certification.
Major:- Major non-conformities have to be corrected within 28 working days to ensure renewed certification.
A company may be permitted 28 days to comply with the standard but in more serious situations, dependant on the number and nature of the major non-conformities, immediate suspension may be implemented by the certification body.
Wether suspension is implemented or not the company shall have to demonstrate a resolution within 28 working days, and this is to be verified by the certification body for certification to be renewed. Where the certification body is not satisfied with the company's response, a new certificate will not be issued.
Regards,
Steve
I know God will not give me anything I cann't handle, I just wish that he didn't trust me so much.
