Procedure for applying for and granting quality labels *
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The trigger for the certification process is the Certification Application, a form sent together with this general information document, which must be filled in by the interested company with all the necessary information for each Quality Label, in order to carry out the certification process according to the relevant certification scheme or to extend the scope of certification.
This information gathering must be done prior to completing and signing the Inspection/Certification Service Agreement, which sets out the responsibilities of both parties.
REVIEW OF THE CERTIFICATION APPLICATION
Once the client has completed and submitted the Certification Application to 3i+g, the AEA Label Commission will conduct a formal review of the information obtained.
EVALUATION
The necessary arrangements for the evaluation activities of the certification process are managed by 3i+g through an Inspection and Testing Plan.
The Inspection and Testing Plan establishes the bodies and entities assigned to carry out each evaluation task, the types of inspections and tests to be carried out for each Quality Label and the dates foreseen for this purpose
Products are evaluated against the requirements covered by the scope of certification and other requirements specified in the certification scheme. The results of all evaluation activities performed must be documented prior to review, in Licensing Inspection and Testing Reports.
If one or more non-conformities have been detected, the client must be informed about them and provided with information regarding further evaluation work necessary to verify that the non-conformities have been corrected, should he/she be interested in continuing the certification process. If the client agrees to complete the additional evaluation work, the process specified in this section shall be repeated to complete the additional evaluation tasks.
REVIEW
As a general rule, the 3i+g Director General and Technical Manager, in the framework of the Standing Committee of the AEA Labels Commission, will be responsible for reviewing all information and results related to the evaluation, but may assign this task to one or more persons, provided that they have not been involved in the evaluation process.
Recommendations for a certification decision based on the review shall be included in the Inspection Report itself, identifying the responsible person.
CERTIFICATION DECISION
The 3i+g General Manager is responsible for making the certification decision in the first instance, based on all information related to the assessment, its review and other relevant information.
However, this decision must be endorsed by the Labels Commission of the Spanish Association of Aluminium and Surface Treatments (AEA), General Licensee in Spain of the Quality Labels, and ultimately validated by the QUALANOD, QUALICOAT or QUIALISTEELCOAT INTERNATIONAL Organisations, in charge of granting their respective Quality Labels and issuing the corresponding certificates.
When the decision is not to grant certification, 3i+g will notify the customer in writing on behalf of the AEA, identifying the reasons for such a decision. If the client expresses interest in continuing with the certification, the process for evaluation shall be resumed.
CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION
Once the Quality Label has been awarded and the Certificate of Licence has been issued by QUALANOD, QUALICOAT or QUALISTEELCOAT INTERNATIONAL, 3i+g will provide the client with formal certification documentation, on behalf of the AEA, clearly indicating the name and address of the certification body, the date certification is granted, the name and address of the client, the scope of certification and the term or expiry date of the certification.
The formal documentation of the certification shall also include the signature of the persons assigned with such responsibility.
DIRECTORY OF CERTIFIED PRODUCTS
MONITORING
Following the award of a Quality Label to a client, 3i+g together with the Inspection Bodies and Testing Laboratories will initiate surveillance of the products and processes covered by the certification decision, in accordance with the criteria and methodology defined in each certification scheme. They shall also periodically monitor the use of Quality Labels on products, packaging, or accompanying information, to ensure the continued validity of the demonstration of compliance with product requirements.
CHANGES AFFECTING CERTIFICATION
As a general rule, at the beginning of each year the QUALANOD, QUALICOAT and QUALISTEELCOAT INTERNATIONAL Organisations publish a revised edition of their respective Guidelines and Specifications. These Guidelines and Specifications may be supplemented or modified by update sheets which reflect and incorporate decisions and changes, pending a new edition. These numbered sheets will contain the subject, date and description of the resolution and will include the date of application.
The official English version of the Guidelines and Specifications, and their corresponding update sheets, are published on the website of each Organisation (www.qualanod.net, www.qualicoat.net and www.qualisteelcoat.net) and are communicated to the General Licensees in each country.
The Spanish version of the Guidelines and Specifications, and of the update sheets, are published on the AEA website (www.asoc-aluminio.es) and communicated to all customers licensed to use any of the Quality Marks.
When new or revised requirements are introduced in the schemes affecting the client, the AEA Secretariat communicates these changes to all Spanish companies licensed to use the Quality Labels and is responsible for verifying the implementation of the changes by the certified companies and for taking the actions required by each scheme. When necessary to ensure the implementation of these requirements, the AEA may modify the contractual provisions.
When other changes occur that affect certification, such as changes initiated by certified companies after certification has been established, the AEA Labels Commission takes these into consideration and decides on appropriate action.
