Triennial cycles

Did you know your certification is based on a triennial cycle.  That’s 3 years for us non certification types.  Triennial cycles are a requirement of JAS-ANZ.  So don’t try and ask your certification body (CB) to extend it or to ignore it.  They can’t.  So what does this mean?  Not much other than an ‘every three’ gouge of your pocket. 

The complete certification cycle is approximately the following sequence.  As always it is unique to you circumstance, complexity, risk and CB.  So take this as a guideline only.

Document review (1); precertification audit (1); certification audit (1); post certification audit; (1 every 6, 9 or 12 months) and recertification audit (triennial audit, once every 3 years.).

The terminology changes between CBs and the frequency of post audits is dependent on the maturity, risk and complexity.  However, just remember, you negotiate a certification plan within the parameters of JAS-ANZ and your CB.  But the recertification / triennial audit is not negotiable.  Whilst the requirement of the first three years of certification is a sample of the system split over the three years, the triennial now requires the entire quality management system to be audited in full in one fell swoop.  What value this ads to the process, especially since you are doing it the 6th time, beggars me.  But it is part of the process.  Just plan for it, experience it, deal with it.

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