Certification Process Flow
How a management system certification is planned, audited and issued
BIC Certification Process
A six-phase journey from application to certification, with an independent decision and a continuous surveillance cycle.
Phase 1 — Application & Review
1
Customer's BIC Application
Received by Sales
2
Completeness check
By Sales
3
Filed to Offers Archive
By Sales
4
Review of the application
By CM
Phase 2 — Offer, Agreement & Contract
5
Preparation of the offer
By GM, sent by Sales
6
Filed to Clients' Archive
By Sales
7
Cooperation agreement
8
Contract review
Resources, competence, impartiality — By CM
Phase 3 — Audit Stage 1
9
Assignment of auditors & mailing of the file
Determines inspector & minimum inspection time — By CM
10
Client confirmation / objection to audit team
By Client
11
Mailing of Program for Audit Stage 1
By LA
12
Stage 1 audit
By LA
Phase 4 — Stage 1 Decision
13
Delivery of Stage 1 documentation
By LA
14
Document of Decision of Stage 1
By CM
15
Client resolves Stage 1 findings (if any)
By Client — required before Stage 2
Phase 5 — Audit Stage 2
16
Mailing of Program of Audit Stage 2
By CM
17
Stage 2 audit
By LA
18
Delivery of Stage 2 documentation
By LA
Phase 6 — Decision & Certification
19
Observation & elimination of non-conformities
By LA or CM — required before decision
20
Audit report review
Independent of the audit team — By CM
21
Final decision
Independent decision-maker — By CM
22
Certification issuing & mailing to client
By Sales
CM
Certification Manager
GM
General Manager
TM
Technical Manager
LA
Lead Auditor
Sales
Sales
After certification
Certification is the start of a cycle, not the end. The certificate remains valid through:
- Surveillance audits — periodic reviews during the validity period
- Recertification — a new audit cycle before the certificate expires (typically every 3 years)
Appeals, complaints, suspension, withdrawal and scope changes are handled as separate, parallel processes.