ISO IEC TR 17032-2019 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC TR 17032:2019 — Conformity assessment — Guidelines and examples of a scheme for the certification of processes. This technical report provides guidance, principles and illustrative examples to help develop and operate certification schemes specifically for processes (rather than products or persons).

Abstract

This technical report gives guidelines and practical examples for establishing schemes for the certification of processes. It addresses scheme scope and objectives, risk considerations, evaluation activities and methods, acceptance of prior conformity assessment results, and examples of scheme rules and certification body activities to support credible, consistent process certification programmes.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: 27 September 2019.
• Publisher: ISO (International Organization for Standardization) — Technical Report prepared under ISO/CASCO; also available via IEC webstore.
• ICS / categories: 03.120.20 (Product and company certification; conformity assessment).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2019).
• Number of pages: 35 pages (English edition).

Scope

The report provides guidance for organisations and conformity assessment bodies that develop, implement or operate certification schemes for processes. It focuses on scheme objectives and principles, identification and management of risks related to processes and their certification, definition of scheme rules (including scope, criteria and evaluation methods), evaluation activities and sampling, acceptance of externally obtained conformity assessment results, and examples to illustrate practical scheme design choices. The document is intended to be applicable across sectors where process certification is required.

Key topics and requirements

• Guiding principles for design of process-certification schemes (objectives, impartiality, transparency).
• Identification and assessment of risks associated with the operation of the process, nonconformity and consequences of nonconformity (including outsourced and virtual locations).
• Definition of scheme rules: scope, eligibility, certification criteria, and surveillance/recertification requirements.
• Evaluation activities and methods (on-site assessment, remote assessment, document review, sampling and testing where applicable).
• Conditions under which prior or externally obtained conformity assessment results may be accepted by the scheme.
• Guidance and examples of certification-cycle processes, decision-making and reporting for certification bodies.

Typical use and users

Intended users include national and international standards developers, accreditation bodies, certification bodies (that certify processes), process owners seeking certification, regulators and organisations designing sector-specific certification schemes. It is used when establishing new process-certification programmes or when revising existing schemes to align with internationally recognised conformity assessment principles.

Related standards

Commonly referenced standards and technical reports used alongside ISO/IEC TR 17032:2019 include ISO/IEC 17000 (vocabulary and general principles for conformity assessment), ISO/IEC 17065 (requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services), ISO/IEC 17067, ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17025 and management-system standards such as ISO 9001:2015 and risk guidance such as ISO 31000. Sector or domain-specific standards may also be referenced when defining scheme criteria.

Keywords

process certification; conformity assessment; certification scheme; evaluation activities; certification body; ISO/CASCO; scheme rules; surveillance; risk assessment.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC TR 17032:2019 is a technical report giving guidelines and examples for the design and operation of certification schemes for processes.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers scheme objectives and principles, identification of process-related risks, definition of scheme rules (scope, criteria, evaluation methods), evaluation activities (including acceptance of prior results), decision-making and examples of scheme structures and procedures.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Certification bodies, accreditation bodies, scheme owners, regulators, and organisations developing or operating process-certification programmes.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: As published on 27 September 2019 the document is listed as Published and has not been shown as superseded on official listings as of the publication information available. Users should check the ISO catalogue or national standards bodies for any amendments or updates after 2019.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is a CASCO-related technical report that sits alongside other ISO/IEC conformity assessment standards (for example ISO/IEC 17000 series and standards for certification bodies). It is not a numbered part of a multipart series but complements the ISO/IEC 17000-family of documents.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Process certification, conformity assessment, certification scheme, certification body, evaluation activities, scheme rules, risk assessment.