Overview
ISO/IEC TR 17032:2019 - "Conformity assessment - Guidelines and examples of a scheme for the certification of processes" provides guidance, principles and illustrative examples for developing and operating process certification schemes. It explains how to design fit‑for‑purpose schemes when certifying a process (rather than a product or management system), and how such schemes support quality, safety, environmental and regulatory outcomes.
Key topics
- Scope and purpose of process certification schemes, including when process certification is preferable to output/product certification.
- Scheme structure and development (see Clause 4): characteristics of processes, functional approaches, and the role of the scheme owner.
- Scheme management: documentation, engagement of interested parties, outsourcing, integrity programmes, marketing, and controls against fraudulent claims.
- Elements of a scheme (see Clause 5): definition of scope, certification requirements, sampling, acceptance of conformity assessment results, evaluation activities, outsourcing of conformity assessment, surveillance and continuous conformity.
- Certification life cycle: application, evaluation, review, decision, attestation (certificates and marks), surveillance, and handling changes, complaints and appeals.
- Examples and supporting material: Annexes A–F provide illustrative schemes, sample certification and licensing agreements, and model certification documentation contents.
- Risk‑based, proportionate approach: the intensity of assessment activities should match the consequences and likelihood of process failures.
Practical applications
ISO/IEC TR 17032 is intended for organizations and stakeholders who design, run or rely on process certification schemes:
- Scheme owners and standard developers creating certification programs for processes (e.g., welding, food production, software development, supply chains).
- Certification bodies seeking guidance on scheme implementation and on aligning assessments with ISO/IEC 17067 principles.
- Process owners/operators preparing for certification and understanding scheme requirements, surveillance and allowed use of marks.
- Regulators, accreditation bodies and specifiers assessing the credibility and structure of process certification schemes.
Sectors benefiting from the guidance include manufacturing, construction, IT/security, food safety, sustainability, smart cities, and emerging technologies (blockchain, nanotech).
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 17000 - Conformity assessment - Vocabulary and general principles
- ISO/IEC 17065 - Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services
- ISO/IEC 17067 - Fundamentals of product certification and guidelines for product certification schemes
- ISO 9001 - (optional) management system standard referenced for evaluation aspects
ISO/IEC TR 17032:2019 is a practical reference for designing transparent, proportionate and credible process certification schemes that support market access, consumer confidence and regulatory objectives.