Page 96 - Getting Started

Glossary of Terms

Standard
A set of rules to help companies develop, control,
and manage processes, materials, products,
services, technologies, and systems to specific
quality, environmental, safety, and efficiency
requirements. Companies that are certified agree
to meet and maintain the requirements of the
standard.

Surveillance
Follow-up audit to verify the validity of an issued
certificate.

Technical Expert
A person who provides specific industry and
product knowledge or expertise to the audit team.

Third-Party Audits
Certification audits involving a company, their
customer and a certification body. The audits are
carried out by an independent organization and
are very inflexible since an audit process must be
followed completely. Reports go to the company
and the certification body. Involves three parties—
an organization, certification body and a customer.
Third-party audits can be conducted “with
independent oversight” and “without independent
oversight.” See Chapter 2 for information on the
value of independent oversight.

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