A periodic audit during a certificate's validity period that confirms the management system continues to operate and improve.
After certification, the certification body returns at least once a year for a surveillance audit. These are lighter than the full Stage 2 but check that the system is still maintained, that nonconformities were closed, and that improvement is ongoing.
Surveillance audits keep certification honest between full assessments. Serious problems found here can lead to the certificate being suspended or withdrawn.
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