Russian

Recognition of firms and organizations. Recognition certificate

The international recognition and standing of RS as an international classification society and the high qualification of its specialists have enabled us to offer a new set of services to customers, namely, auditing of firms within the RS Certification System.

Over 200 voluntary certification systems are registered in Russia, each of them covering a group or several groups of similar products or services. Practically all of them are aimed at ascertaining conformity of actual indicators characterizing consumer properties of products to regulatory requirements (standards, rules, etc.). Without rejecting the usefulness of this approach, we would like to emphasize that a more effective form of certification is voluntary certification based on the following assumption: “A higher quality level than that laid down by regulatory documents or characteristic for similar products”. This approach which has unquestionable advantages in terms of enhancing competitiveness and meeting customer interests is implemented in auditing of firms by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

Audit stages:

  • application for recognition of firm;
  • review of documents;
  • audit, expertise, testing;
  • consideration of results, issuance of Recognition Certificate.

Application for recognition of firm

The applicant is to send a written application (form 9.2.2) signed by firm’s manager and chief accountant, duly stamped and indicating the legal address and actual place of business.

Upon receipt of the application by RS and conclusion of an Agreement on Services, the applicant is to provide RS with a set of documents, which should be sufficient for the purposes of review, and to fill in a Questionnaire on firm’s readiness for assessment of compliance. Where necessary, the applicant is to provide additional documents upon written request from RS.

Documents to be provided

Industrial enterprises are to provide technical documents, process documents and organizational documents. The companies rendering transportation services are to provide only process and organizational documents. The documents are to be provided in two copies as a minimum, one copy for RS, and the other one to be returned to the applicant after review.

Technical documents on products are to comprise technical conditions (TCs) and other normative documentation concerning the products, general view plans and products testing programmes (procedures).

Process and organizational documents are to include, as a minimum:

  • information on firm (organizational chart, documents relating to registration);
  • Quality Manual comprising a brief description of the firm and production process, organizational chart, documented procedures and documents needed to ensure effective planning, work and management;
  • list and scope of the products manufactured and services rendered;
  • copies of certificates for products and production processes, licenses for primary and secondary activities;
  • documents on claim registration against products manufactured or services rendered, and corrective actions;
  • copies of engineers and technicians’ certificates in the areas of activity stated in the application to confirm that their educational background, qualification, service record, etc., enables them to perform their functional duties;
  • brief production process outline and description of the equipment used in producing the products or in rendering the services stated in the application, testing procedures;
  • laboratory characteristics, scope of accreditation, testing programmes used for testing the products.

Where needed, RS can request additional information or documents to ascertain the quality of the products manufactured or services rendered by the firm.

The results of documents review are communicated to the applicant in writing and transmitted with a copy of reviewed documents, then the time frame for firm auditing by an RS expert or group of experts is set and agreed (where necessary).

Pre-audit of a manufacturer / firm

A pre-audit of a manufacturer / firm is carried out with the aim of verifying it (by an expert or a group of experts where necessary). The time and place of the verification is agreed with the applicant.

What is verified?

  • Basic data on firm and product/service undergoing certification:
    • brief outline of firm or production process, including organizational chart; list and scope of the products manufactured and services rendered;
    • availability of certificates for products and production processes, licenses for primary and secondary activities;
    • availability of a documented claim registration and corrective actions system regarding the products manufactured and services rendered.
  • Normative and technical documentation:
    • availability of an officer responsible for the condition of the normative and technical documentation, its registration and updating;
    • availability and completeness of the normative and technical documentation for products or services, product testing procedures.
  • Process documentation:
    • availability of process documentation covering manufacture of products and rendering of services, availability of instructions (including duty regulations) laying down personnel responsibility and authority;
    • availability of documents on frequency, scope and list of parameters controlled in production or service provision and of corrective actions undertaken if these parameters are not in compliance with the specified requirements;
    • equipment used in performing production or service provision operations.
  • Production process and manufacturer’s equipment:
    • conformity of process documentation and availability of necessary equipment;
    • availability of equipment preventive maintenance and repairs plan, its conformity to the specified requirements and notes of completion;
    • availability of equipment maintenance and repairs instructions, their implementation;
    • availability and observance of occupational safety regulations;
    • storage, marking and delivery of products for compliance with the requirements of normative documents.
  • Quality management system, environmental management system, occupational health and safety management system are verified upon separate request from applicant.

With a view to assessing manufacturer’s / firm’s management systems, appropriate documents that are required to ensure effective operation are verified at applicant’s request for compliance with basic provisions of the following international standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 (either all, or any of these, at applicant’s discretion);

If the verification results are satisfactory, a relevant entry is made in the Recognition Certificate.

  • Production and service provision control:
    • availability and fulfilment of the requirements of documents laying down the procedure, frequency and extent of quality control during production or service provision;
    • availability and maintenance of documentation in accordance with the quality system documents;
    • availability of testing laboratory, availability of certified testing equipment and calibrated measuring instruments;
    • availability of certified testing and checking procedures;
    • adherence to the testing procedures as stipulated in normative documents and technical documentation.
  • Firm’s metrological assurance.
  • Personnel qualification:
    • availability of personnel duty regulations and functional duties;
    • conformity of personnel qualification to the requirements of duty regulations and other normative documents against which the firm is being assessed;
    • availability of personnel training programme.

If the pre-audit results in identification of deficiencies, a report is drawn up. A report copy is transmitted to the firm for rectification of deficiencies, and the second one stays at the RS location for control.

Final audit of manufacturer / firm

The final audit is carried out with a view to verifying rectification of deficiencies identified at preliminary audit, including drawing up of a report.

A firm / manufacturer that has confirmed its operation to comply with the specified requirements is issued the following documents:

  • Recognition Certificate for Manufacturer that is issued for a time period not exceeding 3 years subject to annual verification under the voluntary certification agreement.

or

  • Recognition Certificate that is issued for a period not exceeding 4 years subject to verification in 2 years’ time under the voluntary certification agreement*.

* A Recognition Certificate issued for a period of 3 years is subject to annual endorsement.