IAF MD 15 defines the data an AB shall collect on an annual basis as indicators of CBs activities.
The NAB has included the indicators in the request for information we regularly ask the CBs to provide before the assessment. However we have not received relevant information concerning “overdue audits”. According to the NAB’s experiences the CBs have not even defined when an audit is ”overdue” or any consequences of delayed/overdue audits.
The NAB has raised a NC of this type of findings in several assessments.
To be discussed: Have other NABs similar experiences or findings? What actions have been taken? An NC raised against MD15 documents?
March 2017
IAF TC Dec log April 2016 (see below) shows some explanation about what is an “overdue audit” helping to the definition of overdue audits.
The information is collected is for exploitation of the AB during assessments. There are no requirements at the IAF MD 15 about the need to define consequences of delayed/overdue audits. The indicators could provide an insight into the effectiveness of the Certification Body’s processes. The requirements about due date of audits are at the ISO 17021-1 : first surveillance (only for ISO 17021:2006 and 2011) second surveillance and recertification audit (each calendar year and before the expiry date of the certificate)