United Kingdom Accreditation Forum Accreditation Process
Process 1 : Applying for Accreditation
United Kingdom Accreditation Forum is the national body with responsibility for accreditation in accordance with the relevant International Organization for Standardization ISO 9000 series of standards and guides.
Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.
The Benefits of Accreditation
Confidence in the market place and in our public services is essential. Trust is placed in the products and services on offer often without a second thought by the customer, such are the regulations and standards against which products are manufactured and services provided.
For Government
There are many duties placed on government departments, local authorities and other agencies to confirm that trust is maintained. Whether it is health, water quality, food, consumer goods or transport safety, for example, the public sector provides the framework for the assurance that goods and services are safe and the environment we live in is clean and secure.
Accreditation by United Kingdom Accreditation Forum can also limit the need for government to regulate industry and the professions. It provides an alternative means of ensuring the reliability of activities that have the potential to impact on public confidence or the national reputation. United Kingdom Accreditation Forum, where requested, assesses organizations and recommends to government their appointment as Notified Bodies as required by EU Directives and Regulations.
For Business
Companies big and small buy independent evaluations either through choice (to reduce the risk of product failure for example) or as a consequence of legal requirements (such as health and safety regulations). Most commonly these evaluations are calibration of equipment, product testing, and inspection of equipment and certification of quality management systems.