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TÜV Management Service
realizes that choosing your Management
Systems Registrar is a very important
decision. This document provides answers
to commonly asked questions we have
received from companies actively engaged
in the Registrar selection process. If
you have further questions regarding
TÜV’s registration process, please do
not hesitate to contact us. We will be
pleased to address your specific issues
and schedule an information meeting.
Table of Contents
1.0 TÜV
OVERVIEW
1.1 Who is TÜV?
1.2 How long has TÜV been
in Business?
1.3 Does TÜV Management
Service offer other services in addition
to Management Systems Registration?
1.4 How many companies
has TÜV certified?
1.5 Will TÜV provide a
list of clients that have achieved
registration?
1.6 Does TÜV have
additional offices in Egypt and other
countries?
2.0
ACCREDITATIONS
2.1 Describe TMSE
accreditations.
2.2 Does TMSE offer
Management Systems consulting services?
3.0 TÜV
MANAGEMENT SERVICE AUDITORS
3.1 Does TMSE use all
sub-contracted auditors?
3.2 What are the auditor
requirements in terms of training,
experience and education?
3.3 Does auditor training
follow a national scheme such as the
IRCA?
3.4 How are auditors
assigned for an audit?
3.5 Will the same
auditors be utilized for the pre-audit,
certification audit and surveillance
3.6 How would differences
of opinion between the audit team and
the client be handled?
4.0
REGISTRATION PROCESS
4.1 What are the current
lead times for registration audits?
4.2 What is the current
lead time for pre-audits?
4.3 What are the steps in
the TMSE management system certification
process?
4.4 Must all
documentation changes be completed and
implemented prior to the audit?
4.5 Must the management
system be 100% implemented prior to
receiving registration?
4.6 How are clients
notified of management system omissions
or non-conformances?
4.7 How much time is
given to correct identified
non-conformances?
4.8 What areas are
covered if a re-audit is required?
4.9 Is there a formal
complaint process?
4.10 How long is the
certificate valid?
4.11 What is the
frequency and duration of surveillance
audits?
4.12 What is TMSE’s
policy on modifying the scope of a
registration?
4.13 When should the
client notify TMSE of changes in its
management system?
5.0 TÜV
STRENGTHS SUMMARY
5.1 Refreshing
Registration Process
5.2 Auditor Consistency
5.3 Auditor Experience
5.4 Reputation
5.5 Global Presence
5.6 Client Service
Philosophy
1.0 TÜV
OVERVIEW
1.1 Who is TÜV?
TÜV, which stands for
“Technical Inspection Association”, are
German-based organizations authorized by
the German State governments to perform
a variety of mandatory and voluntary
inspection, testing and certification
activities.
TÜV Management Service is
the global management systems
certification Registrar for TÜV
Suddeutschland, Munich, and the largest
of the TÜV’s, with over 9,000 staff and
$ 1 billion in annual revenues. TÜV
Management Service along with TÜV
Product Service, one of the world’s
largest product testing and
Certification Division of TÜV
Suddeutschland, with over 2,500 staff at
110 locations in 30 countries.
1.2
How long has TÜV been in business?
TÜV was established in
1870. TMSE operations began in 1996.
Today, TMSE serves many companies in
MENA Area and Gulf region in management
systems assessment activities.
1.3
Does TMSE offer other services in
addition to Management Systems
Registration?
Yes, TMSE collaborates
and manages projects for Conformity
Assessment; CE Marking assistance; EMC,
product safety, electrical, mechanical,
medical devices and telecommunications
terminal equipment testing and
certifications; Pressure Equipment and
Base Materials inspection, testing and
certification, and much more for a
variety of EU Directives, including
those areas mentioned above.
1.4
How many companies has TÜV Certified?
A global leader in ISO
9000, QS-9000 and ISO 14001 registration
as well as the leader in EN 46000 and
ISO 13485, we have certified thousands
of companies world-wide. In fact, TÜV
Management Service is one of the largest
third party registrars in the world; In
Egypt TMSE has certified many Companies
with amongst different standards.
1.5
Will TÜV provide a list of clients that
have achieved registration?
Yes. A current list of
all companies certified by either TMSE
or TÜV Management Service world wide is
available upon request.
1.6
Does TMSE have additional; offices in
Egypt, MENA or Gulf area?
No Offices exist for TMSE
other than Egypt Branch.
2.0
ACCREDITATIONS
2.1
Describe TMSE accreditations.
TMSE is accredited being
a branch office for TMS SÜD, through the
Registrar Accreditation Board and the
German Accreditation Council (DAR / TGA)
to provide ISO 9000, QS 9000, ISO 14001
Registration and HACCP in addition to
Swiss TS for OHSAS 18001.
2.2
Does TMSE offer Management Systems
consulting services?
No. We concentrate on the
Audit activities associated with
management systems registration/ IEC
Guide 62, “General requirements for
bodies operating assessment and
certification/ registration of quality
systems, “states in part:
“The certification/
registration body shall ensure that
activities of related bodies do not
affect the confidentiality, objectivity
or impartiality of its certifications/
registrations and shall not offer or
provide consulting services to obtain or
maintain certification/ registration”.
3.0
TÜV MANAGEMEBT SERVICE AUDITORS
3.1
Does TMSE use sub-contracted auditors
and/or technical experts?
TMSE maintains a full
time audit staff which builds
value-added, long term partnerships with
our clients. However, on a limited
basis, we use exclusive external
auditors based upon technical expertise
required and highly qualified technical
experts to cover the different EAC
scopes. Our selection standards are
high, and all auditors must go through
the same TÜV training program outlined
in section 3.2 and all technical experts
are evaluated in the headquarter prior
listing besides the regular evaluation
for maintaining their high qualification
and performance.
3.2
What are the auditor requirements in
terms of training, experience and
education?
TMSE lead auditors have
the following qualifications:
• Evidenced successful
management systems experience.
• Completion of a 36 hour
IRCA approved lead Assessor Course.
• Comprehensive internal
TÜV training program.
• Hired based not only on
their Quality or Environmental
Management Systems experience, but also
on their demonstrated professional
conduct and teamwork Skills.
• Yearly experience
exchange meetings.
• Regular monitoring
every three years prior to the renewal
of the auditing appointment
3.3
Does the auditor training follow a
national scheme such as the IRCA?
Auditor training exceeds
the requirements of both the IRCA.
3.4
How are auditors assigned for an audit?
In registering the audit
at the Headquarter the assignment of
audit teams should ensure that at least
one auditor covers the industry scope,
accordingly the team will have the
process and product knowledge. If this
criterion is not fulfilled, then the
presence of technical expert with the
team is inevitable.
3.5
Will the same auditors be utilized for
the pre-audit, certification audit and
surveillance audits?
Yes most of the time. Our
goal is to establish in continuous
improvement. It is always a partnership
in continuous improvement. It is always
our goal to utilize the same auditors
throughout the client relationship,
unless the client chooses otherwise, or
special circumstances require that a
change be made. In fact, our audit teams
are usually assigned months in advance,
and we encourage direct audit team
contact throughout the certification
process.
3.6 How would
differences of opinion between the audit
team and the client in standards
interpretation be handled?
Our auditors’ experience,
alignment to standards while deciding on
a finding issue put aside many
arguments. In Some cases the presence of
a technical expert with the team to
cover a certain missing industry scope
handles this mission.
4.0
REGISTRATION PROCESS
4.1 What are the
current lead times for registration
audits?
The lead time for
certification audits varies, normally
one month from the date of the
confirmation.
4.2 What is the
current lead time for pre-audits?
Pre-audit can usually be
scheduled within 30 days.
4.3 What are the steps
in the TMSE Certification process?
Please refer item 3 TMSE
Methodologies in our website.
4.4 Must all
documentation changes be completed and
implemented prior to the audit?
Changes to documentation
should be made prior to the
certification audit or a relevant plan
for changes should be developed and be
accepted by the audit team.
4.5 Must the
Management System be 100% implemented
prior to receiving registration?
This must be handled on a
case by case basis. The audit team does
not necessarily require 100%
implementation of a management system.
However, the audit team must establish a
level of confidence that your management
system complies with the applicable
standard. That level of confidence plays
an important role in the registration of
the facility. Implementation of the
management system must be sufficient
enough to demonstrate to the audit team
that requirements are understood,
effective and will be met in the future.
In some cases, one month of records may
be sufficient to assure confidence. In
other cases, six months may not be
sufficient. Implementation requirements
may vary by management system. For
example, there must be one full internal
audit cycle and a full management review
cycle completed prior to the formal
certification audit.
4.6 How are clients
notified of management system omissions
or non-conformances?
All notifications of
management system deficiencies will be
in writing. However, closing meetings
are always used to verbally communicate
issues upon completion of an audit,
followed by a formal report. In all
cases the written non-conformance
reports are presented at the closing
meeting.
4.7 How much time is
given to correct identified
non-conformances?
Corrective action plans
should be submitted maximum within 30
days of the certification audit. Dates
are always discussed and agreed to by
both partners (the client and audit
team).
4.8 What areas are
covered if a re-audit is required?
If a re-audit is
required, the auditors will address only
those areas within non-conformance
reports.
4.9 Is there a formal
complaint process?
Every client can appeal
the denial, suspension, withdrawal of
their certificate or auditors approach.
Appeals must be detailed in writing to
TMSE.
4.10 How long is the
certificate valid?
The certificate is valid
for a three (3) years period, assuming
successful annual surveillance audits
and the client remains in good standing
during that period.
4.11 What is the
frequency and duration of surveillance
audits?
Please refer item 3 TMSE
Methodologies in our website.
4.12 What is TMSE's
policy on modifying the scope of a
registration?
The scope of a
registration may be modified during
surveillance audits or during a
specially scheduled site visit / audit,
provided the presence of proven evidence
that this modification is fulfilled
documentary and physically the audit
team will recommend the scope change.
The extra cost
would be dependent upon the significance
of the change, associated procedures
review and audit time.
4.13 When should the
client notify TMSE of changes in its
management system?
After the certificate has
been granted, the client agrees to
inform TMSE of:
• Significant changes to
the management system.
• Significant changes to
the company structure and organization
affecting the applicable management
system.
• Significant changes to
process equipment.
Enough time prior to the
audit to enable the assigned auditor to
review the changes and decide if any
further action is required.
5.0 TÜV
STRENGTHS SUMMARY
5.1 Refreshing
Registration Process
Our process includes
full-scale documentation reviews well in
advance of the formal certification
audit. This complete evaluation better
prepares the client – and our audit
teams – for a successful audit, rather
than leaving key documentation review
until the audit itself. This is just one
example of a refreshing certification
process where the customer and the
supplier are partners in the pursuit of
continuous improvement and success.
Other examples include use of full time
staff, early assignment of audit teams,
direct auditor contact and careful,
extensive and timely reports at critical
points during the audit process.
5.2 Auditor
Consistency
Audit teams are assigned
early in the certification process.
Clients work directly with audit team
members throughout the process. Auditors
understand your business through
pre-audit and documentation review
activities. These same auditors conduct
surveillance activities. We strive to
build superior, long term, value-added
relationships.
5.3 Auditor Experience
Lead Auditors evidenced
management systems experience exceeds
IRCA requirements.
5.4 Reputation
Thousands of TÜV
management system certificates have been
issued throughout the world. In
addition, TÜV Management Service is a
true leader in management systems
certifications. We are well known
throughout the world for highly
professional management systems and
product certification services.
5.5 Global Presence
Clients benefit from a
certificate provided by a recognized
international company with over 9,000
employees,$1 billion revenues, 110
offices in over 30 countries and more
than 125 years of experience in
inspection, testing and certification
services.
5.6 Client Service
Philosophy
We are your partner in
continuous improvement. Our Staff is
comprised of team and customer oriented
professionals, working hard to help you
achieve your certification goals.
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