Public Information is provided on this page to give any manufacturer the basics of how we work to certify QMS programs.

Granting a certification simply follows the basic ISO requirements and is shown below in the Certification Process through the certification decision. The Certification Decision Committee (CDC) operates with an executive staff member, compliance officer to maintain impartiality, and records personnel to make sure any documents are available for a decision. The CDC addresses all the following:

  • Refusing, suspending, revoking, withdrawing, or expanding a certificate. During any appeal or complaint, all the documentation will be made available to the CDC for a decision. An internal CAR will be used to track any of the above until final resolution.

Transfer an ISO 9001 Certification is simple. Seismic Source International will give a new ISO 9001 certification form Seismic Source International based on the current certification and use the current audit cycle to maintain the Certification Process (see link below) and maintain the three-year cycle as defined in the ISO standards for all clients that are currently certified to a IAF MLA accredited Certification Body. If the current ISO 9001 certification body is not IAF MLA accredited, then the client will be required to start at the beginning of the certification process (see link below).

QMS Certification Process 

Complaints & Appeals Process

Policy on Impartiality

Quality Management System to ISO 9001. Seismic Source International also certifies equipment. There are two separate marks: one for ISO 9001 and one for certifying seismic equipment.

  • There shall be no ambiguity in the mark or accompanying text, as to what has been certified and which certification body has granted with the certification. The ISO 9001 mark shall not be used on a product nor product packaging nor in any other way that may be interpreted as denoting product conformity.
  • Seismic Source International does not permit its marks to be applied by certified clients to laboratory test, calibration or inspection reports or certificates.
  • ISO 9001 certification statements on product packaging or in companying information that the certified client has a certified management system is allowed. Product packaging is considered as that which can be removed without the product disintegrating or being damaged. Accompanying information is considered as separately available or easily detachable. Type labels or identification plates are considered as part of the product. The statement shall in no way imply that the product, process or service is certified by this means. The statements shall include identification (e.g. brand or name) of the certified client, the quality management system to ISO 9001, and Seismic Source International mark (acting as certification body issuing the certificate).
  • The SSI terms and conditions within the proposal defines a legally enforceable arrangement that will be part of certification and surveillance audits and requires that the certified client:
  • conforms to the requirements of the certification body when making reference to its certification status in communication media such as the internet, brochures or advertising, or other documents;
  • does not make or permit any misleading statement regarding its certification;
  • does not use or permit the use of a certification document or any part thereof in a misleading manner;
  • upon withdrawal of its certification, discontinues its use of all advertising matter that contains a reference to certification, as directed by the certification body (see 9.6.5);
  • amends all advertising matter when the scope of certification has been reduced;
  • does not allow reference to its management system certification to be used in such a way as to imply that the certification body certifies a product (including service) or process outside the use of a different SSI Mark for seismic equipment;
  • does not imply that the certification applies to activities and sites that are outside the scope of certification;
  • does not use its certification in such a manner that would bring the certification body and/or certification system into disrepute and lose public trust.
  • Seismic Source International shall exercise proper control of ownership and shall take action to deal with incorrect references to certification status or misleading use of certification documents, withdrawal of certification, publication of the transgression and, if necessary, legal action

Complaints and Appeals

Complaints and appeals process

  • SSI will receive any complaint or appeal by email or by phone.
  • SSI executive staff will initiate a CAR in our controlled records.
  • An investigation will be performed, and the results reviewed by independent staff. Request for additional information may be required.
  • All complaints and appeals are reviewed by the SSI Certification Decision Committee (CDC) within three months of the initial notification. There will be no discriminatory actions taken against the client.
  • Clients will be notified of the results. Supporting documentation will be provided if they don’t violate the SSI confidentiality policy.
  • If the complainant is not satisfied with the CDC results, they may contact the accreditation body (International Accreditation Service).

Impartiality Policy Statement

Being impartial, and being perceived to be impartial, is necessary for ACS LLC to deliver certification that provides confidence. This also enables ACS LLC to maintain the professionalism and credibility of the audit and certification process. Impartiality is not only an accreditation requirement for a third party certification and inspection body; it is an absolute necessity to maintain the professionalism and credibility of the Audit, Inspection and certification process. It is therefore the objective of ACS LLC to ensure that impartiality is maintained as an integral part of the Audit and Inspection process. ACS LLC is a self-financed independent organisation, which ensures that it retains its impartiality.

ACS LLC will not accept applications for certification or inspection of organizations who report directly to a person or group who also have operational responsibility for ACS LLC.

In addition, no ACS LLC Office, joint venture or wholly owned, shall enter into any partnerships that provide full consultancy or consultancy in part. ACS LLC may provide auditor training when contracted by another body to do so, but such contractual agreement may not be advertised in any manner without prior review and approval of the Accredited Office.

The following controls shall be implemented, maintained and complied with by all audit and certification staff to ensure this impartiality policy is maintained throughout the audit process.

  1. Audit/Inspection staff are prohibited from participating in the Audit/Inspection of any organisation to which they have given assistance, by consultancy or training (other than professionally registered auditor training), or where they have any financial or commercial interest for a minimum period of 2 years prior to the date of application of the organisation for registration.
  2. When allocated to a particular contract, Audit/Inspection staff shall not disclose or discuss any detail; before or after the Audit/Inspection; to any member of staff other than their direct Management or other members of the team, as required by the Secrecy & Non-Disclosure agreement signed on commencement of employment.
  3. All subcontracted Audit/Inspection staff or sector specialists used to support permanent staff of ACS LLC shall sign a Subcontractor Agreement and a Secrecy & Non-Disclosure Agreement and shall be included on the Office Potential Conflict Listing.
  4. ACS LLC direct employees are prohibited from engaging in consultancy activities, which involve the active design, generation or implementation of a Quality or Environmental Management System.
  5. All directly employed Management and Staff are required to declare all financial interests or business activities on commencement and during the period of employment.
  6. ACS LLC staff or subcontractors shall not suggest or imply to imply that certification would be simpler, easier or less expensive if consultancy or training services were used. In addition, subcontract staff cannot offer consultancy or training services to ACS LLC’ clients that they have been assigned to audit, during or after the assigned task has been completed.
  7. Overall the certification of companies who supply a service to ACS LLC is not deemed to be an unacceptable threat to conflict of interest. However, certification of a company in partnership with whom ACS LLC Limited provides a direct service is deemed to be an unacceptable threat to impartiality. Should such a partnership develop, a new accredited certification body will be sourced to continue the certification.

ACS LLC recognize that the source of revenue for a certification body is the client paying for certification, and that this is a potential threat to impartiality. Therefore, ACS LLC is a self-financed independent organisation, with a number of controls to ensure that impartiality is retained.

To obtain and maintain confidence, it is essential that ACS LLC’ certification decisions are based on objective evidence of conformity or nonconformity, and that any decisions made are not influenced by other interests or by other parties. Certification decisions are made and signed for by a competent Certification Manager who was not responsible for the audit and was not a member of the audit team

ACS LLC recognizes that threats to impartiality include the following.

  • Self-interest threats arising from a person or body acting in their own interest.
  • Self-review threats arising from a person reviewing the work that they have conducted themselves.
  • Familiarity (or trust) threats arising from a person becoming too familiar with or too trusting of another, instead of seeking audit evidence.
  • Intimidation threats arising from a person having a perception of being coerced openly or secretively, such as a threat to be replaced or reported to a supervisor.