EPI Certification Pte Ltd (EPI) strictly follows the ISO audit process flow as shown in the illustration below:

Certification Fee

Please contact our sales department ( sales@epi-certification.com)  for information about the fees for application, initial certification, continuing certification and renewal.

Communication

EPI will notify all its clients through official emails/letters on any update or changes of the requirements for certification.  EPI shall verify its clients conformity with the new requirements.

The certified clients are expected to inform EPI, without delay, of matters that may affect the capability of the management system to continue to fulfil the requirements of the standard used for certification. These include, for example, changes related to;

• Legal, commercial, organisational status or ownership
• Organisation and management
• Contact address and sites
• Scope of operations under the certified management systems
• Major changes to the management systems and processes

EPI shall act as appropriate.

Process for Special Audit

EPI reserves the right to conduct a special audit on short notice, which may be prompted by complaints, changes, or as a follow-up in response for suspended clients. This process is outlined in advance in the “Rules for Certified Clients”.

Whenever a special audit is deemed necessary, EPI will inform the certified client in advance. The notification will include the reasons for conducting the special audit. EPI also exercises additional care when selecting the audit team for these special audits due to the limited opportunity for the client to object to audit team members.

Process for Expansion or Reducing Scope of Certification

All requests for changes, whether expanding or reducing the certified scopes, must be submitted in writing to the Sales Manager. No application form is required.

If the request is to expand the scope to include new processes, the Sales Manager will review the application and determine the audit necessary activities to verify the expanded scope. Additional audit fees may apply if additional audit activities are conducted. These activities may be scheduled in conjunction with a surveillance audit or recertification audit, as applicable.

For requests to reduce the scope of certified areas, the verification will take place during the next scheduled surveillance audit or recertification audit, as applicable.

Please note that there will be no changes to the validity of the certificate or certificate registration number stated on the certificate. 

Process for Suspending Certification

The certification may be suspended if:

1. Major non-conformity against requirements was not rectified but immediate withdrawal of certificate is not considered necessary.
2. The company has violated the Rules for the Certified Clients.
3. There has been no production for a specified period.
4. The certified client has voluntarily requested for a suspension.
5. The certified client does not allow surveillance or recertification audits to be conducted at the required frequencies, and the surveillance or recertification audit is overdue for at least one month.

The suspension lasts for a period of six months. The Operations Manager will send a letter to the certified client, explaining the reason for suspension and the conditions for reinstatement. The certified client should refrain from promoting their certification during the suspension period and its management system certification will be considered as temporarily invalid.

At completion of the suspension period of six months, EPI will reinstate the suspended certification if the issue causing the suspension has been resolved. Failure to resolve the issues within the six months will result in withdrawal of certification or reduction in scope. The reduction of scope will be in line with the requirements of the certification standard.

The certified client company may appeal to EPI against the suspension as per Appeals Procedure.

Process for Withdrawing Certification

The certification may be withdrawn if:

1. The certified client requested for the withdrawal.
2. The certified client consistently violated the Rules for Certified Clients.
3. The certified client fails to pay the certification related fees.
4. The certified client fails to take corrective measures during the suspension period.
5. There has been consistent misuse of the certification status or certification mark.
6. The certified client does not allow surveillance or recertification audits to be conducted at the required frequencies, and the surveillance or recertification audit is overdue for at least one month

The Operations Manager will send a letter to the certified client indicating the reason for withdrawal. The certified client will be advised to stop the promotion of their certification.

A certified client, which had its certificate withdrawn, may re-apply for certification and shall be treated as a fresh application.