The assessment process for accreditation of an inspection organization is summarized in 5 steps below. Compliance with these regulations is significant, especially for accreditation staff, auditors, and accredited or registered inspection bodies.

1. INITIAL CONTACT 

When seeking accreditation with VIAS for inspection, an IB shall first review all appropriate documents. IB is encouraged to hld discussions with VIAS's staff before lodging an application for accreditation.

2. APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION

The IB shall established nd maintained the management system in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (TCVN ISO/IEC 17020:2012) at least 3 months before submit an application for accreditation and that it have been effective through the internal audits and management reviews. The application is valid within 6 months form the date of receipt.

3. CONTRACT REVIEW

The duration from receiving information up to issuing an assessment announcement is about 2 month (depending on the preparation of IB and VIAS)

When applying for accreditation, it is necessary to pay attention to two issues: the scope of registration for accreditation and the recognition code. As for the scope of registration for accreditation, the GDVC can register for accreditation for one or more inspection scopes. As for the accreditation code, the general agency can register the same recognition code for the general agency whose inspection activities are carried out in many different departments and locations.

4. ADVISORY VISIT/PRE - ASSESSMENT

The pupose of this pre-assessment is to ensure that, at the time of full technical assessment, the IB is properly prepared and this process assist in the assessment planning.

5. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSESSMENT TEAM

Upon accemtance of an application, VIAS assigns assessment team, including team leader is also a quality assessor and another members including technical assessors, technical experts. The number of assessors depend on the size of the IB and the inspection scope of applicant. 

6. DOCUMENT REVIEW

The assessment team will review the adequacy of the applicant documents, and record in the document review report (AF 04/08). The Assessment Team Leader shall be informed IB about this report. The IB is required to provide clarifications and corrections before the onsite accreditation assessment can be proceed.

7. ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

The assessment schedule includes:

- Locations, related departments;

- Time and assignment for member of assessment team;

- Sub-categories will be witnessed;

- Clause of standard;

- The number of assessment days depends on scope of application and/or accredited.

8. INITIAL ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT

The assessment including: Office assessment, such as main office and key locations, and witness assessment onsite.

Office assessment:

+ Including all of key application locations. Through office assessment, the assessment team will have general observations of the applicant, of the effectiveness of its quality system, and scope of inspection competence of IB as required by the accreditation criteria.

9. REVIEW, ACCREADITATION DECISION

In the process of review, the Review Panel members can query the assessment team members additional information or clarifications.

Review Panel members have the right to refuse to recommend granting accreditation to the applicant if it is found the accreditation process is not observed the Accreditation Rule.

10. CHANGES OF ACCREDITATION SCOPE

The accreditation scope applied by IB can be reduced if during the accreditation assessment process, the assessment team comes to conclusion that the IB is not competent for some accreditation scopes applied.

After having accredited, IB can request VIAS reduce or extend the scope of accreditation at any time. For the costs saving, IB should request the change of accreditation scope at the time of schedule for the surveillance. The process for approval of the extension of the accreditation scope is the same as the initial approval.

11. SURVEILLANCE

During the accreditation period, each year, VIAS conducts the surveillance to ensure that accredited IB maintain according to VIAS accreditation criteria.

The time line for the surveillance is 10th to 14th month after the perior assesment date. However, the first surveillance of the initial accreditation cycle should not be later than 12 months since the validated date of accreditation.

The Surveillance assessment may be postponed if IB has aceptable reasons, which is approved by VIAS, but no later than 3 months. In special case, when IB must extend the delay more than 3 months then the decision will be decided by the Director of BoA.

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