Perfect Cert places a high priority on ensuring independence and impartiality in our management system certification activities. We are committed to delivering unbiased and professional conclusions. This commitment is integral to our operations and ensures that our certification services meet the highest standards of integrity and objectivity.
Impartiality Commitment
Impartiality is a core value of Perfect Cert and a fundamental principle within our Code of Ethics. To protect the integrity of our audit and certification services, it is essential to manage any potential conflicts of interest effectively. This safeguards the objectivity of our conclusions, preserves the reputation of Perfect Cert, enhances customer satisfaction, and ensures compliance with accreditation requirements and regulatory standards.
Perfect Cert has developed and maintains a stringent impartiality policy, which is monitored through both internal and external impartiality committees established globally.
Maintaining Impartiality
Perfect Cert has established robust processes to ensure the impartiality and integrity of all our auditors worldwide. Upon hiring or contracting, auditors are required to sign an agreement confirming that they have no conflicts of interest and will maintain confidentiality. They also agree to our Code of Ethics, which outlines the principles and values applicable to all employees and contractors. Ongoing training emphasizes the critical importance of impartiality in our certification activities.
Through our Impartiality Risk Analysis, Perfect Cert identifies, analyzes, and documents potential conflicts of interest that may arise from our certification services. This includes:
- Relationships within Perfect Cert entities or common clients across different divisions
- Significant changes in certification activities, organizational structure, or legal status
- Mergers and acquisitions
Impartiality Oversight
Perfect Cert manages impartiality through Impartiality Committees at both the local and global levels.
These Committees are responsible for:
- Developing policies related to the impartiality of certification activities
- Preventing commercial or other interests from influencing the objective delivery of certification services
- Advising on matters affecting confidence in certification, including transparency and public perception
- Reviewing the impartiality of audit, certification, and decision-making processes
- Evaluating financial sources for any risks to impartiality
- Assessing residual impartiality risks and determining if they fall within acceptable levels
Threats to Impartiality
Perfect Cert actively identifies and manages four primary threats to impartiality:
- Self-interest : The risk that an individual may act in their own interest rather than the organization’s.
- Self-review : Preventing commercial or other interests from influencing the objective delivery of certification services
- Trust : The risk that auditors may develop too familiar relationships with clients, affecting their objectivity during audits.
- Intimidation : The risk that an auditor may feel coerced, either overtly or implicitly, during the certification process.
By addressing these risks and implementing comprehensive management processes, Perfect Cert ensures that our certification activities remain impartial, objective, and trustworthy.