• What is Certification?
• Why certify?
• Certification the alternatives, advantages and disadvantages.
• Self certification.
• External Certification
• Part of ISO certification.
• Certification by ESDA certified body.

What is certification?

Certification is where compliance to a standard is verified and documented. The best known example in manufacturing is the ISO 9000 quality system.

Why certify?

• Verify a system meets an accepted standard.
• Focus resources on meeting an external goal.
• Impress customers.

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Certification the alternatives, advantages and disadvantages.

• self,
• external,
• part of ISO certification,
• certification by ESDA certified body.

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Self certification is normally part of a corporate programme.

Advantages:

• Internally focused.
• Aligns with corporate requirements.
• Has corporate support.

Disadvantages:

• Possible lack of alignment with industry.
• Possible lack of management focus.
• Lacks marketing credibility.

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External certification. Process is certified to a standard by an external agency. (Like Gannon & Associates!)

Advantages:

• Aligns process with industry.
• Provides external review of system.
• Survey covers both hardware and system.
• Focus internal resources on ESD programme.
• Allows integration into ISO 9000 process.

Disadvantages:

• Credibility is based on consultants reputation in marketplace.
• External review is dependent on qualification/experience of surveyors.

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Part of ISO certification:

Advantages:

• Drives integration of ESD controls into the system.
• Aligns process with industry. Provides external review of system.
• Has marketing credibility. Focuses internal resources on ESD programme.
• Allows integration into ISO 9000 process.

Disadvantages:

• Dependent on credibility of ISO process.
• External review is dependent on qualification/experience of surveyors.
• ISO surveyor will not review hardware compliance.

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Certification to ESD standard by ESDA approved certification body.

Advantages:

• Focus on ESD process by certification body.
• Separate certification of ESD process for marketing purposes.
• Can be integrated into ISO surveys after initial certification.
• Drives integration of ESD controls into the system.
• Aligns process with industry.
• Provides external review of system.
• Has marketing credibility.
• Focuses internal resources on ESD programme.

Disadvantages:

• Dependent on credibility of ISO process.
• External review is dependent on qualification/experience of surveyors.
• ISO surveyor will not review hardware compliance.