Corporate Graphics International Re-Certification Audit of
ISO 9001:2000

The Re-Certification Audit of CGN’s ISO 9001:2000 Quality System was performed by our independent auditor, TUV, on May 14th and 15th, 2009.  Audits are conducted on a 3-year cycle.  CGN’s original ISO certification was awarded in 1997.  Once the initial Certification Audit is completed and certification is awarded, the next two annual audits are each Surveillance Audits, meaning they are less intensive and only certain requirements of the ISO standard are audited each year.  The 3rd year of the cycle is the Re-Certification Audit, which is very intensive and extensive as all requirements are audited.  Prior to their on-site audit for 2009, the two auditors performed an off-site audit review of our quality management system documentation.  The two days they were on-site were spent verifying that the processes they saw matched what they had read in our documentation, interviewing employees at random, looking for conformance to the requirements of the standard and suggesting areas of improvement. 

Competence/training, calibration of equipment, processes for handling non-conforming product, monitoring and measuring equipment and processes, ink shelf-life, corrective/preventive action, continuous improvement and management responsibility are some examples of processes the auditors are required to examine. 

Auditors use the following categories when assessing audit results:

• Non-conformances –corrective action is required before the decision to issue/continue certification.
• Opportunities for improvement – improvement possibilities of the management system.  The overall requirements of the standard are met.
• Positive comments – made when a requirement is seen to be particularly well established and effective.

CGN received 8 opportunities for improvement and 3 positive comments.  No non-conformances were found.   

A revised version of the ISO standards came out at the end of 2008.  No major requirement changes were made.  The auditors will be measuring us against this new standard when they return for the 2010 Surveillance Audit.

About Corporate Graphics International
Corporate Graphics International has more than 30 years experience providing corporate identity solutions to the world’s most well respected brands.  Corporate Graphics International is committed to producing flawless business card and corporate stationery programs to help our clients build their brand and achieve their business goals while delivering absolute brand consistency and best program value.  For more information, please visit www.cgintl.com.