Procedure Flow
Step 1 – Completion of Audit
Audit Team conducts the audit and prepares:

Audit report
Nonconformity statements
Objective evidence records

The General Manager shall not participate in audit activities for the same client.
(Clause 7.2)

Step 2 – Submission of Audit Package
The completed audit package is submitted to the General Manager acting as Reviewer & Certification Decision Maker.

Step 3 – Impartiality & Independence Verification
Before performing any review or decision activity, the General Manager shall:

Confirm no involvement in the audit
Confirm absence of conflicts of interest
Complete and sign the Impartiality Declaration
If a conflict exists, another competent person shall be assigned.
(Clauses 4.2, 5.2, 5.3)

Step 4 – Audit Review (Reviewer Function)
The General Manager performs an independent review to verify:

Conformity of audit activities with ISO/IEC 17021-1 requirements
Adequacy and completeness of objective evidence
Correct classification and closure of nonconformities
Auditor competence and impartiality
Audit results may be accepted or returned for clarification.
(Clause 9.4.7)

Step 5 – Certification Decision (Decision Maker Function)
Following a satisfactory review, the General Manager independently determines whether certification requirements have been fulfilled.

Possible decisions include:

Grant
Continue
Renew
Suspend
Withdraw
Refuse
The decision is based solely on reviewed objective evidence.
(Clause 9.5.1)

Step 6 – Documentation & Authorization
The Certification Decision Form is completed and signed by the General Manager
Certification records are updated accordingly
(Clauses 8.4, 8.5)

Step 7 – Certificate Preparation, Issuance, and Publication
a) Certificate Preparation
The certificate shall be prepared by the General Manager based on the approved certification decision.

b) Certificate Issuance (Signature Authority)
The certificate shall be signed by the Certification Director, who acts as the Certificate Issuer.
The Certification Director shall not alter the approved certification decision.

c) Certificate Release
Upon signature, the certificate shall be formally released to the certified client.

d) Public Information Update
Certification details, including:

Client name
Certification scope
Certification status
Issue date and expiry date
shall be published on the ABSQ BENCHMARK website in accordance with confidentiality and public information requirements.

(ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 Clauses 8.1, 8.4, 8.5)

Key Control Statement
Certificate preparation, issuance, and publication are administrative actions performed after the certification decision and do not influence the impartiality or outcome of the certification decision.

Audit Justification 
Certification decision authority remains with the General Manager
Signing and Issuance is not a decision-making function