A management system is a set of processes that an organisation uses to control a specific aspect of its activities, e.g. the quality of its products, the environmental impact of its processing activities, sustainable management of its assets, the occupational health and safety of its employees, food safety, etc. A certified management system means that the organisation has demonstrated that this set of processes has been effectively implemented and is under control.

Accredited MS certifications ensure impartiality in the assessment; auditors are competent with respect to the specific aspect as well as the organisation’s activities to be certified.

An organisation is certified only in conformity with the management system standard mentioned on the certificate covering the specified scope, which consists of the certification application field and the detailed processes verified and certified by the competent body. Organisation sites covered by certification are also listed on the management system certificate.

Conformity assessment bodies shall apply also respective mandatory documents of the EA, ILAC and IAF. List of LATAK mandatory documents is described in LATAK D.008. EA, IAF and ILAC documents are listed in EA-INF/01 (see http://www.european-accreditation.org/publications)