Maintaining and Improving Your QMS
Achieving ISO 9001 certification is not a one-time milestone—it marks the start of a continuous improvement journey. To retain certification validity, BQCIS conducts ongoing audits throughout a three-year certification cycle.
Surveillance Audits: Conducted annually (typically in years one and two), these audits review selected processes and key elements of your QMS. They assess follow-up actions on prior findings, internal audits, management reviews, and corrective actions—ensuring your system remains compliant and effective.
Recertification Audit: In the third year, before certificate expiry, a comprehensive audit is performed to evaluate your entire QMS for continued conformity, performance, and improvement. A successful audit renews certification for another three-year term.
Key Ongoing Audit Activities
Key Benefits of Ongoing Audits
Maintain Certification Status
Successful completion of audits ensures your ISO 9001 certification remains valid and continuously recognized.
Drive Continual Improvement
Ongoing assessment identifies new opportunities to optimize performance and evolve with business growth.
Ensure Ongoing Compliance
Regular third-party verification keeps your QMS aligned with ISO 9001 requirements and organizational goals.
Maintain Stakeholder Trust
Demonstrates sustained quality assurance to customers, partners, and employees across the certification cycle.
Success Story
Surveillance Audit Identifies Process Drift
A rapidly expanding company experienced inconsistencies between documented procedures and real-world execution, risking compliance lapses.
BQCIS conducted its first surveillance audit post-certification, sampling updated workflows and records to verify process control and adherence to documented methods.
The audit revealed minor training gaps and outdated documentation. These findings led to immediate corrective actions, reinforcing process control and sustaining ISO 9001 compliance.