The act and result of certifying is called certification . The verb certify , for its part, refers to taking something as true or confirmed . A certification, therefore, is a document that guarantees the truth of an event or event.
For example: "The municipal government gave certification to those who completed the food handling course" , "We are trying to obtain certification for our organic products" , "This beach has a special certification for the quality of its environment" .
Generally, a certification is granted by an entity that studies and confirms compliance with certain requirements, which allow access to the recognition in question. The entity must maintain independence from the organization or person it audits.
Suppose that an international association grants certification to food producers who do not use agrochemicals or polluting substances in their processes. If a company that sells canned goods wishes to access this certification, it must undergo an audit so that the entity that grants the recognition can confirm that the company does not really use these elements. Once this is ratified, the company can obtain certification in this regard.
The Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ), to mention a real and concrete case , grants a certification of records sold according to the number of albums an artist sells. Depending on the figure reached, it can award you a Gold Record , a Platinum Record or a Multi-Platinum Record . Elvis Presley is the artist with the most RIAA certifications.
For its part, the National Accreditation Entity ( ENAC ) provides the certification of products, processes and services with the objective that consumers and regulatory bodies have a guarantee on the quality of the services offered by their favorite suppliers.
Product certification entities grant accreditation that generally consists of quality marks or badges , and this is the system preferred by the majority so that the general perception of the brands improves and reflects more confidence in quality.
Currently, this accredited certification can be processed in any sector of activity, such as construction, health, energy, transportation, agriculture, industry , telecommunications and livestock, among many others that cover a large number of consumer and industrial products, in addition of framing various services and processes.
It is important to note that the greater the risk involved in consuming a given product or service, the more necessary this certification becomes. For example, household appliances, electrical and construction materials, food products, wind farms and tourist establishments are some of the main focuses of this quality seal that provides a certain security to the public and helps them choose a supplier .
In fact, before delivering the certification, it is necessary to carry out various activities that revolve around the evaluation of the products, processes and services in question; Inspecting manufacturing methods, testing a series of samples taken directly from the production line, and auditing the quality system are three of the most common.
Another relevant entity in this framework is the Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification ( AENOR ), which works independently to ensure that the products, services, processes and organizations it evaluates meet the requirements, standards and technical specifications that it requires the law. Among its main goals to achieve the trust of its clients is respect for the environment and the safety of workers.