A certification of components, products or even systems is used to confirm that an object, which is to be certified, conforms to rules, standards or requirements existing for it. To declare this conformity, several tests and approvals have to be done to be sure that all requirements are met. Therefore, a defined process is necessary to ensure that all activities, which must be performed during certification, are done correctly, all interfaces and roles are defined and all inputs and outputs are clearly described. At present, a basic certification process consists of four phases which are described as follows:

Phase I: Agreement verification, product test, factory inspection

In the first phase, the product or service which is to be certified has to be identified. According to the testing and certification regulation, it must be analyzed as to whether the product can be certified at all. If indeed it can, one has to identify, which functionalities are available and which requirements have to be fulfilled. Therefore a dedicated test plan has to be developed concerning test items, test methodologies and test tools to make sure that the object is fully tested as per the requirements identified. Furthermore, it is not only the product that is tested. The factory is also inspected to see if all quality standards necessary for manufacturing are met.

Phase II: Review of test reports and results

In the second phase, the test reports and results are reviewed by an independent examiner, who has not been involved in the tests so far and who follows the 4-eyes-principle to check that all tests and reports have been done correctly. 

Phase III: Technical evaluation of test results

The third phase is called the technical evaluation. The technical certifier, who has at least the same qualification as the tester itself, controls the achieved results again. But this time, the main focus is not only on the result itself, because additional to that, he has a closer look at the test methods employed, test tools and so on, to judge whether they are adequate with respect to the expected results. This also means that the results of the tests are checked in terms of their plausibility according to experience in that specific area. 

Phase IV: Formal evaluation of test results and release of certificate

The last phase is called formal evaluation. Now, the certification authority has a look at all created documents to ensure that all formalities are respected and afterwards, awards the certificate. At this stage, a transfer of liability takes place. The head of the certification authority confirms the fulfillment of the requirements of proven standards and directives and so he confirms that the product is manufactured and works correctly.