Company Policies - Laeq

Company Policies

LFS Inspections is committed to achieving compliance to ISO/IEC 17020:2012. The relevant IAF/ILAC Guidance documents and communiqués are available from time to time throughout their business operations whilst ensuring compliance with applicable laws & regulations and relevant accreditation body requirements.

LFS Inspections endeavors to achieve operational excellence, enhancement of customer satisfaction and continual improvement in its processes associated with the Third-Party Inspection services to the applicable criteria.

Providing services in a timely manner, at a reasonable price, with the desired quality and adhering to the principles of independence, impartiality, equality and confidentiality, in order to meet the needs of customers, we are committed to:

  • Continue our activities in accordance with the legal and regulatory requirements required by the ISO/IEC 17020: 2012 standard.
  • Follow up our development with the awareness of “We” by organizing trainings in order to contribute to our technical and personal development so that all personnel can carry out their duties within the framework of ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard.
  • Creating an exemplary company culture by increasing communication, sharing and solidarity among employees and departments, and adopting the customer-oriented quality approach to the entire organization.
  • Employing enough number of competent inspection personnel to correctly perceive customer conditions, correctly define and develop the processes that will ensure this.
  • Continuously set new targets in order to keep up with changing market conditions and to ensure development.
  • Not compromising respect for the environment and human rights and see social satisfaction as a value above all earnings in all our activities.
  • Create sample practices by complying with all legal obligations regarding work safety.
  • Ensure that LFS Inspections is an exemplary inspection institution known for its reliability and respect in the world by ensuring the implementation of the Quality Policy it has created by prioritizing the principle of honesty and impartiality.

Approved By: Mrs. Huda Al Zara (Chief Executive Officer)
Date: ______________________
Date of Next Review: ______________________

At LFS Inspections, we seek to attain the highest degree of public confidence and trust in rendering unbiased services. We fully acknowledge the importance of impartiality in carrying out the inspection body activities that are governed by the requirements of the International Standard ISO/IEC 17020.

LFS Inspections, and every member of its inspection body team, internal or external, employees, volunteers, and contractors commit to adhere to the following policies:

  • LFS Inspections ensures impartiality, and its policies and procedures for inspection services shall be fair among all its customers.
  • LFS Inspections does not restrict inspectors on the grounds of undue financial or other limiting conditions, such as membership of an association or group.
  • LFS Inspections ensures impartiality in its inspection activities and shall not allow financial, commercial, or other pressures to compromise impartiality.
  • LFS Inspections ensures through its internal procedures, the objectivity of the inspection activities and minimize potential conflict of interest based on the applicable codes and standards for the projects.
  • LFS Inspections ensures that all its decisions on the objective evidence is obtained through an effective process based on objective evidence of conformity or nonconformity.
  • LFS Inspections’ corporate policies and practices ensures that the highest standards of integrity and ethics are applied to all its inspection body activities.
  • LFS Inspections’ personnel shall not be influenced by financial, commercial, or other pressures when conducting inspection activities.
  • LFS Inspections shall enter into legally enforceable agreements with its clients.
  • LFS Inspections’ management system has the necessary procedures, safeguards, and tools to ensure that these policies are strictly upheld and enforced.
  • To ensure that they remain impartial when conducting audits, all employees at LFS Inspections shall be reviewed and monitored at least annually.

Threats to Impartiality

LFS Inspections recognizes that threats to impartiality through impartiality risk assessment which includes the following:

  • Self-interest threats – Threats that arise from a person or body acting in its own interest to benefit itself.
  • Self-review threats – Threats arising from a person reviewing the work that they have conducted themselves.
  • Familiarity threats – Threats that arise from a person being familiar with or trusting of another person.
  • Intimidation threats – Threats that prevent an inspection body or its personnel from acting objectively.
  • Financial threats – The source of revenue for an inspection body can be a threat to impartiality.

LFS Inspections shall identify the threats to its impartiality on an ongoing basis. This shall also include the threats that arise from its activities, from its related bodies, from its relationships, or from the relationships of its personnel.

Approved By: Mrs. Huda Al Zara (Chief Executive Officer)
Date: ______________________

1. Overview

This document outlines the procedure for granting inspection certification, including the criteria for issuance and maintenance of the certification.

2. Granting of Inspection Certification

2.1 Document Submission

Upon completion of the audit/inspection, the concerned inspector must submit the following documents to the Audit Manager:

  • Audit/Inspection Report
  • Audit/Inspection Plan
  • Audit/Inspection Checklist
  • Corrective Action Report
  • Any other supporting documents or notes deemed necessary
  • Client Signatory

2.2 Certification Decision

The Audit Manager will review the submitted documents and make a certification decision within a reasonable timeframe. If there are any non-compliance issues or if additional information is required, the report will be sent back to the inspector for necessary actions. Certification will be granted based on the approval of the General Manager.

2.3 Refusal of Certification

Certification may be refused if:

  • The audit/inspection criteria are not fulfilled.
  • Required corrective actions or documentation are not submitted within the specified timeframe.

2.4 Re-Certification

For re-certification, the Audit Manager will evaluate the results of the last audit/inspection and any complaints received from users of certification.

3. Criteria for Issuing Inspection Certificate

3.1 Conditions for Issuance

The inspection certification will only be issued when:

  • The decision to grant or extend the scope of certification has been made.
  • Evidence of any non-conformities has been resolved.
  • All certification requirements have been met.
  • Payment for certification has been completed.

3.2 Certificate Details

The issued certificate will include:

  • Details and inspection marks of LFS Inspections.
  • Date of certification granting or renewal.
  • Inspection details upon which the certificate is based.
  • Name and geographic location of the certified client.
  • Unique identification number and scope of inspection.
  • Signature or approval indication from authorized personnel.
  • Statement of conformance, if applicable.
  • Procedure for verifying the certificate's validity.

3.3 Scoring Criteria

The inspection certificate is issued if:

  • A score of 85% is achieved with no critical/major non-conformity.
  • A score of 95% is achieved with a maximum of one critical/major non-conformity.
  • All non-conformities must be corrected within the specified timeline before issuing the certificate.

3.4 Submission of Certificate

The hardcopy signed certificate will be provided to the client along with:

  • A cover letter from LFS Inspections.
  • Inspection Certificate.
  • Rules accompanying the mark and logo.
  • Softcopy of the logo.

4. Maintenance of Inspection Certification

4.1 Ongoing Compliance

LFS Certifications will maintain certification based on the client's continued compliance with management system standards.

4.2 Verification Procedure

Each inspection certificate includes a QR code for:

  • Verifying the certificate's validity.
  • Accessing results of the last inspection report.

4.3 Certificate Status

The Audit Manager will update the client’s status after each inspection. The certificate will be invalid if:

  • The client fails to fulfill certification requirements.
  • Assigned corrective actions are not taken.

4.4 Suspension of Certification

LFS Inspections may temporarily suspend certification due to:

  • Change in production or service facility location without formal inspection.
  • Persistent failure to meet standards.
  • Serious complaints indicating non-compliance.
  • Denial of access to auditors during inspections.
  • Misuse of the certificate or logo.
  • Failure to meet financial obligations.

Approved By: Mrs. Huda Al Zara (Chief Executive Officer)
Date: ______________________