We are a management system certification registrar/certification body headquartered in the Denver, Colorado area. In order to best meet your company’s needs, Orion also has partners and associates located throughout the United States and the world.
We are also part of the Amtivo group, a global organisation, providing certification services across a wide range of industries and standards. This means that we have access to a network of experts who are renowned in their fields. It also means that we have access to the latest technologies that can help you to maximise the benefits of your certification.
Despite being part of a global organisation, Orion is still small enough to care about its clients. From our service-oriented attitude to our value-added approach, it is never long before our clients realize we are the best source of thorough and fair auditing. Orion is committed to providing third-party certification services and public educational training that meets or exceeds the needs and expectations of our clients.
Orion was founded in 1994. In 2022 it joined the Amtivo group.
Yes, Orion Registrar is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB).
Please send an email to [email protected], and our marketing personnel will provide you with an up-to-date list of Orion’s scope of accreditation.
“ISO” is a word, derived from the Greek isos, meaning “equal”. The name “ISO” is used around the world to denote the International Organization for Standardization. The use of this word, rather than an acronym such as IOS, avoids the plethora of acronyms resulting from the translation of “International Organization for Standardization” into different languages.
The International Organization for Standardization is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from some 140 countries. According to its website, its mission is to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and services, and to developing cooperation in the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity. The International Organization for Standardization’s work results in international agreements that are published as international standards. For more information, visit the International Organization for Standardization’s website at www.iso.org.
Orion provides certification for ISO 9001, AS 9100, 9110, 9120, ISO 13485, Responsible Recycling (R2), RIOS, e-Stewards, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 27001.
Orion Registrar does not provide consulting services as this would be perceived as a conflict of interest by our accreditation body. ANAB has issued Advisories which restricts registrars’ relationships with consulting services. The advisories restrict a registrar from providing certification to any organization which has used the services of a related consulting company within a specified time. It also forbids registrars to allow their related consulting services to provide management system consultancy, including internal audits, to their clients. The advisory does not apply to contracted auditors. With the exception of public, non-company specific training, Orion Registrar provides only assessment-related services.
Orion maintains a list of consultants and training organizations. We can provide a shortlist of potentially-suitable candidates, upon request. Please click here for details.
Orion prefers at least one month’s notice, but the scheduling can sometimes be performed with less lead time. The downside of the short notice is that we may not be able to schedule your preferred auditor and/or your preferred dates. If in doubt, please provide as much notice as possible.
You may schedule your audit even before your documentation review.
Orion’s auditors are located throughout the United States and also throughout the world. To inquire about specific locations, please contact us at [email protected]
Since Orion has auditors located throughout the United States and also throughout the world, we will work with your company to meet your needs for geographic scope and to meet your travel expense requirements. Upon your request, Orion can meet with you to identify your needs and to develop the best plan for your auditor assignments.
Bachelor degree or higher
Quality experience
Auditing experience
Lead Assessor course
Experience and competency in the sectors that the person audits.
People skills, listening, eye contact, good communication
An understanding of the activity that he/she is auditing
Fairness
Thoroughness
Verbal and writing skills as well as critical thinking skills
The ability to perform value-added auditing.
Orion auditors must meet the Standard requirements, as well as IRCA and RABQSA requirements. Auditors must also demonstrate to Orion’s management their sector competency and understanding of Orion’s policies and procedures and their ability to perform their duties.
Orion’s management provides: On the job evaluations, auditing seminars, quality evaluations of performance, customer feedback.
We work hard to ensure consistency across our auditing team through a variety of measures, including:
Selection is made based on the auditor’s geographic regional assignment, his or her EAC/Competency Code experience, audit dates and auditor availability. We also consider specific client requests: auditors in proximity on other audits, familiarity with the client, etc.
Yes, if requested you are welcome to review the auditor resumes.
Yes, this is permissible, but cannot be guaranteed.
Orion tries to include every predictable service in our quotations. Cost of audit activities (Pre-Assessment, Stage 1, Stage 2 or certification audit, Surveillance audit, etc., travel costs are charged at actual cost and there are no additional fees charged by Orion.
For further information, click here to download a copy of our buyer’s guide.
No we do not have an application fee.
For further information, click here to download a copy of our buyer’s guide.
No, we do not have a file maintenance fee.
For further information, click here to download a copy of our buyer’s guide.
Orion does not have any administrative or annual fees.
For further information, click here to download a copy of our buyer’s guide.
No, Orion does not have additional fees that it charges. Some schemes may carry additional charges, but these are not controlled by Orion.
For further information, click here to download a copy of our buyer’s guide.
A quotation for a single site ISO 9001 certification can usually be obtained within a day. A complex or multi-site certification quotation may require two or three days.
For a free quote, you can submit your company information by clicking this link.
It is generally less expensive to certify multiple sites together, as this allows your company to take advantage of our site-sampling plan.
A cancellation fee of 25% will apply for cancellation within 30 to 15 calendar days of the scheduled activity, or 50% for cancellation within 14 days of the scheduled activity, plus travel cancellation fees.
It depends on the extent of the changes included in your company’s scope change. Additions to your number of sites, number of employees or products or processes may require additional audit time, which would be billed accordingly. Less sweeping changes may be accommodated during routine surveillance audits at no additional cost. To discuss the specifics of your change, please contact us.
Yes, due to conflict of interest Auditors may not accepts gifts. A full disclosure COI & Gift Policy is available by clicking this link.
Yes. Travel plans are between you and your auditor.
Yes. When scheduling audits, Orion considers the use of auditors in proximity to another audit.
The agreement is on going, and will last as long as you wish to continue your partnership with Orion Registrar. Your company’s certificate is generally good for three years, after which it will be reissued.
The top management team of the site and anyone else you may wish to invite.
Yes, they can be present as long as they do not answer the auditor’s questions or have a direct influence on the audit.
Yes, absolutely.
Orion’s reports are generated via a computer system for consistency and legibility.
Yes, if you identify the scope extension to Orion’s office in advance. A decision will be made to determine if it will be necessary to add time to the surveillance audit.
A pre-assessment is optional. First, your company must decide how thorough you want the pre-assessment to be, and therefore, how much time you want to schedule for the pre-assessment. Your company may choose to have it cover the entire scope of your certification or you may select specific elements of the standard or areas of your company that you wish to have audited. Pre-assessments are conducted just like certification or surveillance audits, except that Orion’s nonconformance clearance process is not applicable to pre-assessments.
A pre-assessment has several advantages. A pre-assessment allows your company to understand exactly what Orion’s Auditors will be looking for during the certification audit, and to eliminate any unpleasant surprises. Although you may choose to limit the scope of the pre-assessment and not cover all areas of the standard or all the applicable departments in your company, the areas that are covered will have a chance to experience a third-party audit with the knowledge that the audit is a practice or “dry run” audit. Auditors will ask the same types of questions, review similar records and clarify any of your questions regarding the interpretation of the standard. Without the added pressure that most people feel during a certification audit, your employees will feel more comfortable asking questions, taking time to think through their answers and acknowledging any weak points in your system. In addition to being an educational experience, the pre-assessment is useful for identifying nonconformities so that they can be corrected prior to the certification audit.
Companies who have experienced a pre-assessment with Orion gain confidence because they know what to expect from our auditors and have a better understanding of the extent of the implementation and effectiveness of their own system. This confidence often means a smoother, less stressful certification audit.
No.
Orion will perform a review of your manual and the procedures required by the applicable standard. The results of this review by your Lead Auditor will be documented in a report. The report will identify any documentation requirements not properly addressed by the manual or procedures. If any requirement is not properly addressed, a corrective action plan must be submitted to Orion before you can be recommended for certification.
Yes these will be looked at the onsite Stage 1 audit prior to the certification audit (Stage 2).
No. However, clients must notify Orion in writing within 30 days of any major changes to their Quality or Environmental Management Systems. Major changes would be any changes to the organization or procedures that affect the implementation of the management system to a substantial degree. A significant new aspect would also be considered a major change to an environmental system.
The length of your certification audit is based on the size and complexity of your company, and the standard to which you wish to be certified. In order to determine the exact number of days for your audit, please request a quotation.
No. The auditor will only need a private place to work, such as a conference room or office, and access to a telephone, copier, and fax. The lead auditor will probably ask for an uncontrolled copy of your quality manual and applicable procedures for each Auditor.
No. There are two types of nonconformities, major and minor. A major nonconformity is a lack of documentation or implementation of a complete element or a series of minor nonconformities that cast doubt that the quality program has been implemented for an element. A minor nonconformity might be a procedure that is not comprehensive enough, a person who did not follow the procedure, or a lack of a required record. A major nonconformity requires a separate re-audit of the applicable element before you can be certified. A minor nonconformity may require that a corrective action plan for the nonconformity be submitted to Orion before you can be certified. The corrective action for a minor nonconformity does not have to be implemented prior to certification.
No, the scope of the follow-up audit will be limited to the element where the major nonconformity was identified.
Approximately 90% of Orion’s clients achieve certification in conjunction with their registration audit.
Yes, your auditor will notify you of these nonconformities at the closing meeting.
For certification and reassessment audits, your company is allowed 30 days to respond with a corrective action plan. The time allowed for implementation of the plan is based on common sense. This applies to both major and minor nonconformities.
The above answer defines major and minor nonconformities. For minor nonconformities, you must submit a corrective action plan. If a major nonconformity is found during a surveillance audit, a separate corrective action assessment will be conducted. A specific assessment plan will be developed for the elements or clauses found to have major nonconformities.
While is it certainly possible to clear a minor nonconformity during the audit, it is unlikely that a major nonconformity could be corrected this quickly.
In general, certificates are issued for a three year period and remain valid for that time pending a successful completion of an annual Surveillance audit. A Recertification audit is then required before a new certificate is issued.
In many cases, it is possible to extend the scope of your original certification to cover one or more additional sites at a later time. It will depend upon the compatibility of the scope of registration for the sites. Please contact us at [email protected] to determine if this would be a viable alternative for your company.
If you are considering changing registrars for one or more of your sites, you will find that transferring your certification services to Orion Registrar is straightforward. Orion Registrar fully appreciates the management system your company already has in place; there is no need to “reinvent the wheel.”
A few simple steps are all that are required. For more details, please refer to our Certification Transfers page.
Orion Registrar strives to maintain open communication and a good working relationship with each of our clients. We believe in resolving problems before they can become grounds for either the withdrawal or suspension of a certificate.
A client’s certification can be suspended for up to nine months if any of the following conditions exist:
• If a client’s registration is suspended and no corrective action is implemented.
• If Orion identifies major nonconformities which may cause the improper implementation of the ISO requirements.
• Formal request of the client.
• If the standard’s requirements change and the client will not or cannot ensure conformance to the new requirements.
• If the client ceases to supply the defined product, process or service for an extended period of time.
• If the client fails to meet financial obligations to Orion.
• On any other grounds specifically provided for under the system rules or formally agreed to between Orion and the client.
Your company may choose a 6 month or annual surveillance cycle.
The yearly surveillance would be twice the audit time of the six-month surveillance.
The yearly surveillance will cover more elements than the six-month surveillance. The intensity of the audits is the same.
For minor nonconformities, you must submit a corrective action plan. If a major nonconformity is found during a surveillance or reassessment audit, a separate corrective action assessment will be conducted. A specific assessment plan will be developed for the elements or clauses found to have major non-conformities.
All elements of the Standard will be included in the reassessment audit. Although this audit will be as thorough as your company’s certification audit, the audit time will be reduced. Reassessment does not mean that you will be starting over with Orion Registrar. Your company will have all the advantages and benefits that maintaining a long-term partnership with Orion can bring. This includes a familiar, knowledgeable auditor who will continue to work with you to add value to your company and the value added services of a registrar you know and trust.
As an environmentally-conscious organization we issue e-certificates. These can be downloaded and printed for display, saved and used online or retained for reference by your staff and clients. These are updated as required, based on your certification status.
Orion reviews your previous audit reports and nonconformities and can use this information as part of the basis of your certification transfer. Orion will conduct a Document Review and a transfer audit.
Orion’s fees for transferring your certification are extremely competitive; we charge about what you would expect to pay for a routine audit. All of Orion’s services are fixed-price. Your cost is based on the size and complexity of your company and the auditor’s travel expenses are billed at actual cost.
Orion does not provide these services. In our experience, clients can obtain these at much cheaper rates, locally, according to their needs.
You are not required to use the certification logos, even if you state that your quality management system is certified. If you choose to use the logos, you are required to use the Orion Registrar, Inc. logo, and you are bound to the rules set forth by the accreditation body. Please click here for details.
First, we ask that you discuss the situation with your Lead Auditor. If a resolution cannot be reached, please contact us to discuss your concerns. If this does not bring about a satisfactory outcome, you may file a complaint. Please click here for further details.
By registered mail, email, or via an announcement in Orion’s newsletter or website.
Only very major changes in your system, such as a different scope of registration, will require a re-assessment.
Your company must inform Orion in writing about any major changes to your management program that would include changes of ownership, management structure, production or service capability, location, major revisions to your manual or number of personnel, and any new significant environmental aspects (for ISO 14001 only).
You may call Orion’s office on (303) 456-6010 or you may email us at [email protected].
Our staff is available to answer your questions regarding the certification and audit processes, interpretation of the standards, scheduling, billing, accreditation, and the specifics of your account. In addition, we would be happy to provide you with resource material or to point you to outside resource information and references.
Orion Auditors are happy to answer questions about the interpretation of the standard and to explain their audit findings in detail. It is important to Orion that your company understands precisely what is required, and the exact details of any audit nonconformity.
Although Orion is constrained from consulting, and therefore cannot advise you on how to react to a nonconformity, our auditors are often able to offer a range of examples that would meet the requirements of the standard, including examples of compliant (and nonproprietary) systems we have seen. Because only you know what is right for your business, our auditors cannot say what solutions will work best within your company. You must determine your own nonconformity resolution.
No, Orion is not permitted to have a consulting business, however, we can provide a list of consultants who may be suitable for your needs. Click here for details.
Every employee and Auditor at Orion must sign formal confidentiality agreements. Our management system and training program also specifically address this issue. In addition, each of our accreditation agencies audits us to our requirements. For this reason, your company can rest assured that your confidential and proprietary information will be protected.
Please click here to view our Appeals and Complaints processes.
Orion’s customers are routinely surveyed with regard to Orion’s service and personnel, including both our office staff and our auditors. This information is used to continually improve our services.