One of the biggest advantages of group certification is how the audit works. Instead of each company going through a complete individual audit (which can be costly and time-consuming), the group is audited as a whole, and members are verified through sampling. This approach significantly reduces costs and effort for each participant.
How Group Audit Works
In group certification, the external audit takes place at two levels:
1. Central office (administrator) audit
The auditor verifies the group management system, member admission and monitoring procedures, central records and standard compliance.
2. Member sampling audit
Each year, a sample of members is selected for on-site verification. Not all members are audited every year, but all can be selected.
How Sampling Works
FSC and PEFC standards establish clear rules for selecting audited members:
- Square root of total member number (e.g., 16 members = 4 audited)
- New members are prioritized for audit
- Members with previous non-conformities have higher selection chances
- Selection aims to cover different types of activities in the group
- Over time, all members will be audited at least once
What Is Verified at a Member
When a member is selected for audit, the auditor will verify:
- Traceability system (certified materials records)
- Correct separation of certified from non-certified materials
- Supporting documents (invoices, notices, supplier certificates)
- Staff training and procedure knowledge
- Application of group-established procedures
- Correct use of certification logo and claims
Advantages of Group Audit
Shared costs
External audit cost is shared among all group members, not borne individually.
Reduced frequency
You're not audited every year. You may be selected only once every few years.
Assisted preparation
The group administrator helps you prepare and provides support during the audit.
Prior internal audit
Before external audit, the administrator conducts internal checks to detect issues.
How to Prepare for Audit
Keep up-to-date records of all purchases and sales of certified materials
Keep all documents organized and easily accessible
Ensure staff knows what certification means and how it works
Verify that material separation is clear and documented
Update supplier list and verify their certificate validity
Participate in internal checks organized by the administrator
What Happens If You Have a Non-Conformity
If the auditor finds a non-conformity at a member, it doesn't automatically affect the entire group. The process is:
- The non-conformity is communicated to the member and administrator
- A deadline for correction is set (usually 30-90 days)
- The member implements corrective actions
- The administrator verifies implementation
- At the next audit, the auditor confirms correction
Unresolved major non-conformities can lead to exclusion from the group. That's why it's important to act quickly and ask for administrator help.
Conclusion
Group audit is one of the biggest advantages of collective certification. You get all the benefits of certification, but with significantly less effort and cost. With group administrator support and good internal organization, the audit becomes a simple and predictable process.
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