B.1.1 Introductory email
Subject: Nordic Innovation study on certification schemes related to service standards
As you may be aware, Nordic Innovation has appointed Technopolis to undertake a study on certification schemes linked to services standards in Europe. The study is being overseen by a Steering Committee consisting of representatives from CEN, EFTA, the European Parliament and the European Commission – DG Internal Market and Services. In addition, the European Commission – DG Enterprise and Industry attend as an observer.
The study seeks to obtain an overview of relevant certification schemes operating at national level and to identify the extent to which the development of service standards is followed up by the development of related certification schemes.
In order to collect and verify information on existing certification schemes, we will be contacting relevant Certification Bodies across Europe, including those that are closely linked to, or a part of the National Standards Body. In order to help us prepare for this data collection, we would appreciate it if you could reply to this email with a response to the attached (short) request for information.
The timeline for the study is very short and we would appreciate you giving this request your full attention at your earliest possible convenience. Thank you in advance for your support.
B.1.2 Information request
Please respond to the following points and return to: [email protected]
Links between NSBs and Certification
Our understanding as to the links between your NSB and certification is given below. Could you please confirm that our understanding is correct, or amend the paragraph to reflect the true current situation.
<Statement of current understanding of NSB-certification links>
List of current national service standards
From a recent list compiled by CEN, our previous studies in this area and a review of your website we have compiled a list of national service standards for your country (see table below). We would be grateful if you could review and correct this list, making any necessary amendments/additions.
Reference Number Title <> <>
Identifying Certification Bodies
Finally, the study is interested in identifying all certification schemes that address one or more national, European or international service standards. To help ensure that we cover all of the major Certification Bodies that run such schemes in your country, we would be grateful if you could name below any Certification Bodies that you know to be running certification schemes relating to service standards. Relevant Certification Bodies:
B.2 NSB Certification Bodies
B.2.1 Introductory emailSubject: Nordic Innovation study on certification schemes related to service standards
I am writing in connection with a study that Nordic Innovation has commissioned my organisation (Technopolis) to undertake on certification schemes linked to services standards in Europe.
The objective of the study is to provide a factual account of relevant national certification schemes and to identify the extent to which the development of service standards is followed up by the development of related certification schemes. The study is being overseen by a Steering Committee consisting of representatives from CEN, EFTA, the European Parliament and the European Commission – DG Internal Market and Services. In addition, the European Commission – DG Enterprise and Industry attend as an observer.
[EITHER]
From a review of your website we have compiled a list of existing certification schemes that specifically relate to service standards that we believe you currently offer. We would be grateful if you could review this list and verify that it is complete and accurate, or make any necessary amendments or additions. We would also like to know brief details of any planned certification schemes of relevance. The attached Information Request explains the types of certification schemes that are in scope for the study and provides a table of known certification schemes for you to verify.
[OR]
From a review of your website we have been unable to identify any existing certification schemes relating to service standards currently offered by your organisation. We would be grateful if you could confirm whether this is indeed the case, or provide details of any relevant schemes that you do currently operate. We would also like to know brief details of any planned certification schemes of relevance. The attached Information Request explains the types of certification schemes that are in scope for the study and provides a table to enter details of relevant certification schemes.
The study is only concerned with certification schemes that wholly or partly cover service standards created by the ‘official’ standardisation bodies (e.g. CEN, ISO and your own NSB) and we have attached a list of relevant national and European service standards for your information.
The timeline for the study is very short and we would appreciate you giving this request your full attention at your earliest possible convenience. We will contact you over the next few days to check that you have received this request and to verify that you will be able to provide the information and data requested by the deadline of Friday 14th October 2011. We will be happy to talk through the request and to provide
any clarification as necessary. B.2.2 Information request
For the purposes of this study we are interested in identifying all existing and planned certification schemes that wholly or partly address one or more adopted national, European or international service standards. Certification schemes that cover both certification of products and services should be included. Management certification schemes are outside of the scope of the study, unless they are specifically aimed at service providers in particular.
Please respond to the following information requests and return this document via email to:
Existing certification schemes
Please find below a list of existing certification schemes operated by your organisation that we have been able to identify on your website. We would be grateful if you could review this list and update it so that it is complete and accurate. Specifically, please could you enter the year in which each scheme was established and add in any existing schemes linked to service standards that we might have missed.
For each additional certification schemes, please provide the title of the scheme, the year it was established, and the reference numbers of the standards that are wholly or partly covered. In the final column, please indicate whether the scheme is also based on other criteria than contained in the
standards (e.g. criteria on products, systems, processes or procedures relating to the service not covered by the standard itself).
Title of
scheme Year established Standard(s) wholly covered Standard(s) partly covered Other criteria covered (Yes/No)
Planned certification schemes
Please also list below any planned certification schemes that will wholly or partly address one or more national, European or international service standards. Please be assured that any details provided relating to planned certification schemes will only be reported in an aggregated, non-attributable manner.
Title of scheme Standard(s) covered Expected year of launch
Future expectations
We would like to understand your expectations with regard to the future of certification schemes relating to service standards.
Question Answer
Do you expect the number of these certification schemes to (a) Increase, (b) Remain stable, or (c) Decrease?
Do you expect the number of relevant certificates you issue annually to (a) Increase, (b) Remain stable or (c) Decrease? Other Certification Bodies
Finally, in order to ensure that we cover all of the major Certification Bodies that run such schemes in your country, we would be grateful if you could name below any other Certification Bodies that you know to be running relevant schemes.
Other Certification Bodies…
B.3 Other Certification Bodies
B.3.1 Introductory emailSubject: Nordic Innovation study on certification schemes related to service standards
Nordic Innovation has commissioned Technopolis to undertake a study on certification schemes linked to service standards in Europe. The study is being overseen by a Steering Committee consisting of representatives from CEN, EFTA, the European Parliament and the European Commission – DG Internal Market and Services. In addition, the European Commission – DG Enterprise and Industry attend as an observer.
The study seeks to obtain an overview of relevant certification schemes operating at national level and to identify the extent to which the development of service standards is followed up by the development of related certification schemes.
We are currently compiling a list of the certification schemes across Europe that relate to service standards and would like to know if you currently operate, or plan to operate, any relevant schemes. The attached Information Request explains in more detail the types of certification schemes that are in scope for the study and provides a table for you to enter details of any relevant schemes that you operate.
The study is only concerned with certification schemes that wholly or partly cover service standards created by the ‘official’ standardisation bodies (e.g. CEN, ISO, BSI) and we have attached a list of relevant national and European service standards for your information.
We would be grateful if you could complete and return the attached Information Request by the deadline of Friday 14th October 2011, even if it is to say that you do not operate any relevant certification
schemes.
We would be happy to talk through the request with you and to provide any clarification as necessary. In addition, if you would like this request to be issued to you in another language, please let me know.
Thank you in advance for your support. B.3.2 Information request
For the purposes of this study we are interested in identifying all existing and planned certification schemes that wholly or partly address one or more adopted national, European or international service standards. Certification schemes that cover both certification of products and services should be included. Management certification schemes are outside of the scope of the study, unless they are specifically aimed at service providers in particular.
Please respond to the following information requests and return this document via email to:
Existing certification schemes
Please detail below any existing certification schemes operated by your organisation that fall within the scope of this study. For each certification scheme, please provide the title of the scheme, the year it was established, and a list of the standards that are wholly or partly covered. In the final column, please indicate whether the scheme is also based on other criteria than contained in the standards (e.g. criteria on products, systems, processes or procedures relating to the service).
Title of
scheme Year established Standard(s) wholly covered Standard(s) partly covered Other criteria covered (Yes / No)
Planned certification schemes
Please also detail below any planned certification schemes that will wholly or partly address one or more national, European or international service standards. Please be assured that any details provided relating to planned certification schemes will only be reported in an aggregated, non-attributable manner.
Title of scheme Standard(s) covered Expected year of launch
Future expectations
Finally, we would like to understand your expectations with regard to the future of certification schemes relating to service standards.
Question Answer
Do you expect the number of these certification schemes to (a) Increase, (b) Remain Stable, or (c) Decrease? Do you expect the number of certificates you issue annually to (a) Increase, (b) Remain Stable, or (c) Decrease?