Changes in the Scope of Certification

Q:  Can an R2 Facility’s scope of R2 certification change over time?

Yes, changes in the certification scope can occur for a variety of reasons such as:

• • Adding new R2 processes or activities
  • Discontinuing any R2 processes or activities
  • Changes in the types of electronic equipment, components, or materials managed
  • Operational expansions
  • Mergers
  • Any other changes that result in new or modified R2 activities

The R2 Facility’s Certification Body must be notified of any proposed changes in scope in order to determine whether a special audit and any changes to the scope of certification are required.

Q:  Is it possible to make a change in the scope of certification between R2 audits, or would the facility need to wait for the next surveillance or recertification audit?

It is possible for an R2 facility to change its scope of certification at any time by notifying its Certification Body of the proposed change and scheduling a Special Audit to assess the conditions around the change. Depending on the nature of the changes, the CB will determine the amount of audit time required, as well as whether an on-site or remote audit is required.

For any nonconformities issued as a result of the Special Audit, effective corrective actions must be taken by the R2 Facility and verified and closed by the CB before a new certificate containing the revised scope can be issued.

Q:  Can we include planned or future operations in our current R2 scope so we don’t have to change it later on?

No. An R2v3 audit assesses and certifies the active operations of an R2 Facility through observation of the R2 processes and activities, as well as review of the related documentation and records supporting those operations. Any planned operations that are not auditable and cannot be verified may not be included in the facility’s scope.