ABSTRACT
Certification, as described by the proposed European Certification System, is the assurance of satisfactory product performance. The certification culminates in the "CE" mark being placed on products. Accreditation is frequently used to identify competent testing laboratories. It implies that “a laboratory has been evaluated by a recognized authority and found capable of conducting specific activities.” Some registration programs provide more oversight of the performance of their program than others by investigating complaints from the public about their registrants. Product and process registration most certainly are not recognized to be similar to product certification or listing. Registration of quality programs or manufacturers can entail both accreditation of process to determine capability and also inspection of product to determine product conformance. The term registration can also be used to show that the company is listed and conforms to minimal checklist requirements. Registration of quality assurance programs and of manufacturers differ in the rigor of their requirements.
