A management system implementation project is aimed at meeting the requirements of a standard and obtaining a certificate, for example in the field of quality, information security, the environment, or artificial intelligence. The process has established phases: an initial gap analysis against the standard, the design and introduction of processes and documentation, staff training, an internal audit and management review, and finally a certification audit carried out by an independent body. Eligible expenditure in grant schemes typically includes consultancy, training, and the certification audit itself, but not the ongoing surveillance audits in subsequent years. In planning, it must be taken into account that certification is not a one-off act but an ongoing commitment involving regular audits and the costs of maintaining the system. The plan should therefore also include the designation of an employee responsible for the system and the time the company allocates them for this task.
See also: Pre-certification gap analysis, Certification audit, ISO/IEC 42001.
