Re: ISO 12647-2 - Accreditation
Mike,
There is no 'authoritative' or statutory body that authorises certification. FOGRA/BVDM offer certification to ISO but this is based not just on the printed outcome but the whole quality control process. They have developed the PSO (Process Standard Offset) printing as a means of ensuring COMPLIANCE to the ISO standard in the most cost effective and efficient way.
The ISO develops and approves the standard but takes NO PART IN or offers any certification. This is clearly explained on the ISO website. It 'merely' describes the parameters that have to be met in order to COMPLY with the standard.
Every day there are more and more vendors of prepress and printing 'solutions' offering certification to ISO. In other words, they will show you to comply, measure your results and supply you with a vendor specific certificate which you can show your clients. Some of these vendors have gained FOGRA credentials and are able to offer FOGRA certification. A bit like being G7 certified.
In theory, if your staff were well-trained enough they could set up your workflow to produce results that comply with the standard however, 'self-certification' doesn't carry much credibility. If your clients were savvy enough they could measure all the proofs and printed sheets and perform the test themselves!!
Interestingly, in the newly published proofing standard (ISO 12647-7) which is linked at the umbilical cord to the printing standards, there is an annexe which stipulates that certification MUST be conducted by a third party, ensuring the viability of a blossoming industry.
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