The case study below summarizes a pattern we commonly observe with clients who received a major nonconformity at their Stage 2 audit, yet successfully closed it out and achieved certification without restarting the audit from scratch.
Context of the finding
Major nonconformities in cases like this typically arise from inconsistent implementation evidence. For example, a written procedure exists, but the records of it being carried out on the ground are incomplete or don’t match the organization’s own stated schedule.
Follow-up steps
The auditor sets a deadline (typically 90 days) for the organization to submit corrective evidence: a root cause analysis, corrective actions, and records showing those actions were implemented. Internal teams that respond promptly to this deadline tend to close out the follow-up within a single surveillance cycle, without needing a full re-audit.
Key takeaway
The recurring pattern in cases like this: a major nonconformity isn’t the end of the certification process, as long as the organization responds quickly with an honest root cause analysis rather than a symbolic fix to the paperwork.