Non-Certification Activities
Advisory Services
Management system guidance and process evaluation services, operationally separated from AEC's accredited certification programs.
Scope
Advisory Service Areas
The following services are informational and advisory in nature. They do not constitute certification activity and carry no guarantee of certification outcome.
Management System Guidance
High-level guidance on ISO management system frameworks, structural requirements, and applicable clauses. Advisory only — no system design or implementation is undertaken.
Gap Analysis
Evaluation of an organization's existing documentation and processes against ISO standard requirements. Findings are informational only and are not used as input to any certification decision process..
Documentation Review
Review of management system documentation for structural alignment with standard requirements. Does not include drafting, authoring, or system design services.
Process Evaluation
Objective evaluation of operational processes against defined criteria. Findings are reported neutrally without prescriptive remediation instructions.
Internal Audit Support
Support for internal audit program development in accordance with ISO 19011. Applicable to non-certification internal audit functions only.
Awareness & Education
Informational sessions on ISO standard requirements, scope, and applicability. Delivered to management and staff as educational content, not audit preparation.
Impartiality
Our Commitment to Impartiality
AEC maintains strict operational separation between advisory services and certification activities. Certification decisions are made exclusively by personnel who have had no advisory involvement with the organization under assessment.
Organizations that have engaged AEC advisory services are not eligible for certification under AEC’s accredited programs until a defined separation period has elapsed and impartiality safeguards have been verified in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021-1 requirements.
This policy is non-negotiable and applies without exception.
Engagement
How Advisory Engagements Work
All engagements follow a structured, documented process with clear scope boundaries established before commencement.
Scope Definition
Advisory scope is formally documented and agreed prior to engagement commencement. Certification eligibility implications are disclosed at this stage.
Conflict of Interest Assessment
AEC performs an internal conflict check to ensure no advisory personnel have certification decision-making roles related to the organization.
Advisory Delivery
Services are delivered within the agreed scope. Advisory personnel operate under documented impartiality obligations throughout the engagement.
Findings Report
Findings are documented and provided to the organization in neutral, factual terms. No certification recommendations or pass/fail assessments are issued.
Enquiries
Advisory Enquiries
For advisory service enquiries, contact AEC directly. Please note that advisory and certification enquiries are handled by separate teams.
Submit an Enquiry
Advisory services team responds within 2 business days.
Looking for certification?
Certification enquiries are handled separately and independently from advisory services.
Get Certified →