A Public Accountability Report
This Annual Transparency Report is a public corporate accountability report, combining measurable performance data, governance updates, ethics reporting, stakeholder feedback, continuous improvement initiatives, and future commitments in one annual publication.
See About This Report for scope and methodology, or jump to KSQA at a Glance for the headline numbers.
Executive Summary
A message from KSQA leadership
"Throughout 2026, KSQA remained committed to providing independent, impartial, and professionally managed certification services. During the year we expanded governance controls, strengthened our ethics and compliance framework, enhanced transparency initiatives, implemented new risk management processes, and introduced additional safeguards supporting certification integrity. This report provides stakeholders with a clear overview of our organizational performance and our commitment to continual improvement."
About This Report
Purpose, reporting period, standards, scope, and review process
This report gives stakeholders, clients, accreditation bodies, and the public a clear, detailed view of how KSQA operates and performs. It follows a structured internal review process before publication and is updated annually.
This report covers:
Jan–Dec 2026
Reporting period
ISO 9001 Activities
Certification scheme
AS9100 Activities
Certification scheme
Governance
Leadership & oversight
Client Experience
Feedback & satisfaction
Complaints
Volume & resolution
Appeals
Escalation activity
Ethics
Whistleblower & compliance
Continuous Improvement
Corrective & preventive action
KSQA at a Glance
Headline figures for the 2026 reporting period
2026 Snapshot
Certification Statistics
Certification activity across the reporting period
| Metric | 2026 (in progress) |
|---|---|
| New certifications | In progress |
| Surveillance audits | In progress |
| Recertifications | In progress |
| Certificate transfers | In progress |
| Withdrawals | In progress" / "Restored |
| Restored certificates | In progress |
Trend charts and year-over-year comparisons are published starting with KSQA's second annual reporting cycle, building a continuous multi-year performance record.
Client Satisfaction
How clients rate their experience with KSQA
Client testimonials and case studies will be added only with explicit client consent to be quoted and identified — KSQA does not publish attributed feedback without permission.
Audit Performance Metrics
How efficiently and consistently audits are delivered
Average Audit Duration
Tracked per standard and scope
Audit Completion Rate
Scheduled vs. completed
Report Delivery Time
Audit close to report issued
NC Closure Time
Nonconformity to verified closure
Certification Decision Time
Report to decision issued
Witness Audits
Auditor oversight activity
Remote vs. Onsite Audits
Modality breakdown
Technical Reviews Completed
Independent review coverage
Quarterly and year-over-year trend graphs publish alongside verified 2026 data as part of KSQA's ongoing audit performance reporting.
Stakeholder Feedback Summary
Complaints and appeals activity, aggregated and anonymized
Complaint Categories
Communication
Scheduling
Documentation
Certification Process
Audit Conduct
Ethics & Compliance
Whistleblower activity, conflict declarations, and training
Conflict Declarations
Mandatory for every audit assignment
Ethics Training
Annual, for all auditors and reviewers
Compliance Reviews
Scheduled internal reviews
Policy Reviews
Annual review of every governing policy
Whistleblower case counts are aggregated and anonymized consistent with the Whistleblower Program's confidentiality guarantees and published as part of KSQA's annual disclosure once the 2026 register closes.
Governance Updates
Committee changes, policy updates, and internal control enhancements
New Committee Members
Impartiality Committee expansion
Policy Updates
See Policy Updates
Independent Reviews
External accreditation and credential reviews
Risk Assessments
Quarterly risk register review
Governance Improvements
Internal Controls
Dual-sign checklists, access controls
Annual Management Review
Full leadership performance review
Quarterly Governance Activity
Continuous Improvement Projects
Active and completed initiatives during the reporting period
Digital Audit Records
Trust Center Launch
Policy Modernization
Auditor Training
Risk Register
CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) Improvements
Document Control
Portal Upgrade
Client Feedback Process
Governance Enhancements
Quality Objectives
Status of KSQA's 2026 quality management objectives
| Objective | Status |
|---|---|
| Improve client satisfaction measurement | In Progress |
| Reduce complaint response time | Achieved |
| Enhance governance structure — In Progress (independent reviewer & committee appointment targeted Q3 2026) | Completed |
| Update core governing policies | Completed |
| Improve public transparency | Completed |
| Digitize audit records | In Progress |
Risk Management Summary
Major risk categories, mitigation, and monitoring status
| Risk | Mitigation | Monitoring | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conflict of interest | Mandatory declarations | Quarterly | Controlled |
| Auditor independence | Rotation & family-relationship screening | Quarterly | Controlled |
| Record accuracy | Dual-sign OASIS verification checklist | Per audit | Controlled |
| Information security | Access controls & secure document handling | Ongoing | Advancing to Controlled |
| Business continuity | Backup & recovery procedures | Annual | Advancing to Controlled |
Auditor Development
Investment in auditor competence and qualification
Training Hours
Tracked per auditor annually
Witness Audits
Independent performance observation
Competency Reviews
Annual evaluation against scheme requirements
Qualification Updates
Credential status maintained current
Continuing Education
Ongoing professional development
Technical Training
Standard- and industry-specific
Ethics Training
Annual, mandatory for all auditors
See Auditor Qualification for the full framework governing auditor competence and credentialing.
Policy Updates
Governing policies reviewed or updated during the reporting period
| Policy | Version | Approval Date | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethics & Integrity Policy | 1.1 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Conflict of Interest Policy | 3.0 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Whistleblower Program | 3.0 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Complaint Resolution | 3.0 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Appeals Process | 2.0 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Audit Integrity Policy | 2.0 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Governance Policy | 2.0 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Transparency Framework | 1.0 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Client Protection Policy | 3.0 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Document Control Procedure | 1.0 | 2026 | 2027 |
Annual Improvement Highlights
Month-by-month highlights across the reporting period
Policy Updates
Annual policy review cycle initiated across governing documents.
Digital Improvements
Document control and digital record-keeping enhancements begin.
Governance Review
Mid-year governance and committee structure review.
Compliance Improvements
Compliance monitoring and internal review enhancements.
Training
Annual auditor ethics and competency training cycle.
Management Review
Full annual management review of organizational performance.
2027 Priorities
What KSQA plans to strengthen next
Expand Digital Audit Capabilities
Increase Client Education
Improve Response Times
Strengthen Governance
Enhance Cybersecurity
AI-Assisted Documentation
Expand Transparency Reporting
Increase Training
Improve Client Portal
These planning priorities guide KSQA's continuous improvement program and are refined each year through KSQA's annual management review process.
Download Center
This report and related governance documents
A full statistical annex publishes alongside the verified 2026 figures. This inaugural edition establishes KSQA's Annual Transparency Report, with future editions archived here each year going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does KSQA publish this report?
To give clients, accreditation bodies, and the public a clear, measurable view of how KSQA operates — certification activity, client feedback, governance, ethics, and continuous improvement — in one place, consistent with how high-trust organizations communicate with stakeholders.
How often is this report updated?
Annually, covering the January–December reporting period and published in the first quarter of the following year, alongside ongoing updates on the Trust Center throughout the year.
How are the statistics in this report verified?
Certification, complaint, and governance figures are drawn from KSQA's internal registers (Complaint Register, CAPA Register, Risk Register, and Whistleblower Register), reviewed by the Compliance Manager and management team, and verified by the Impartiality Committee before publication.
Who reviews the report before publication?
The report is prepared by the Compliance Office, reviewed by the management team, verified by the Impartiality Committee, and approved by the President before publication.
Can clients request additional information?
Yes. Clients can request additional detail relevant to their own certification by emailing contact@ksqa.org. Some information is limited by confidentiality obligations to other clients.
How are complaints reported in this document?
As aggregated, anonymized statistics — total volume, category breakdown, and average response and resolution times — consistent with KSQA's Complaint Resolution process.
What governance improvements were implemented during the reporting period?
See the Governance Updates section for committee changes, policy updates, independent reviews, and internal control enhancements implemented during the period.
Report Approval
Transparency Commitments — Summary
Published Annually A full accountability report covering certification, governance, ethics, and improvement activity — every year
Independently Verified Reviewed by management and verified by the Impartiality Committee before publication
Confidentiality Respected Whistleblower and complaint data reported in aggregate, anonymized form
Measurable Commitments Quality objectives and KPIs tracked and reported against, not just described
Verified Reporting Standard every figure is clearly labeled by status, either a verified total or a preliminary projection, so readers always know exactly what they are viewing.
Continuous Improvement Linked Every reported theme feeds directly into KSQA's Continuous Improvement Program
Transparency Builds Trust
We believe stakeholders deserve clear, measurable information about how certification services are delivered and continually improved. Explore additional Trust Center resources or contact our Compliance Office for further information.