How Auditing and Certification Are Carried Out

Auditing is the process of evaluation based on a set of standards in quality as declared by national standards organizations. Academic and public service institutions and business establishments are among the entities that are audited. When their quality is assured, they receive certification for it; this is called accreditation. An accredited institution is publicly revealing its good quality, encouraging others to avail of its services.

Quality audit is supported by a set of standards that institutions must attain. For example, medical institutions must hold good standards when it comes to public health and wellness and be staffed by competent medical practitioners, including medical technicians who all value the same ideals. The hospital or clinic must also maintain the infrastructure suitable for people recovering their health. Hence, the hospital possesses adequate equipment and firm and solid infrastructure. "Adequate equipment" includes safety features like fire extinguishers, smoke-detecting sprinklers, and emergency exits accessible for both patients and staff.

Energy audit is quality audit geared toward energy conservation in a building. This can apply to any business or public service establishment. Hospitals, factories, and residential buildings are covered here; a home must support the family it shelters with sufficient and efficient electricity. The electric supply that powers the institution is measured and evaluated as well as the equipment involved.

Benchmarking is also called the simple audit, screening audit, or walkthrough audit because this process involves simple observations of the infrastructure and facilities of an establishment. The operating personnel are briefly interviewed; the facility utility bills are reviewed; and the auditor walks through the establishment. Benchmarking is sometimes called a preliminary audit because a more extensive auditing process may follow.

In the preliminary audit stage, other aspects of the infrastructure and its energy consumption are also assessed. If its quality matches the standards, the establishment may achieve ESD 20:20 Certification. This may apply both to business and public and private infrastructure, including residential buildings.

Infrared thermography is an extensive and thorough method of energy auditing. An infrared thermal image of the infrastructure shows the patterns of surface temperature. These patterns are analyzed, and strengths and weaknesses are found. If any flaws are found, methods for improvement are carried out so that the establishment can pass the ISO 9001.

Pollution audits are becoming essential aspects of energy audits because of the widespread awareness of global warming and greenhouse effect. The temperature regulation and energy circulation of both residential and industrial infrastructures are assessed so that they can achieve the standards of ISO 9001.

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How ISO Certification Improves Consumer Confidence

The global economy is an umbrella term that encompasses the world's national economies. In recent decades, the economic boom in developing nations like China and India have opened up hitherto unexplored economic sectors. However, with increasing competitiveness in the global economy, international quality standards need to be promulgated to ensure a consistent degree of excellence across various industries. How can industries maintain a high level of excellence and receive the accreditation that will give them an edge in the global economy?

Business enterprises can gain widespread consumer acceptance if they follow the technical standards devised by internationally recognized standard-developing organizations. A standard-developing organization is an organization which primary activities involve developing, promulgating, revising, and implementing technical standards. Most standards disseminated by standard-developing organizations such as the ISO 9001 registration are considered voluntary because entire industries adopt them without being mandated by law.

The term "formal standard" refers to technical specifications that have been approved and promulgated by standard-developing organizations. The term "de jure" refers to standards that have been mandated by various governments as mandatory protocol. Furthermore, the term "de facto standard" refers to specifications or protocols that have achieved widespread acceptance without being promulgated by any standard-developing organization.

The three most well-established international bodies are the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). All three international bodies have existed for more than 50 years and are based in Geneva, Switzerland. Moreover, these international bodies have established tens and thousands of standards that have supplanted various domestic standards.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publishes technical reports, technical specifications, and comprehensive technical guidelines that streamline processes across a variety of industries. Technical standards are mainly concerned with developing interface standards, which detail how technical products interconnect with other components, as well as the safety standards that ensure that products remain safe for humans, animals, and the environment.

The ISO 9000 group of standards are concerned with streamlining quality management systems, ensuring that organizations meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders. The ISO 9000 deals with the eight management principles that facilitate excellence. The eight principles are customer-focused organization, effective leadership, the active involvement of people, a coherent process approach, a coherent system approach to management, a desire for continual improvement, an objective approach to decision making, and mutually beneficial supplier relationships.

Commercial enterprises that have undergone ISO certification enjoy greater consumer confidence and international prestige. A 2011 survey conducted by the British Assessment Bureau has revealed that 44% of their certified clients have won new business. Moreover, research has proven that ISO-certified organizations achieve superior returns on their assets and superior operational performance.

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Tips for Shooting Interiors

Tip 1: You need a good digital camera with a tripod. When photographing an interior, you want to make sure that everything is clear and sharp. I use F11 (aperture) and 1/2 second (ISO 200) in most cases. Sometimes if you want to get a blurred background on a close-up shot, then you will want to shoot with a wider aperture, or the smallest f-stop your camera will allow (e.g. F1.8).

Tip 2: Use a wide angle lens. Shooting wide can make the room look great, especially when in Hong Kong, the size of the property is most likely less than 100 sq. meters. In a confined space, sitting tight into one corner while you try to get the other three corners in just looks wrong. You shouldn't shoot all three walls into one picture. Showing the highlights of the interior design features is important. About the lens, anything in the 16-24mm range on full frame (or the APS-C equivalent which equates to 10-16mm approx. on some less expensive camera) is great. I often use 17mm full frame for my wide interior work.

Tip 3: Sufficient indoor and natural lighting are both important. Light up the room. If there is good natural light coming through the windows, use that as well. Adjust the overall feeling of the lighting to a balanced and optimized level.

Tip 4: Find the best angle. Take time to explore different angles to shoot from. Decorate the room with small artistic items, plants or anything you like to add a bit of creativity. We can't all afford a tilt-shift lens to keep perspective in check, so it's a really good idea to shoot with the camera at or slightly above mid-room height. This means you can keep the camera aimed out straight to keep the walls vertical. While the perspective distortion you get can be corrected in post-production, it's much easier to get it right in camera. This is another reason to use a tripod as well.

Tip 5: Use post-processing software, e.g. Photoshop or Lightroom. You should bring the Highlights down and open up the Shadows. Next bring the Blacks down to ensure that the contrast lost from opening up the Shadows doesn't impact the image too much.

Tip 6: Go vertical for staircases and other special feature. This is also important if you want to share the pictures on the web, as most images are horizontal in the interior photography world. Some vertical images could light up your portfolio. Verticals usually mean letting the eye fill in gaps, so make use of the composition to show hints of the room.

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Essential Photography Tips for Beginners

Learning the art of photography is fun and fascinating at the same time, photography is now much easier than what it was back in the days, when photographers need to expertise a lot of technical knowledge about photography before they can actually start, but now with the advance photography equipment and accessories, you can just start clicking images anytime, though at a later phase you will learn techniques that will fine tune your photographic skills further.

In this article we will discuss the essential photography tips for beginners:

The first question that every photographer has is "How do I take a great picture?"

1. Make mistakes: "Every expert was once a beginner" remember this one line before starting. When you are new there is nothing to lose, make as many mistakes as you can, but don't get frustrated with your mistakes, learn from them and develop your skills further.

2. Get as close as you can, to your subject, try to fill the gap around your subject by approaching as close as you can to him, this will fill the frame of your picture with the subject only, you will see the difference between the pictures clicked from a close distance than when you clicked the same subject from a far distance. You will see the fine detailing of your subject.

3. Click as much as you can: We all know that "practice makes a man perfect" this can be said rightly for all the new photographers reading this article, if you are a new photographer, click as many pictures as you can, of the same or of different subjects to find your masterpiece with different angles. This will help you in mastering technical skills of photography.

4. Use the light: If you learned how to take advantage of a light source and utilise the source of light whether it's a natural source like the sun or an artificial source of light like a lamp or something, you can make an ordinary picture look extraordinary.

5. Using flash: If you are a new photographer, you might think that you only need a flash when it's too dark or when you are clicking pictures indoor, but this is not true. You might have come across a very common problem of uneven shadow patterns, those have spoiled your shots, when you were taking pictures in the bright sunlight, to resolve this issue you need to on the flash of your camera and put extra light on your subject, this will help you in getting rid of those shadows.

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The Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot Is a Must

The very feel of finding that one for whom you are made and deciding photography to tie the knot with them is a big decision. This decision is indeed thrilling, stirring and extra special for every couple. This feel is to be celebrated in all the possible ways it can be. Capturing these moments of the pre-wedding days in a shoot and registering them in an album is the most beautiful way to capture these memories for a lifetime. There are a number of professionals that offer this. If you have ever seen a wedding photo, then you must have seen the elegance and the poise. This is because of the very charm of the couple and the photographer's skills. So if you are a Couple, then here are the ways in which you can make your pre-wedding shoot memorable.

1. Finding the right person for the shoot:

Hiring the right individual or the right professional is a must as this makes the amount that you have invested in the project a success. Ensuring that the photographer is capable of taking excellent pictures will make sure that the moments will be captured with all the right focus and light considerations. Go through the catalogs and the websites of the recommended professionals before zeroing in on one.

2. Finding the right places:

A list of all those places where the shoot has to be done should be made. This list should be the guiding itinerary of the shoot. A perfect photo shoot will involve all the places where the couple met, they proposed and other picturesque places in the city or abroad.

3. Finding the right weather:

The weather must be dealt with in the proper way. A proper timing for conducting the shoot should be decided so that the background that is naturally nature should be at its best. Even the environment of indoor shoot should be arranged well before time to avoid problems.

4. Finding the right clothes:

The right type of clothing is what should be the focus of the couple. Pre-wedding photo shoots look best when the attire of the boy and girl is delicate and simple. An elegant photo shoot is what suits the couples. They like such photo shoots. Photo shoots need proper dress up and shopping for the same should be done in advance in consultation with the photographer.

5. Finding the compatibility:

In the end, it is not the technical things or the things like a dress or the places; it is the magic between the two of the persons that count. The love should be seen from the very beginning of the poses that the couple gives to each other. Being natural and not trying to be posing is the key to a photo shoot that can increase the bond sharing between the couples and leave them even more trustworthy and lovable at the end of the photo shoot. The poses will flow out naturally if the compatibility between the two is well-maintained. It is a reason to celebrate.

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5 Key Things You Need to Know While Photographing Corporate Events

Corporate event photography can be a daunting task, especially when people are networking and don't want to be disturbed. Corporate events can be of various types - from conferences, and sales events to receptions and parties. The challenge lies in compelling coverage as poor coverage not only harms the brand identity but leads to poor networking too. While there are different ways to photograph corporate events, hiring professional event coverage services can help to get the job done professionally and flawlessly.

Whether you engage professionals or decide to do it yourself, here are some key things to know:

Have the right equipment: Corporate event photography doesn't need lots of fancy equipment. Instead, it needs a perfect blend of the right gears. Usually, an external power flash with reflector or diffuser, full frame DSLR with a moderate range zoom, memory cards and spare batteries are good for the job. However, there are other details that need to be taken care of. If the event takes place in a large hall, a telephoto lens is a must. If it's a compact venue, then a wide is essential. A second body camera is usually suggested for more serious event photography to avoid switching lenses regularly.

Study the location: Analyzing the lighting conditions and scouting the location play crucial roles in ensuring good event coverage. Before the event, visit the venue to get a clue if you'll be dealing with minimal light indoors or plenty of light. In case you can't visit the venue before the event, ensure to gather adequate information about the venue and lighting conditions from other sources.

Grab the best shots: When it comes to corporate event coverage, moments pass quickly. If you fail to adjust quickly, you'll fail to have the shot. Remember to take care of the minute details and capture compelling shots. For instance, a wide aperture with fast shutter speed for the key speakers, or keeping the aperture small enough for group shots to keep everyone in focus can help.

Focus on shots for marketing: While it's crucial to get shots of people having fun, it's also crucial to have shots that can be used for marketing purposes. In this age of social media, businesses often share images of their corporate event coverage immediately. While focusing on the faces of attendees is positive and powerful, it's also important to focus on abstract shots that can be used for branding and marketing purposes.

Quick edit, fast delivery: In today's fast-paced life, businesses want a quick turnaround time. Once a couple of days are gone, the images become a little stale. And people move to the next events and lose interest in yesterday's news. You should make sure that once the event is over, you edit the images taken and deliver them fast.

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