Certification Issuance and Management
Certification issuance and management corresponds to Steps 4 and 5 of the TQS certification process. This chapter defines the process of issuing certificates for projects that have passed the technical audit, granting TQS Mark usage rights, and managing certification validity periods and records.
31.5.1. Certificate Issuance
The TQS Committee issues an official certificate for projects that receive a pass verdict in the technical audit. The certificate is an official document proving that the project meets the TQS specifications.
31.5.1.1. Certification Target
Certificates are issued on a project name + version basis. Even for the same project, different versions are managed as separate certifications.
| Item | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Certification Target Notation | [Project Name] v[Version] | Flowin v2.3.0 |
| Certification Number | TQS-[Category]-[Year]-[Serial Number] | TQS-SW-2026-001 |
The version of the certification target follows the Semantic Versioning format. The TQS Committee assigns the serial number in the certification number, which is recorded in the certification registry.
31.5.1.2. Certification Grades
TQS certification is classified into 3 grades based on the level of specification compliance. Grades are determined during the technical audit and specified on the certificate.
| Grade | Mandatory Item Compliance Rate | Recommended Item Compliance Rate | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 100% | Below 80% | Meets minimum TQS specification criteria |
| Advanced | 100% | 80% or above, below 100% | Most recommended items met |
| Premier | 100% | 100% | All items fully met |
100% compliance with mandatory items is a prerequisite for all grades. The difference between grades is determined by the compliance rate of recommended items. Even with a Basic grade, the TQS Mark may be used, and higher grades serve to additionally recognize the quality excellence of the project.
31.5.1.3. Certificate Contents
The certificate contains the following items.
| Field | Content | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Project Name | Official name of the certified project | Flowin |
| Version | Certified version | v2.3.0 |
| Certification Category | TQS-S/W, TQS-H/W, TQS-Infra | TQS-S/W |
| Certification Grade | Basic / Advanced / Premier | Advanced |
| Certification Date | Certificate issuance date (ISO 8601 format) | 2026-03-15 |
| Validity Period | Certification expiration date or condition | Until next major version release (max 2027-03-15) |
| Auditors | List of TQS Committee members who participated in the audit | Hong Gildong, Kim Cheolsu |
| Certification Number | Unique number issued by the TQS Committee | TQS-SW-2026-001 |
| Audit Type | Initial Audit / Renewal Audit / Change Audit | Initial Audit |
The certificate includes the signature of the TQS Committee chairperson and is issued in electronic document form. The original certificate is retained by the TQS Committee, and a copy is provided to the project team.
31.5.2. TQS Mark Usage Regulations
Projects that have been issued a certificate are granted the right to use the TQS Mark. The use of the TQS Mark must comply with the regulations defined in this section.
31.5.2.1. Mark Notation Format
The TQS Mark must be displayed in the following standard formats.
| Notation Type | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Notation | TQS-[Category] Certified | TQS-S/W Certified |
| Including Grade | TQS-[Category] [Grade] Certified | TQS-S/W Advanced Certified |
| Including Certification Number | TQS-[Category] Certified ([Certification Number]) | TQS-S/W Certified (TQS-SW-2026-001) |
| Full Notation | TQS-[Category] [Grade] Certified ([Certification Number]) | TQS-S/W Advanced Certified (TQS-SW-2026-001) |
The category name in the mark notation must use the official abbreviations (S/W, H/W, Infra). Grade notation is optional, and certification number notation is also optional. However, when using the TQS Mark externally, it is recommended to include the certification number.
31.5.2.2. Permitted Usage Locations
The TQS Mark may be displayed at the following locations.
| Usage Location | Display Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Project README | Badge or text format | Recommended at the top of the repository |
| Internal Portal | Displayed on the project information page | Include certification grade and date |
| Technical Documents | Displayed on document cover or header | API documentation, architecture documents, etc. |
| Release Notes | Indicate certification status for the version | Limited to certified versions |
| External Technical Materials | Presentations, proposals, etc. | Limited to within the certification validity period |
31.5.2.3. Prohibited Uses
The following actions constitute improper use of the TQS Mark and are grounds for certification revocation.
- Use on products outside the certification scope: Displaying TQS-Infra Certified or TQS Full Certified for a project that only has TQS-S/W certification
- Use after certification expiration: Continuing to use the TQS Mark after the certification validity period has expired
- False grade notation: Displaying a Basic grade certification as Advanced or Premier grade
- Mark design modification: Arbitrarily modifying the mark outside the official design guidelines provided by the TQS Committee
- Use on uncertified versions: Using the TQS Mark on product versions other than the certified version
If improper use of the TQS Mark is detected, the TQS Committee issues a correction request, and if the issue is not resolved within the correction deadline, the certification revocation procedure is initiated.
31.5.3. Certification Validity Period
The validity period of TQS certification is managed in conjunction with the project's version lifecycle.
31.5.3.1. Default Validity Period
The default validity period for TQS certification is until the next major version release. A major version refers to a version where the first digit changes in Semantic Versioning (e.g., v1.x.x to v2.0.0).
| Validity Condition | Validity Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | Until next major version release | Re-audit required upon major version release |
| No major version released | Maximum 1 year from certification date | Renewal audit required after 1 year |
| Minor/patch version updates | No impact on validity period | Only CI pass verification required |
For projects where a major version is not released for an extended period, a maximum validity period of 1 year from the certification date applies. After 1 year, the certification must be extended through a renewal audit.
Minor version updates (e.g., v2.1.0 to v2.2.0) or patch version updates (e.g., v2.1.0 to v2.1.1) do not affect the certification validity period. However, the CI/CD pipeline must be maintained in a passing state.
31.5.3.2. Validity Period Extension
Extension of the certification validity period is only possible through a renewal audit. The renewal audit must be requested at least 2 weeks before the validity period expiration date.
The procedure and criteria for the renewal audit follow those defined in Section 31.1.4.2. Upon passing the renewal audit, the certification validity period is reset to a new baseline.
If the renewal audit is not completed by the expiration date, the certification enters a suspended state. In the suspended state, use of the TQS Mark is prohibited. If the renewal audit is passed, the certification is reactivated, and TQS Mark usage is permitted again.
31.5.3.3. Certification Suspension and Revocation
Certification suspension and revocation occur for the following reasons.
| Status | Reason | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Suspended | Renewal not completed after validity expiration | Reactivated upon passing renewal audit |
| Suspended | Non-response within grace period after TQS specification change | Reactivated upon passing change audit |
| Revoked | Improper use of TQS Mark | Re-certification requires starting from initial audit |
| Revoked | Failed security audit after security incident | Re-certification requires starting from initial audit |
| Revoked | Reactivation not completed within 3 months of suspension | Re-certification requires starting from initial audit |
Projects whose certification has been revoked must complete the entire process from the initial audit to obtain TQS certification again. The history of previous certifications is preserved in the certification registry.
31.5.4. Certification History Management
All TQS certification activities are systematically recorded and managed. Certification history management is a core activity that ensures the transparency and traceability of certifications.
31.5.4.1. TQS Certification Registry
The TQS Certification Registry is the official management document that records all certification, renewal, change, and revocation histories. The TQS Committee bears responsibility for managing the certification registry.
The items recorded in the certification registry are as follows.
| Record Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Certification Number | Unique identification number assigned by the TQS Committee |
| Project Name | Official name of the certified project |
| Certification Category | TQS-S/W, TQS-H/W, TQS-Infra |
| Certified Version | Version of the certified project |
| Certification Grade | Basic / Advanced / Premier |
| Certification Date | Certificate issuance date |
| Validity Period | Certification expiration condition or expiration date |
| Audit Type | Initial Audit / Renewal Audit / Change Audit |
| Auditors | List of committee members who participated in the audit |
| Certification Status | Valid / Suspended / Revoked / Expired |
| Change History | History of grade changes, status changes, etc. |
The certification registry is managed in electronic document form, and when changes occur, the pre- and post-change states and the reason for change are recorded together. Deletion of change history is not permitted to prevent forgery and alteration of the certification registry.
31.5.4.2. History Inquiry
Certification history can be queried based on the following criteria.
- By project: Full certification history of a specific project (from initial certification to present)
- By period: List of certifications issued within a specific period
- By grade: List of certifications with a specific grade
- By status: List of certifications by Valid/Suspended/Revoked/Expired status
- By category: List of certifications by TQS-S/W, TQS-H/W, TQS-Infra category
Certification history inquiry access is granted to TQS Committee members, Project Leads, and management. General developers may only view the certification history of projects they are affiliated with.
31.5.4.3. Certification Status Dashboard
The TQS Committee is recommended to operate a certification status dashboard for real-time monitoring of certification status.
Items that may be included in the dashboard are as follows.
- Overall certification status: number of valid certifications, suspended certifications, upcoming expirations
- Distribution by grade: number of certifications by Basic/Advanced/Premier grade
- Distribution by category: number of certifications by TQS-S/W, TQS-H/W, TQS-Infra category
- Monthly audit status: monthly counts of new audits, renewal audits, and change audits
- Expiration alerts: list of certifications expiring within 30 days
- Average audit duration: average duration statistics by audit type
The dashboard is used to support TQS Committee decision-making and improve the operational efficiency of the certification system. The specific implementation method of the dashboard is determined by the TQS Committee.