Control bodies (CBs) play an essential role in industrial safety, and in market and end-user confidence by inspecting whether those industrial facilities, equipment, and processes comply with applicable technical and regulatory requirements. Accreditation according to the UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17020 standard provides confidence in the competence, performance, and impartiality of these bodies, but it also requires rigorous information management, traceability of actions, and consistency of the results.

In this context, the digitalization of industrial inspection activities has become a determining factor for increasing operational efficiency, strengthening technical integrity, and optimizing service quality.

Therefore, a few years ago, ENAC initiated a project in collaboration with the competent authorities of the Autonomous Communities and the Ministry of Industry, and with the Spanish Federation of Control Bodies (FEDAOC), which culminated in the publication of Annex V of the CGA-ENAC-OCI (Control Bodies of Installations: requirements of technical competence). This has represented a fundamental step forward in digitalizing the activities carried out by control bodies. This will make inspection activities more efficient, more traceable and reliable, and will help both ENAC’s and the competent authorities’ supervision processes, leading to a safer and more transparent inspection market.

“Nowadays, maintaining high levels of digitalization in management processes is a necessity for any company to compete. But, in the case of regulatory bodies, this factor is combined with the power that digitalization brings, for inspection records, in terms of transparency, reliability, trust, and compliance. For this reason, both the Ministry and the competent authorities of the different Industry authorities of the Autonomous Communities gathered in the Market Unit Working Group have supported this initiative, which will result in more reliable and efficient regulatory inspection processes.” José Manuel Prieto Barrio, Deputy Director General of Quality and Industrial Safety, Ministry of Industry and Tourism

Operational efficiency and reducing errors

Implementing digital management systems in inspection (for example, through integrated platforms for planning, recording, and reporting) automates repetitive tasks significantly reduces the administrative burden.

Inspectors can record the results in real-time using mobile devices or tablets, eliminating the risk of transcription errors and ensuring data consistency. In addition, automatic synchronization with central databases helps technical reviews and reports to be immediately validated, improving delivery times to clients and the competent authorities. 

Traceability and document control

The UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17020 standard requires complete and traceable records of each inspection activity to be maintained. Digital systems offer advanced electronic document management solutions, enabling secure associated photographic or audiovisual evidence, standardized checklists, and measurement results. Digital signatures and assessment recording through “audit trail” techniques ensure the authenticity and integrity of the information, while controlled access permissions reinforce the confidentiality and impartiality of the process.

Annex V of ENAC’s CGA-ENAC-OCI document provides specific criteria for using electronic and digital means to carry out inspections, establishing guidelines to ensure the technical validity and reliability of the evidence obtained through digital tools. 

Improving performance quality and analysis

Using digital platforms makes it possible to collect and analyse large volumes of data on inspection results (defect analysis equipment, severity of defects, etc.), incidents, and sector trends or installation type.

Through advanced analytics tools (“business intelligence”) or even using basic filtering tools, control bodies can identify recurring areas of non-compliance (nonconformities), optimize the allocation of technical resources, and improve inspection staff training.

This data can also be used for performance assessment, a key element of the quality management system required by UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17020, enabling a continuous improvement-based approach to be applied. 

Remote inspections and sustainability

Digitalization opens up the possibility of carrying out remote or hybrid inspections, especially useful in complex industrial environments, hard-to-reach areas, or situations that limit physical presence.

The Annex V of the CGA-ENAC-OCI itself acknowledges this practice, provided that technical equivalence with on-site inspections is ensured and the principles of competence, impartiality, and document control are maintained.

The use of cameras, drones, or “IoT: Internet of Things” systems connected to monitoring platforms reduces travel, downtime, and logistical costs, improving sustainability and personnel safety.

In addition, the electronic management of reports and certificates reduces paper consumption and contributes to organizational sustainability goals. 

Strengthening trust and transparency

Digital traceability and available real-time information strengthen stakeholder confidence, inspected companies and regulatory authorities, while aiding the supervisory activity of accreditation bodies.

Transparency in processes, supported by digital evidence and auditable records, improves the credibility of inspection results and reinforces the technical reputation of the accredited organization.

In some cases, integrating with platforms already established by the competent authorities enables the automatic transmission of results to public administrations, speeding up management and increasing the reliability of the control system.

 “Incorporating digital tools in regulatory inspection records enables progress in essential aspects such as transparency, traceability, reliability, and regulatory compliance. These elements not only strengthen the quality of the service provided but also supports the citizens’ and business sector‘s trust in the regulatory inspection system. For the control bodies, this digital evolution is understood as an institutional responsibility: a way to ensure that every inspection, every record, and every technical decision is based on verifiable, accessible data aligned with the principles of good governance.

Therefore, initiatives such as the one promoted by the Ministry and supported by the competent industry authorities of the Autonomous Communities - within the framework of the Market Unity Working Group - and ENAC’s supervision, represent a firm step towards a more homogeneous, efficient, and reliable inspection. This inter-institutional collaboration demonstrates that digitalization is not just a technological issue, but a strategic commitment to quality, safety, and the public interest.” José Manuel Flórez González, president of the Spanish Federation of Associations of Control Organizations (FEDAOC)

Evolution of the management model: continuous improvement, sustainability, and trust

Digitalization constitutes a strategic opportunity for control bodies accredited under UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17020, by providing tools that strengthen the efficiency, traceability, and technical quality of inspections carried out by these organizations.

Implementing it should not be understood merely as a technological modernization, but as an evolution of the management model, aimed at continuous improvement, sustainability, and trust.

The guidelines of Annex V of the CGA-ENAC-OCI represent a key reference to ensure that digital practices are carried out under solid technical criteria, guaranteeing the validity of the results and compliance with accreditation requirements.

In an increasingly automated and regulated industrial environment, organizations that effectively integrate digital technologies into their inspection processes will be better positioned to ensure safety, competitiveness, and market transparency.