To strengthen the Certification Body (CB) Development Program, APO-accredited CBs must adhere to APO Accreditation Body (APO-AB) standards, including procedures, competency, organizational structure, and productivity-related schemes. This aims to enhance the capacity of NPOs and their affiliated organizations to function as CBs and expand their role as productivity specialists. The APO Accreditation and Certification Program certifies and recertifies CBs to administer APO certification schemes for individuals in member economies. NPOs are encouraged to become APO CBs to address the shortage of productivity professionals who can drive organizational and national productivity. This enables them to nurture and certify productivity specialists, including Green Productivity Specialists, to alleviate the shortage of skilled human resources.

To introduce and promote the APO Accreditation and Certification Program among NPOs and their affiliated organizations, the Malaysia Productivity Corporation in collaboration with the APO Secretariat organized an online Workshop on Management of the APO Certification Bodies of Productivity Specialists, 13–15 June. The workshop served as a platform for developing the competencies of professionals who could contribute to establishing and operating future CBs. It was attended by 43 participants from 13 APO members, including 10 from Malaysia representing professionals from NPOs and their affiliated organizations, and CBs.

The workshop was conducted by four resource persons, two from Indonesia and one each from Malaysia and Singapore who provided comprehensive information about the APO Accreditation and Certification Program and how participants can acquire the necessary skills to effectively manage CB operations. The topics included APO-AB 1003:2020 General Requirements for Certification Bodies: Certification of Persons Scheme, APO Certification of Persons Schemes, CB documentation and implementation tasks management, APO-AB 4001:2020 Procedure for Accreditation of Certification Bodies, assessment and certification process, challenges faced by CBs, and best practices. The workshop served as a catalyst for fostering productivity professionals and ensuring their certification as Productivity or Green Productivity specialists.