The certification is based on a maturity assessment model developed by QCI and is applicable to all defence manufacturing enterprises i.e., micro, small, medium and large enterprises. SAMAR Certification framework recognizes 5 levels of enterprise maturity in terms of the defined organisational attributes:
| Maturity Level | Organizational Attribute |
| Level 1 | Largely ad hoc processes |
| Level 2 | Process of standardisation has just begun |
| Level 3 | Processes are standardised |
| Level 4 | Processes are standardised, measured and controlled |
| Level 5 | Processes are standardised, measured and continually improved for optimization |