ISO Certification Process

A Step-by-Step Guide to the ISO Certification Process

Is your organization looking to obtain ISO certification? Are you not sure about the ISO certification process? This blog is here to help you navigate your way through the entire ISO certification process!

Throughout the ISO certification process, ISO certification bodies follow the following broad guidelines:

ISO Certification Process

The Pre-Audit Phase

The pre-audit, which is undertaken by the certifying organization, is the first step in the ISO certification process. This will entail a few days of on-site examination as well as an off-site review with written documentation. To ensure that case studies, quality manuals, ISO processes, and ISO guidelines are in place, the ISO audit team leader will look at records linked to them.

ISO processes must be mapped out during the pre-audit stage to ensure that they comply with all ISO requirements. Interviews with employees, management, and anyone involved in the ISO certification process will be part of the ISO pre-audit. You can hire outside ISO consultants to help you with the pre-audit stage of the ISO certification process, or you can appoint a skilled individual from within your own firm.

The following is what will be conducted during the pre-audit phase of the ISO certification process:

  • The Gap Analysis

During the ISO pre-audit, the appointed ISO audit team leader will make a note of any gaps or anomalies. Before the certifying body conducts the actual ISO certification audit, the ISO consultant will engage with management to ensure that the ISO certification process meets all ISO requirements.

  • Required Documentation

All ISO requirements must be documented as part of the ISO certification process. Your company will make certain that the quality manual complies with ISO standards. Before the ISO certification process can begin, your firm will review all aspects of ISO documentation to ensure that it is complete. If there are any inconsistencies between ISO requirements and paperwork, management will address the necessary revisions before the ISO certification process begins.

  • ISO Training for all Employees

The organization will check ISO training records prior to the ISO certification process to ensure that staff is familiar with ISO requirements. Your company will also assess the success of ISO training by asking questions such as how long it took employees to understand the certification requirements, how effective the trainers were, was there any follow-up ISO training, and was the training aligned with ISO requirements.

  • Providing Resources

During the ISO certification process, ISO experts will examine the ISO resources used by employees. ISO experts will ensure that all ISO-related materials are current and comply with ISO standards. ISO policies, forms, records, guidelines, manuals, and other documents may be included as part of the ISO certification process requirements.

  • Implementation of the ISO system

Before the ISO certification process begins, ISO consultants will engage with management to establish an ISO project strategy. Based on ISO rules and customer/regulatory requirements, ISO consultants will also build an effective risk management plan for ISO certification. The ISO consultants will assist the firm in implementing the management system once the necessary strategies have been addressed.

  • Conduct Internal Audits

Following the implementation of measures, the next step in the ISO certification process is to conduct an internal audit to evaluate how the ISO system was implemented. Internal audits are usually conducted by a management representative within the organization. Records connected to ISO audits, samples of ISO paperwork, quality plans, ISO training plans, ISO communication plans, and so on will be examined by the internal auditor. The internal audit’s findings will be documented in an audit report, which will be shared with the certifying authority at the next stage in the ISO certification process.

The Auditing Phase

A company’s readiness for the ISO certification process is determined during the pre-audit stage. Once this phase is concluded, the auditing phase begins through an ISO certification body. An ISO certification audit is a review process in which an ISO auditor from a certification organization examines ISO documents, interviews personnel and management, and determines whether ISO requirements are met. The ISO certification process is divided into two stages:

  • Preliminary Audit: Stage 1

ISO auditors will review ISO documentation throughout this stage of the ISO certification process to confirm that all ISO requirements have been documented. If any differences in ISO documents are discovered, your company will need to update them before the actual ISO certification audit (stage 2) takes place.

  • Implementation Audit: Stage 2

The ISO certification process moves to the second step when your organization completes the stage 1 preliminary audit. ISO certification audits are performed to guarantee that ISO standards are followed. ISO auditors will review ISO paperwork, speak with workers, and conduct ISO system audits. The outcomes of an ISO certification audit are recorded in an ISO certification audit report.

Issuance of ISO Certification by Certification Body

The certifying authority will award your firm ISO certification once you pass both stages of the ISO external audit.

Surveillance Audits

The next step in the ISO certification process is surveillance audits. The ISO certification organization that gave your ISO certification will conduct two surveillance audits within the three-year validity period. Surveillance audits verify that your company complies with ISO requirements for the duration of your certification’s validity.

Re-certification Audit

A re-certification audit is the final step in the ISO certification process. A re-certification audit is performed to extend the validity of your company’s ISO certification.

Duration of ISO Certification Process

If an ISO consultant is recruited, the ISO certification process takes about six months. The length of the ISO certification process, on the other hand, is determined by your organization’s preparation for ISO compliance. When compared to a firm that has not yet adopted ISO management system criteria, getting ISO certification will take less time if your organization is currently ISO compliant.

Fees for ISO Certification Process

The cost of the entire ISO certification process is determined by a number of criteria, including the ISO certification body chosen, ISO consultant fees, ISO document preparation fees, ISO audit fees, and so on. If ISO consultancy fees are included in the ISO certification process, the expenses will rise. Hiring in-house employees to guide you through the pre-audit stage of the ISO certification process can save your company money. To accomplish so, you’ll need to hire and train competent employees who are familiar with the ISO certification process.

For more information on the ISO certification process, please contact us at enquiry@iascertification.com!