About ISO
ISO is a non-governmental organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, that brings together the standards organizations of over 160 countries, with one body representing each member country. Member organizations work together to develop and promote worldwide standards for technology, scientific testing techniques, working conditions, and societal problems, among other things. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and its members sell publications that contain further information on the standards. ISO certification can be achieved through a third-party certification body that evaluates companies based on the guidelines given by ISO.
Why Should My Company Apply for ISO Certification?
To begin, determine whether ISO certification is acceptable for your organization. There are a number of reasons to achieve ISO certification. ISO is known for its best practices and high quality, thus it can provide a long-term competitive advantage or a point of differentiation from competitors. ISO certification gives you the benefit of being recognized both locally and internationally, which can help you develop your market and strengthen your business relationships. Because ISO standards are commonly used in procurement, ISO certification can help your company acquire credibility when bidding on contracts with government agencies.
Who can Apply for ISO Certification?
ISO certification can be applied to any size or type of organization. The process for achieving ISO certification is the same regardless of the number of employees you have, your company’s annual revenue, or who your customers are. The only prerequisites for ISO certification are management commitment to quality and an awareness of the latest changes in ISO standards. The following are just some of the many industries that benefit from ISO certification:
- Construction Companies
- Manufacturing Companies
- Agricultural Industries
- Oil & Natural Gas Industries
- Schools & Universities
- Hospitals/Laboratories
- Banks
- Food Industries
- Government Agencies
Popular ISO Certification Schemes
The following are popular ISO certification schemes for organizations to obtain:
- ISO 9001 – Quality Management System (QMS)
- ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System (EMS)
- ISO 45001 – Occupational Health & Safety Management system (OHSMS)
- ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management System (FSMS)
- ISO 27001 – Information Security Management System (ISMS)
- ISO 50001 – Energy Management System (EnMS)
- IATF 16949 – Quality Management System for Automotive Sectors
- ISO 13485 – Quality Management System for Medical Devices/Equipment
- AS 9100 – Quality Management System for Aerospace industry
How does Your Company Achieve ISO Certification?
Here’s a summary of what you should expect from your company to achieve ISO certification.
- Ongoing management commitment and company involvement
- Cross-functional participation in the ISO certification process
- Cross-disciplinary participation in completing projects
- Process documentation and implementation
- Participating in preparation, administration, and follow-up of the audits
- Comprehensive employee training for management, staff, and other relevant employees
- Continual improvement of processes and products based on results from audits
- Continuous improvement activities and objectives.
The Process of ISO Certification
The first step is to determine which scheme best fits your company’s needs. Some schemes have other schemes as prerequisites, so you will need to start at the beginning of the scheme and work your way through each level. You can either work directly with a certification body or agency that has been approved by ISO to conduct audits, or you can choose to appoint a third party such as an approved auditor to assess your company’s system and prepare for ISO certification audits.
The next step is to document and implement your management system according to the criteria set out in the chosen ISO scheme. During this time, your company will be audited and surveyed on a regular basis by the certification body to ensure that your system is being implemented correctly and that the necessary paperwork exists for each stage of your management system. The documentation required includes policy statements as well as quality manuals, operating procedures, and corrective action forms. In addition, your employees will need to be trained on how to properly fill out the required paperwork.
The final step is the ISO certification audit. This involves a thorough investigation into all aspects of your company’s system with regard to the chosen ISO scheme. It consists of a detailed report and a public statement detailing discrepancies in relation to the criteria of the scheme. If all requirements are met, your company will be awarded ISO certification.
How Long does it take to get ISO Certification?
A variety of factors influence the length of time it takes to achieve ISO certification, including the following:
- The standards that were chosen for ISO certification
- The number of locations and the company’s size
- The intricacy of the procedure
- Employee competency, as well as the process
- Organizational prerequisites and needs
- The interested party’s criteria
Depending on their size and complexity, organizations can expect to get ISO certification in three to six months provided they complete all of the necessary preparations and have a basic understanding of ISO processes.
Cost of ISO Certification
The cost of building and implementing a formal management system is dictated by your company’s size and complexity, as well as internal procedures. The first is the cost of development, which includes time spent documenting and implementing the system. Second, there are expenses involved with training staff on how to create required papers as well as plan and conduct effective internal audits. The third ISO certification expense is the registration fee, which comprises the audit and registration of the management system. The cost of ISO certification is also determined by the number of sites, scope of work, number of shifts, and other factors.
Benefits of ISO Certification
ISO certification provides many benefits to organizations operating in international markets, including:
- Increased credibility with customers- A certified company is viewed as higher quality and more trustworthy than its non-certified counterparts.
- Increased productivity-The implementation of internal audits helps to identify issues with quality control and other areas that need attention, leading to increased overall performance.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction- Certification improves overall reliability by ensuring products are delivered on time, within specifications, and meeting customer requirements. This also allows companies to produce higher-quality products with reduced rework.
- Enhanced reputation-An ISO-certified company is viewed as more stable and trustworthy, which can enhance customer relationships and lead to future business opportunities.
- Increased revenue potential- The implementation of an effective management system helps companies identify areas for improvement, leading to increased sales and operating profits. You can sell your products more easily when you can verify that they are of the highest quality.
For more information on ISO certification and how to apply for ISO certification, please contact us at enquiry@iascertification.com