What is ISO Certification?
ISO Certification is a seal of approval from a 3rd party body that a company runs to one of the internationally recognised ISO management systems. The certification can be used to tender for business as a proof of a company’s credibility but also to install confidence in the potential client that you will keep your promises.
Why would I want ISO Certification?
ISO certification is a statement to your stakeholders, employees and senior management that the business wishes to operate to a set framework in order to achieve its company objectives. Be this customer satisfaction objectives, production objectives or environmental objectives etc. By setting yourselves the task of maintaining an external certification you are proving the company’s commitment to these objectives as well as increasing the credibility and customer confidence in the brand / service or product.
For example by running a quality management system, a company can stay in control of its processes and procedures, ensure if anything does go wrong it is rectified quickly, efficiently and to the satisfaction of the customer. It can also ensure a smooth line of communication between employees, suppliers and customers at all times.
Many public and private sector tenders request ISO certification as either a pre-requisite to moving to the next stage or as a filter to remove companies from the tender process. By achieving the ISO certification that your customers give weight to, ensures that you are on a ‘level playing field’ with your potential competitors and improves your chances of successfully tendering. Many companies we work with report a major internal efficiency improvement which allows them to achieve greater results both in a sales and operational capacity.
How long does it take to achieve ISO certification?
We aim for a 6-8 week delivery period, but again this can vary from organisation to organisation. We will never delay the process, however we understand that things can happen that may mean you require a small delay. We will accommodate this where possible; however for those who are looking to achieve the certifications as soon as possible, we will endeavour to ensure you obtain your certification within our standard timescales.
After the quotation has been accepted and the deposit payment has been received we offer all of our clients a letter that you can send to your potential clients or include with tenders, to confirm that you have entered the process and that you will be fully certified within 6-8 weeks. This is normally sufficient to move forward with a tender process. This can then be followed up by an announcement letter stating that you have achieved the ISO certification.
What is an audit?
An audit is the process by which a company shows evidence of working to the required system and this is a compulsory element of the ISO / BS systems. A qualified auditor will attend your premises in order to assess your management system against the ISO/BS Standard that you are certified to, and will request to see evidence resulting from the companies processes and procedures to ensure the system is being used and maintained on a regular basis.
The auditor will typically compose a report, analysing your management system and the use of, against the clauses of the standard. ISO Quality Services Ltd will also provide you with recommendations for improvement that will have been agreed with you to assist you to drive the system forward to enable continuous improvement, thus getting the most out of the standard/s.
Who runs ISO?
All strategic decisions are referred to the ISO members, who meet for an annual General Assembly. The proposals put to the members are developed by the ISO Council, drawn from the membership as a whole, which resembles the board of directors of a business organization. Council meets twice a year and its membership is rotated to ensure that it is representative of ISO’s membership. Operations are managed by a Secretary-General, which is a permanent appointment. The Secretary-General reports to a President who is a prominent figure in standardization or in business, elected for two years.
Who actually develops ISO standards?
ISO standards are developed by technical committees comprising experts on loan from the industrial, technical and business sectors which have asked for the standards, and which subsequently put them to use. These experts may be joined by others with relevant knowledge, such as representatives of government agencies, testing laboratories, consumer associations, environmentalists, and so on. It is estimated that, every year, some 30 000 such experts participate in the development of ISO standards. The experts participate as national delegations, chosen by the ISO member for the country concerned to represent not just the views of the organizations in which the experts work, but a full national consensus on the issues involved.
Why aren’t ISO standards free?
ISO standards cost money to develop, publish and distribute. Someone has to pay. The current system whereby users are requested to pay for the standards they use, not only sustains the development process but also, very importantly, ensures that the balance of independent vs. government, private vs. public interests can be maintained.
What happens after certification?
The certification body will agree a “certification cycle”. This involves a re-certification and interim surveillance audits.
For example, an ISO 27001 Information Security Management system is usually re-certified every 3 years, with interim surveillance audits every 6 months from certification.
Is it true that implementation of Management Systems like ISO 9001 will have a lot of paperwork to be done?
Every company requires a certain amount of paperwork to operate successfully and ISO has acknowledged that it is up to the company to decide what is appropriate. For example; there is no prescriptive document requirements in the ISO 9001:2015 standard implementation. We will work closely with you to create the minimal of documentation necessary for the growth and success of your company.
I'm planning to expand my business to Multinational and Private Sector companies, will implementation of ISO Management System benefits me?
Absolutely. In most cases, having the relevant ISO certification will be mandatory in the tender and / or vendor specification. By having ISO certification in place, you are easily attracted to Procurement Departments who are prequalifying your eligibility. At the same time you will stay competitive and always have a powerful message to communicate through your marketing.
Will you help us with an Audit Plan as part of the service?
Yes, we will provide you with checklists and work with you through every stage. Don’t worry, we will work with you to produce manuals, process maps, quality plans, policy documents, safety statements, employee contracts and all the paperwork that is needed.
