Is ISO certification something you want for your business? Whether it is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, or another ISO standard, the procedure is not as challenging as it may seem. In actuality, the four-step ISO certification procedure is the center of certification.
How Does ISO Work?
The ISO series of international standards “provide guidance and tools for firms and organisations who seek to ensure that their products and services consistently fulfil consumer expectations and that quality is routinely improved.” A number of industries have established standards from SO 9001 (also known as ISO 9001:2015), which lays out the requirements for quality management systems (QMS).
ISO Certification Procedure in 4 Steps
Our infographic provides a clear road map of the steps needed to complete each milestone.
- Keep records of your management system
- Decide on your main business procedures.
- Create paperwork that satisfies your company’s requirements. (Policy objectives, work instructions, manuals, job descriptions, forms, etc.)
- Encourage staff members to contribute to document development to increase ownership and awareness.
- Distribute the documents to people who require access to the information after reviewing and approving them.
- Apply your strategy
- Make sure the steps are carried out exactly as described in the printed instructions.
- Ensure that workers have received the appropriate training for the duties they are handling.
- Set up efficient reporting mechanisms.
- Use quantifiable data to track the efficiency of your procedures wherever possible.
- Assess the situation and take the necessary steps to become well.
- Make sure your system is working properly.
- Plan your internal auditing tasks.
- Audit and evaluate for compliance and efficiency. Interview people, sample records, and observe processes in operation.
- Identify and make a list of the benefits and drawbacks of the management system.
- As necessary, take remedial or proactive action.
- Registering your device
- Choose the right certification organization for external registration.
- Make sure your management system documentation complies with the relevant standard by submitting it for evaluation.
- Be ready for an evaluation by an outside auditor to verify that the management system is correctly applied and that the requirements of the system are being met.
Getting an ISO Certificate
Depending on the size of your business, the existence of an existing QMS, and the degree to which it complies with ISO criteria, the time from programme inception to registration can range from 2 to 10 months. To maintain certification, your company must demonstrate through internal follow-up audits that the steps taken to bring your firm into compliance with standards are being followed.
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