Are you considering getting your business ISO certified?
Doing so can be a great way to demonstrate your commitment to quality and help you stand out from the competition.
ISO certification is an internationally recognized standard that is used to evaluate and certify organizations. It is based on a set of quality management principles that include customer focus, process-oriented approach, continual improvement, and fact-based decision making.
The process of becoming ISO certified can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. In this blog, we’ll break down the process step-by-step so that you can understand the requirements and get on your way to becoming ISO certified.
The ISO certification for any standard follows practically the same process which can be spread out over more or less 9 to 12 months or even more according to the availability and the commitment of the actors of the company.
We summarize the process in 7 steps. At this level, there are two approaches.
- The company can decide to carry out the project by itself
- or to be accompanied by a consultant or a specialized structure.
In most cases, companies choose to work with external consultants. This has the advantage of saving time and avoiding certain mistakes. Let’s continue with that approach when the company decides to be accompanied by a consultant or a specialized structure.
Research Certification bodies
Once you have selected the appropriate ISO standard, the next step is to research certification bodies. A certification body is an organization that has the authority to assess and certify organizations based on a set of standards.
It is important to choose a certification body that is accredited by a recognized national or international authority. It is also important to be certified by a reputable organization, which is known in your industry and especially appreciated by your customers or business partners.
The first thing to do is then to sign a confidentiality agreement with the consultant/firm as soon as an agreement in principle is obtained for the project.
Define the scope
Agree on the scope of the project (all or part of the organization) and discuss the project team and validation channels.
The consultant will perform an initial diagnosis in accordance with the chosen standard to determine the initial level of compliance.
The initial diagnosis will allow a better appreciation of the real workload. Thus, the consultant will elaborate an implementation plan that details the actions, who is to carry them out, the timetable – according to the priorities identified in the diagnosis.
One of the most important points will be the analysis of the company’s context and its stakeholders.
Develop a Quality Management System (QMS)
The next step is to develop and implement a Quality Management System (QMS) that meets the requirements of the chosen ISO standard. This includes developing and documenting processes, implementing an effective control system, and ensuring that all employees are properly trained.
The Client will work with the consultant to perform the risk assessment, define the objectives of the system to be implemented, define the documentation, etc.
Get ready to Make any necessary changes to your QMS
Once the assessment/audit is completed, the certification body will provide you with a list of any areas that need to be addressed before certification can be granted.
The certification body will perform several tasks to help you own your QMS
- Train internal auditors, raise staff awareness, and conduct internal audits accordingly.
- Conduct at least one management review
- Take time to make the system work with you
If there are still gaps or non-conformities in the system, correct them and keep evidence of them.
You will need to make any necessary changes to your QMS to ensure that it meets the requirements of the standard.
Get ready to Make any necessary changes to your QMS
Once the assessment/audit is completed, the certification body will provide you with a list of any areas that need to be addressed before certification can be granted.
The certification body will perform several tasks to help you own your QMS
- Train internal auditors, raise staff awareness, and conduct internal audits accordingly.
- Conduct at least one management review
- Take time to make the system work with you
If there are still gaps or non-conformities in the system, correct them and keep evidence of them.
You will need to make any necessary changes to your QMS to ensure that it meets the requirements of the standard.
Pre-certification or blank audit
This one is optional but important because it allows to correct the deviations and eventually allows the system to be seen under another eye.
Idéalement, l’audit à blanc est fait dans les mêmes conditions que l’audit de certification lui-même et par une personne autre que le consultant.
Receive and maintain certification
Once all of the necessary changes have been made, the certification body will issue you with a certificate of compliance indicating that your QMS has met the requirements of the standard.
After the certification, we enter into the dynamics of continuous improvement. Your certification will be valid for 3 years ; so you’ll need to maintain that certification !
Maintaining involves having annual audits and surveillance visits to ensure that your QMS is still compliant with the requirements of the standard.
Becoming ISO certified is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to quality and help you stand out from the competition. The process can be intimidating, but if you follow the steps outlined in this blog, you should be well on your way to becoming ISO certified.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to know more.
Good luck!
At FormaTour, we have experts who cover all ISO certification standards. From Information Security, Quality Management Systems to Business Continuity and more… Join us anytime!