ISO certification has been largely considered as a quality management tool which provides a kind of identity to company’s quality management system. It standardises how businesses and organisations involved in commerce and industry manage information and processes. It simply means that organisation has met certain requirements.
Some Important ISO Standards
It must be noted that ISO itself does not provide certification to the companies. Certification is done by the external bodies. It is very important that you choose recognized and credible certification body.
ISO certificate is become an essenstial requirement to participate in government tenders and it also helps your organisation to build credibility in overseas business as well.
Participate in Tenders
An ISO certificated company eligible to participate in Govt. tenders. Now a days ISO certification become an essential requirement in most of the tenders open. |
Customer Creditability and Confidence
ISO Certification enhances customer creditability and confidence. Basically, it proves that the company is dedicated to providing quality to its customers, which is no small advantage whether the company is negotiating with a long-time customer or endeavoring to pry a potentially lucrative customer away from a competitor. This benefit manifests itself not only in increased customer retention, but also in increased customer acquisition and heightened ability to enter into new markets |
Improve Marketability
Once a business becomes ISO certified, they can advertise their quality certification as well as respond to requests for quotes from firms, which make the ISO certificate a must have. Since ISO offers certifications and standards, which are globally acceptable, businesses have the opportunity of leveraging new market opportunities that they could not do business with before being ISO certified. |
Improve Firm and Product Quality
A quality management system (QMS) entails quality standards. As such, one effect of incorporating a QMS should be an ameliorated level of quality for the whole firm. This translates to heightened quality standards in every process and every product. Quality can be termed as conformance to the set requirements. Thus, a well-developed, efficiently implemented ISO Quality Management System will put your business on the road to increased quality. |
Increased Customer Satisfaction
Quality translates to whatever you are producing working as your clients expect. You will not only meet the set requirements, but you will meet more of clients’ implied requirements. Quality translates to reduced consumer complaints and doing more to resolve those complaints that come. An ISO certified business leverages an efficient quality management system, and per se, it can comprehend what the clients expect and provide it, increasing overall customer satisfaction. |
Professional Culture Development
A business that is effectively able to implement an ISO quality management system is able to empower its employees. A QMS will provide your employees with clear and concise instructions on job descriptions and quality objectives. The tools serve as work instructions and procedures, as well as, prompt and actionable feedback on employee performance and process metrics. |
International Creditability
ISO certification helps organisation to build creditability with foreign customers and consequently helps to boost your export business. |
Quality Management (USAS certified)
Rs. 10000
Quality Management (IAF certified)
Customise Fee
Measurement management systems
Customise Fee
Occupational Health & safety
Customise Fee
Information media security system
Customise Fee
Information technology management
Customise Fee
Standard for food safety
Customise Fee
Energy management
Customise Fee
Type of ISO Certification | Choose the type of ISO certification required for your business. For example, ISO 9001 or ISO 10012 or ISO 27001 |
Selected Accreditation Body | It must be noted that ISO itself does not provide certification to the companies. Certification is done by the external bodies. It is very important that you choose recognised and credible accreditation body. |
Fill-up Application Form | The applicant and the registrar should agree on a contract. This contract usually defines rights and obligations of both parties and includes liability issues, confidentiality, and access rights. |
Documents Submit and Review | Once you submit all documents, the ISO auditor will review your quality manuals & documents related to various policies & procedures being followed in the organisation. Basically, this review helps ISO Auditor to identify the possible gaps against the requirements stipulated in the ISO standards. |
Post Review Action plan ( if any gap found on review) | Once the ISO Auditor reviews all documents and quality Manual, next step they communicate the existing gaps ( if any) in your organisation. Therefore, you should prepare an action plan to eliminate these gaps. Prepare the list of the required tasks to be performed to bring the desired changes in your organisation. You may be required to give training to your employees to work efficiently while adapting to new procedures. Make all the employees aware of the ISO standards in terms of work efficiency and quality standards. For that purpose your can hire ISO quality trainer’s service. |
First Initial Certification Audit | First initial certification audit is conducted in 2 stages, Stage 1:- The purpose of the Stage 1 audit, ISO Auditor 1. Make verification that the management system conforms to the requirements of the standard. 2. Make verification its implementation status. 3. Make verification the scope of certification. 4. Check legislative/regulatory compliance. 5. Produce a report that identifies any non-compliance or opportunities for improvement and agree to corrective action plan if required. 6. Produce an assessment plan and confirm a date for the Stage 2 audit visit. Stage 2:- The purpose of this audit is to confirm that the management system has been fully implemented and conforms to the requirements of the chosen Standard in practice. The auditor will: 1. Undertake random samples of the processes and activities defined in the scope of certification. 2. Document how the system complies with the standard by using objective evidence. 3. Report any non-compliances or opportunities for improvement. 4. Forward to Issuing Registrar. 5. Produce a surveillance plan and agree to a date for the first annual surveillance audit. |
Issue Certificate | After all non-conformities are addressed and all the findings are put in the ISO audit report, the registrar will grant you the ISO certification. |
Surveillance Audits | Surveillance audits are undertaken periodically (typical once in a year or once in 2 years) to ensure that conformance to the chosen Standard is maintained throughout the three-year certification cycle. The frequency and duration of surveillance audit is dependent on factors including: # size and structure of organisation. # complexity and risk of activities. # number of management systems standards included in the scope of certification. |
MOST POPULAR STANDARDS ARE:-
(A) ISO 9000 family - Quality management
ISO 9000 family addresses various aspects of quality management and contains some of ISO’s best known standards. The standards provide guidance and tools for companies and organizations who want to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer’s requirements, and that quality is consistently improved.
ISO 9001:2015 - sets out the criteria for a quality management system and is the only standard in the family that can be certified to (although this is not a requirement). It can be used by any organization, large or small, regardless of its field of activity. In fact, there are over one million companies and organizations in over 170 countries certified to ISO 9001.
This standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement.
Using ISO 9001:2015 helps ensure that customers get consistent, good quality products and services, which in turn brings many business benefits.
Sector-specific applications of ISO 9001 - ISO has a range of standards for quality management systems that are based on ISO 9001 and adapted to specific sectors and industries. These include:
ISO/TS 29001 - Petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries
ISO 13485 - Medical devices
ISO/IEC 90003 - Software engineering
ISO 17582 - Electoral organizations at all levels of government
ISO 18091 - Local government
(B) ISO/IEC 27000 family - Information security management systems
ISO/IEC 27000, family of standards helps organizations keep information assets secure. Using this family of standards will help your organization manage the security of assets such as financial information, intellectual property, employee details or information entrusted to you by third parties.
ISO/IEC 27001 is the best-known standard in the family providing requirements for an information security management system (ISMS).
What is an ISMS?
An ISMS is a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information so that it remains secure. It includes people, processes and IT systems by applying a risk management process.
It can help small, medium and large businesses in any sector keep information assets secure.
There are more than a dozen standards in the 27000 family, these include:
ISO/IEC 27001:2013 specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an information security management system within the context of the organization. It also includes requirements for the assessment and treatment of information security risks tailored to the needs of the organization. The requirements set out in ISO/IEC 27001:2013 are generic and are intended to be applicable to all organizations, regardless of type, size or nature.
Other standards are ISO/IEC 27000:2018; ISO/IEC 27005:2011; ISO/IEC 27002:2013; etc. ( Find Details on FAQs below)
(C) ISO 22000 family - Food safety management
ISO 22000 family of International Standards addresses food safety management.
The consequences of unsafe food can be serious and ISO’s food safety management standards help organizations identify and control food safety hazards. As many of today's food products repeatedly cross national boundaries, International Standards are needed to ensure the safety of the global food supply chain.
ISO 22000:2005 sets out the requirements for a food safety management system and can be certified to. It maps out what an organization needs to do to demonstrate its ability to control food safety hazards in order to ensure that food is safe. It can be used by any organization regardless of its size or position in the food chain.
(D) ISO 14000 family - Environmental management
The ISO 14000 family of standards provides practical tools for companies and organizations of all kinds looking to manage their environmental responsibilities.
ISO 14001:2015 - sets out the criteria for an environmental management system and can be certified to. It maps out a framework that a company or organization can follow to set up an effective environmental management system. It can be used by any organization regardless of its activity or sector.
Using ISO 14001:2015 can provide assurance to company management and employees as well as external stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and improved.
ISO 14004:2016 - is applicable to any organization, regardless of size, type and nature, and applies to the environmental aspects of its activities, products and services that the organization determines it can either control or influence, considering a life cycle perspective.
The guidance in this International Standard can be used in whole or in part to systematically improve environmental management. It serves to provide additional explanation of the concepts and requirements.
ISO 14005:2010 - provides guidance for all organizations, but particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, on the phased development, implementation, maintenance and improvement of an environmental management system. It also includes advice on the integration and use of environmental performance evaluation techniques.
ISO 14005:2010 is applicable to any organization, regardless of its level of development, the nature of the activities undertaken or the location at which they occur.
ISO 14006:2011 - provides guidelines to assist organizations in establishing, documenting, implementing, maintaining and continually improving their management of ecodesign as part of an environmental management system (EMS).
(E) ISO/IEC 20000 family - is an Information Technology Service Management (ITSM). The first overall universal standard for IT service management
SO/IEC 20000 is a global IT standard that permits organizations to exhibit greatness and demonstrate best practice in IT administration. The standard guarantees organizations can accomplish proof based benchmarks to ceaselessly enhance their conveyance of IT administrations. The selection of ISO/IEC 20000 has developed quickly in the universal coliseum of IT administration suppliers and it has turned into a focused differentiator for conveyance of IT administrations. ISO/IEC 20000 is adjusted to and corresponding to the procedure methodology characterized inside ITIL from the Office of Government Commerce (OGC).
Formally, ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011 ('part 1') includes "the design, transition, delivery and improvement of services that fulfill service requirements and provide value for both the customer and the service provider. This part of ISO/IEC 20000 requires an integrated process approach when the service provider plans, establishes, implements, operates, monitors, review, maintains and improves a service management system (SMS).
(F) OHSAS - Occupational Health and Safety Management System
Any Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Management system specifies processes to continuously improve your OH&S performance and at the same time, comply with legislation. It provides the framework to seamlessly integrate the OH&S management system with your overall business plan.
OHSAS/IEC 18001:2007
The (OHSAS) specification gives clearer direction to an occupational health and safety management system. OHSAS 18001:2007 is an audit/certification specification, not a legislative requirement or a guide to implementation. It should be noted that OHSAS 18001:2007 does not state specific performance criteria, or give detailed specifications for the design of a management system. Instead, the system is geared towards reducing and preventing accidents and accident-related loss of lives, resources, and time.
OHSAS 18001:2007 has been developed to be compatible with the ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental) management systems standards. It is its hope that any organization that implements OHSAS 18001:2007 can easily integrate it with other quality, environmental or occupational health and safety management systems. The OHSAS 18001:2007 Specification follows the Plan-Do-Check-Review cycle, with a concurrent emphasis on continual improvement. This model aligns well with the structure of other management system documents such as ISO 14001, thus aiding the progress of integrated management systems.
(G) ISO 14385:2016
This is internationally recognized quality management system that specifies a requirement for a quality management system. ISO 13485:2016 provides an extensive framework to meet the extensive requirements for a medical device quality management system.
(H) ISO/TS 16949
ISO 16949 is the globally recognized certification for the quality management systems in the automotive industry. This TS Certification is developed by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) and helps in bringing the common processes in the automotive industry globally.
(I) ISO 29990:2010
The main focus of ISO 29990:2010 International Standards is to provide a basic model for quality professional practice and performance. Therefore, this standard is used to define learning service providers for non-formal education and training.
(J) ISO 50001:2011 - is the International Standard for Energy Management System. Certification specifies all the requirements that are necessary for the implementation of energy management system. The purpose of the certification is to enable an organization to follow the appropriate approach to enhance the energy performance.
SOME OF THE IMPORTANT ISO ACCREDITATION BODIES ARE,
JAS-ANZ :- The Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand
UKAS :- The United Kingdom Accreditation Service
DAC :- The Dubai Accreditation Department
ANAB :- ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board, USA
IAS :- International Accreditation Service, USA
NABCB :-National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies, India Govt.
EGAC :- Egyptian Accreditation Council, Egypt Govt.
AIAO-BAR :- American International Accreditation Organization
Document Control |
Issuing a document with a reference and version number to ensure that the right document, is in the right place, at the right time. |
Record Control |
A record is a completed document (see above). Record control is an efficient method of finding individual records. It can also refer to how you file, remove, archive and destroy individual records. |
Internal Review |
An in-depth review of your management system, to ensure you are on track for your end of year validation audit. This also ensures the company satisfies internal audit requirements laid out in the standard. |
Non-Conformance |
A non-conformance is when something happens within the business that wasn’t planned. This could be: Internal E.g Out of date process / procedure, human error etc. External E.g Customer complaints, supplier issues etc. |