ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an independent international organization that develops international standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, however it is not involved in ISO certification and does not issue ISO certificates, as its name implies. The ISO certification procedure is carried out in India by external certification bodies.
Choosing an ISO Certification Type
First and foremost, the entrepreneur must determine the type of ISO certification that is required for his or her company. There are a variety of ISO certifications available, including the ones listed below:
OHSAS 18001 – It takes into account the Occupational Health and Safety Management System
ISO 37001 – Anti-bribery Management Systems
ISO 9001:2008 – Quality Management System
ISO 31000 – Risk Management
ISO 27001 – It takes into account the Information and Security Management System
ISO 10002 – Compliant Management System
ISO 14001:2015 – Environment Management System
ISO 26000 – Social Responsibility
ISO 28000 – Security Management
ISO 22008 – Food Safety Management
SA 8000 – Social Accountability
ISO 50001 – Energy Management
SO/IEC 17025 – Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
Medical gadgets (SO 13485)
ISO 4217 – Currency codes
ISO 639 – Language codes
Country codes (ISO 3166)
Date and time format ISO 8601
ISO 20121 – Sustainable events
SO/IEC 27001 – Information security management
Pre-assessment Needs Determination
The Pre-assessment is an initial inspection of an organization's Quality Management System to detect any serious flaws or omissions in the system, and the registrar will provide the organization an opportunity to fix the problems before the normal registration assessment.
Make a plan of action.
The applicant or entrepreneur must prepare an action plan to close current gaps in the company after receiving information from the ISO registrar. The action plan should include a list of the actions that must be completed in order to meet the Quality Management System's requirements.
Note: In order to create a quality management system, the entrepreneur may need to provide training to personnel. Make sure that all of the company's personnel are aware of the ISO requirements for job efficiency and quality.
Inspection or audit on-site
To audit the modifications made in the organization, the ISO registrar will undertake a physical onsite inspection.
If the registrar discovers anything that does not comply with the ISO standards during the audit, the registrar decides the severity and issues findings. Nonconformities are audit results that are classified into two categories based on their severity.
A minor non-conformance is one that involves small breaches of procedures or modest system failures to fulfil ISO requirements.
A major non-conformance is one in which nonconforming items are likely to reach customers or where the quality system has broken down, resulting in an inefficient system in satisfying the standards' criteria.
Final inspection
The registration cannot proceed until the Registrar has closed and verified any serious nonconformities. This normally entails a re-audit of the impacted regions, as well as the costs connected with it.
Note that minor nonconformities necessitate the creation of a remedial action plan, which will be completed at the initial surveillance.
Obtain an ISO Certificate
After all nonconformities have been remedied and all findings have been updated in the ISO audit report, the registrar will award ISO certification.
Audits of Surveillance
The purpose of the surveillance audit will be to guarantee that the organization is adhering to ISO quality standards. It would be performed on a regular basis.
Pre-assessment Needs Determination
The Pre-assessment is an initial inspection of an organization's Quality Management System to detect any serious flaws or omissions in the system, and the registrar will provide the organization an opportunity to fix the problems before the normal registration assessment.
Make a plan of action.
The applicant or entrepreneur must prepare an action plan to close current gaps in the company after receiving information from the ISO registrar. The action plan should include a list of the actions that must be completed in order to meet the Quality Management System's requirements.
Note: In order to create a quality management system, the entrepreneur may need to provide training to personnel. Make sure that all of the company's personnel are aware of the ISO requirements for job efficiency and quality.
Inspection or audit on-site
To audit the modifications made in the organization, the ISO registrar will undertake a physical onsite inspection.
If the registrar discovers anything that does not comply with the ISO standards during the audit, the registrar decides the severity and issues findings. Nonconformities are audit results that are classified into two categories based on their severity.
A minor non-conformance is one that involves small breaches of procedures or modest system failures to fulfil ISO requirements.
A major non-conformance is one in which nonconforming items are likely to reach customers or where the quality system has broken down, resulting in an inefficient system in satisfying the standards' criteria.
Final inspection
The registration cannot proceed until the Registrar has closed and verified any serious nonconformities. This normally entails a re-audit of the impacted regions, as well as the costs connected with it.
Note that minor nonconformities necessitate the creation of a remedial action plan, which will be completed at the initial surveillance.
Obtain an ISO Certificate
After all nonconformities have been remedied and all findings have been updated in the ISO audit report, the registrar will award ISO certification.
Audits of Surveillance
The purpose of the surveillance audit will be to guarantee that the organization is adhering to ISO quality standards. It would be performed on a regular basis.
Frequently asked questions:
Is there a certificate available at the pre-audit stage?
No, there is no certificate during the pre-audit stage. The auditor will focus entirely on your company's business system and procedures in order to make recommendations on how to improve ISO compliance.
Is it possible for me to select any ISO accreditation?
No, not all ISO certifications are legitimate. It is necessary that you select the appropriate ones.
Is it necessary for me to renew my ISO certificate?
Not much, however auditors undertake surprise checks now and then to determine if your company's standards and procedures meet the ISO certification.
Is ISO certification equivalent to a permit or a license?
ISO accreditation is only for standards and has no bearing on permits or licenses. Even if you have an ISO certification, you will still require government and authority authorization, licenses, and licenses to conduct your business.
What are some of the advantages of ISO certification?
The International standard supports its own benefits within each industry; however, the certifications' common benefits include increased market potential, compliance with procurement tenders, improved efficiency and cost savings, a higher level of customer service and thus satisfaction, and increased staff morale and motivation. Customers will know you are serious about their needs if you have a recgnised management standard.
How long does ISO certification last?
In India, the ISO certificate is valid for only three years. You can reapply for ISO accreditation, but the procedure stays the same. The reassessment process comprises document verification and assessments of quality management systems, both of which must be maintained in the long run. Recertification can be applied for before the certificate expires, that is, before the third year has passed.
During the time that the ISO certificate is valid, the ISO authority conducts an annual evaluation of the system and closely monitors it.
When it comes to ISO certification and accreditation, what's the difference?
In simple terms, accreditation is a type of certification; however, accreditation should not be confused with certification or registration.
Why is ISO 9001 a requirement?
Although ISO 9001 is not a legal obligation, it may be imposed by a client. For example, to be eligible for tenders and work, you may need to acquire ISO 9001 certification.
What exactly is an ISO audit?
ISO auditing is a basic technique for ensuring that an organization's quality process system is in compliance with the requirements. Once you've obtained ISO certification, you'll need to conduct an annual ISO audit.
10.Is it possible to transfer ISO certification?
An ISO certification can be transferable; however the present certificate must first be accredited by an IAF or registrar.
11.What is ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 is a standard for a company's information security management system that defines best practices.
