ISO Certification FAQ

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Written by Stephanie Kline
Date Published: January 5, 2023
Categories: ISO 9001

ISO Certification FAQ

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is a quality management system (QMS) standard. It’s the most recognized quality standard worldwide, and the most popular ISO standard. The latest version released in 2015.

 

Who is ISO 9001 Certification for?

Any business in any industry can certify to ISO 9001. Even small businesses can achieve certification and reap the benefits. Thousands do so every year. Often, businesses pursue certification due to customer requirements. Many do so simply to improve their quality and gain a competitive advantage.

 

What does Certification Cost?

Depending on the size of your company, certification can cost between $3000 – $5000 dollars. At CertFast, we take the needs of small businesses into consideration, helping you cut down certification costs.

 

How Long does Certification Take?

After your audit, you can expect your certificate in less than a month. But remember to give yourself ample time to implement the standard. Many businesses need up to four months to prepare.

 

Does it Matter which Registrar I Choose?

Every licensed registrar will certify you against the same ISO 9001 standard. That said, it’s a flexible standard. Every registrar comes to the table with slightly different interpretations. Most registrars emphasize larger businesses. At CertFast, we’ve shaped our process to benefit small businesses.

 

What is ISO?

ISO is the International Organization for Standardization. According to iso.org:

“ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 167 national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.”

ISO helps ensuse consistent standards across a multitude of nations and industries. Over 23,000 ISO standards exist today. The most common standard—ISO 9001—lays out internationally recognized best practices for quality management systems. 

The Four Steps of ISO 9001 Certification

You can break down the certification process into four basic steps.

1. Stage 1 Readiness Audit

First comes the Stage 1 Audit. Here, your auditor reviews your management system to assess your readiness for the Stage 2 Audit. You’ll want to have all the needed documents and policies in order by this stage.

2. Stage 2 Certification Audit

Here, the auditor will evaluate your organization against your quality management system. This can happen either virtually or onsite. It will involve conversations with various members of your team, to make sure your quality goals have become part of company culture.

3. Fix Your Findings

Don’t panic. If your auditor discovers a nonconformance (something that doesn’t meet your QMS standards) you will have a time to make corrections. If a major nonconformance is found, this may require a second audit.

4. Receive Your Certificate

With your audit performed and the needed corrections made, you’re ready to receive your certificate. Your auditor will recommend you for official ISO 9001 certification.

 

The ISO 9000 Family of Standards

You may hear people talk about “ISO 9000.” ISO 9000 is a group of standards related to quality management. It includes ISO 9000, ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9004. If you’re seeking certification, you only need to worry about ISO 9001. This is the only ISO 9000-family standard to which businesses can certify.

The other members of the ISO 9000 family simply support this standard. They may provide helpful guidance as you implement the requirements. For example, the ISO 9000 standard lays out helpful vocabulary and concepts for navigating ISO 9001.

 

What does ISO 9001:2015 Require?

The latest revision of ISO 9001 was released in 2015. It is officially referred to as ISO 9001:2015. The first version released in 1987. Recent revisions have made it more accessible for small businesses and service providers.

Before beginning the certification process, you will need to learn the standard’s requirements and implement them. You’ll find that the requirements are flexible to fit around your business processes, even if you’re a small business.

Below, we’ve provided a brief outline of the ISO 9001 standard.

 

Clauses 1-3

The first three clauses of ISO 9001:2015 form the introduction of the standard. These clauses do not contain requirements.

 

Clause 4: Context of the Organization

This section focuses on your specific business context. Here, you define the scope of your quality management system. This scope will ultimately determine which parts of your business get audited. In this clause, you will also look at the internal and external factors that could affect your business—either positively or negatively. This involves taking stock of every party with a stake in your business, from employees to contractors. Lastly, this clause helps you understand the needs and expectations of customers.

 

Clause 5: Leadership

Leadership sits at the center of ISO 9001. Your auditor will want to see top management in the driver’s seat of your QMS. This clause requires your leadership to establish a Quality Policy and related quality goals. Your company leadership must also communicate these items across your organization.

 

Clause 6: Planning

ISO 9001:2015 places a major emphasis on risk-based thinking. Clause 6 requires you to make a plan to address the risks you face. This isn’t just about preventing threats. It’s also about taking advantage of opportunities. Your auditor will want to see that you’ve documented your risks, along with their likelihood and their potential for harm.

 

Clause 7: Support

This clause requires you to provide the resources needed to run your QMS. Support comes in various forms, such as human resources, infrastructure, work environment, equipment, and organizational knowledge. Here, you will find requirements for communication, competence, and awareness. Your auditor will look for evidence that company policies and values have been communicated throughout your organization. This clause also lays out the requirements for controlling documented information.

 

Clause 8: Operation

This clause governs your operations. Up until now, we’ve been in the planning phase. Now we start to do. This clause guides the design of your products and services, and asks you to define your methods of customer communication. You will also need to think about the products and services you source from other providers. These also must be controlled.

 

Clause 9: Performance Evaluation

This clause outlines one of the most essential aspects of ISO 9001 certification: measuring your processes against the requirements of the standard. Here, you check to see whether your QMS lives up to ISO 9001. This involves everyday monitoring and measuring practices. It also involves internal audits, performed by someone within your organization, and regular management meetings.

This is where you will catch nonconformances—things that don’t meet the requirements of ISO 9001. By catching these issues here and now, you can make your future third-party audit quicker and cheaper.

 

Clause 10: Improvement

ISO 9001 isn’t just about maintaining high quality. It’s about continual improvement. To achieve that goal, you need to act on the results of your performance evaluation. This clause requires you to take corrective action in the areas where your QMS doesn’t meet ISO standards.

Your auditor will want to see that you’ve made corrective actions, not merely corrections. Corrective actions address the root cause of a problem to make sure it will not reoccur. Superficial fixes won’t fly as a response to audit findings.

 

How To Receive ISO 9001 Certification

Now you’re ready to get started. But where to begin? How can you ensure a smooth audit and a fast certification?

First, purchase a copy of the official ISO 9001:2015 standard. Then you can read the requirements and learn them thoroughly. Other standards in the ISO 9000 family might help you in this process.

Second, build your quality management system around ISO 9001 requirements. Implement any changes needed, organize your documentation, and perform an internal audit to test your readiness. By preparing well in this stage, you can ensure a faster, smoother third-party audit in the future.

Third, contact CertFast or another licensed registrar to begin the audit process. Your audit may be performed virtually or onsite, depending on your needs and preferences.

Businesses often dread this stage of the process. But there’s no need to panic. If your auditor finds a nonconformance, you will have time to fix the issue before receiving certification. The audit exists to help you achieve success.

Once you’ve made the needed corrections, you will receive your ISO 9001 certificate. This certification lasts for three years. After that, you must re-certify.

 

Certification, Simplified

At CertFast, we understand the pressures faced by a small business. Our auditors are real people with hands-on industry experience. We don’t want the ISO 9001 process to become one more burden in your already-hectic work schedule. Instead, we want to make certification work for you.

Most major ISO 9001 registrars specialize in big businesses. This can make it complicated to simply get a quote and schedule an audit. When the audit finally happens, it can take over 30 days for their review board to issue the certificate.

CertFast takes the hassle out of the audit process. We offer simple, friendly, and affordable certification with a quick turnaround, focused on the needs of a small business. Contact us today for a custom quote.

 

The Benefits of ISO 9001

ISO 9001 certification proves your quality to the world. It opens new opportunities and new customer bases. With an official ISO 9001 certificate, any customer in any country can see that you meet world class quality standards.

But ISO 9001 is more than a certificate. The certification process—yes, even the audit—brings a multitude of benefits to your business.

 

ISO 9001 Benefits Your Employees

Job Satisfaction

ISO 9001 requires clearly defined employee roles. When you follow this standard, your employees will know their roles, know their objectives, and have the competency to perform their tasks. This leads to higher job satisfaction. In today’s turbulent labor market, this is essential for employee retention and hiring.

Job Security

As your quality improves, so will customer satisfaction, leading to increased business growth. By bolstering the overall strength of your business, ISO 9001 helps you maintain job security for your team.

Increased Engagement

When you follow ISO 9001, your employees understand how their work impacts the overall goals of your business. They know they’re an important part of something bigger. With this big picture in mind, engagement increases and morale improves.

Improved Culture

With your whole team in pursuit of the same goals, you will start to see positive developments in your company culture. Teamwork increases when everyone pulls in the same direction. People take ownership of their work.

 

ISO 9001 Benefits Your Business

Increased Productivity

ISO 9001 helps you define and organize your processes. But it does more than that. It helps you measure those processes and set goals. When you follow ISO 9001, you see increased efficiency and productivity.

Reduced Risk

A ISO 9001 QMS requires you to assess the potential threats to your business, and to make a plan to address them. By systematically thinking through the risks you face—both internally and externally—you’re much less likely to get caught off guard. This preparedness helps you avoid disruptions and delays.

Improved Image

Every business faces the same basic problem: How do I stand out from the crowd? ISO 9001 answers that question for you. It tells the world that you’re a trustworthy, quality-driven business. An ISO 9001 certificate from a licensed registrar like CertFast gives you an immediate edge over your competition.

Easier Decision-Making

ISO 9001 gives you a new level of visibility in your business. With your processes documented and recorded, you can make informed decisions based on real data.

More Opportunities

Many customers will only work with ISO 9001-certified companies. This is often the case when it comes to government contracts. An official ISO 9001 certification opens a new realm of business opportunity.

Greater Revenue

With all of the above—higher efficiency, fewer risks, more opportunities—revenue naturally increases. You can work with more customers and win bigger contracts. Simply put: An official ISO 9001 certification boosts your bottom line.

 

ISO 9001 Benefits Your Customers

Quick Responses

An ISO 9001 QMS prepares you to deal with any issue that might arise in your business. If you receive a complaint, or if customers report a problem, you will be ready to handle it efficiently. You can turn it into an opportunity to show your quick response time and boost customer satisfaction.

Customer Security

When you have an official ISO 9001 certificate, you have tangible proof of quality. Customers will know you take quality seriously. They will also know that you’re prepared to handle the risks you face. This boosts the customer’s sense security. You’re a business they can trust.

Better Quality

ISO 9001 boosts the quality of your products and services. Those benefits go directly to your customers.

Exceeded Expectations

ISO 9001 requires you to anticipate customer needs and expectations. It prepares you to meet those expectations and—as your quality continually improves—exceed them. Customers will notice the difference.

 

Get a No-Hassle Quote Today

Ready to enhance your business with an official ISO 9001 certification? Contact us today for a no-hassle quote.

 

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