ISO 9001 Certification
Perhaps a customer is asking you to become “ISO 9001 certified.” Or maybe you’re angling for a government contract, and the request for proposals requires ISO 9001 certification. What does it mean for your business to become “ISO 9001 certified?”
ISO 9001 certification means you have met the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard, passed a third-party audit from a licensed registrar, and received an official ISO 9001 certificate. This certificate demonstrates the quality of your products and services. It tells the world that your products and services meet international standards of quality.
ISO 9001 comes from the International Organization for Standardization. It sets the best practices for quality management, agreed upon by business leaders from around the world.
ISO 9001: The World’s Leading Quality Management System
ISO 9001 is a quality management system (QMS) standard. It helps you build a formal system of processes and documentation, ensuring consistent quality on every level of your business. Ultimately, ISO 9001 produces customer satisfaction.
At CertFast, our expert team has years of experience in both ISO 9001 certification and small business leadership. We make ISO 9001 certification simple, friendly, and affordable. We offer various small business considerations, such as virtual audits, to help organizations like yours see the full benefits of an official ISO 9001 certification.
Read on to learn more about ISO 9001 and the certification process.
ISO 9001 In a Nutshell
ISO 9001 is the world’s leading quality management system standard. It lays out international standards for quality management. It can apply to any business of any size in any industry including manufacturing and service industries. It’s ultimate goal is to produce customer satisfaction. Certification lasts for four years. At that point, businesses must re-certify to the standard.
ISO 9001 FAQ
What is required for ISO 9001 certification?
To receive ISO 9001 certification, you must learn the requirements of ISO 9001, implement them, and receive a third-party certification audit.
How long does ISO 9001 preparation take?
For most businesses, it takes about four months to implement the standard and receive a certificate. In some circumstances, this process can be expedited. At CertFast, our streamlined process helps you save time and money.
How much does ISO 9001 certification cost?
A typical audit costs between $3000-$5000. CertFast offers virtual audits and other small business considerations to cut down on audit costs. Contact us today for a no-hassle quote.
ISO 9001 Certification in Four Steps
The ISO 9001 process starts with preparation. You must learn the standard’s requirements and implement them in a way that makes sense for your business (more on that below). Once you’ve implemented ISO 9001 and performed the required internal auditing, you’re ready for the audit. You can reach out to a registrar like CertFast to begin the formal certification process. Remember to choose an auditor who has already achieved ISO 9001 certification for itself.
The ISO 9001 certification process breaks down into four basic steps
1. Readiness Audit
First, your third-party auditor will perform the Stage 1 Audit. The auditor will review your management system to assess your readiness for the Stage 2 Audit. Make sure to have your documents and policies in order at this stage.
2. Fix Your Findings
Here, the auditor evaluates your organization against your quality management system. The auditor will review your documentation and talk with members of your team, making sure your quality goals have become part of the company culture. You will need to show evidence of your policies and processes at work.
3. Certification Audit
If your auditor finds a nonconformance (something that doesn’t meet the ISO 9001 requirements), don’t panic! This is a normal part of the process. You will have a period of time to take corrective actions. If your auditor discovers a major nonconformance, this may require a second audit.
4. Receive Your Certificate
With your audit complete and the necessary corrections made, you can receive your certificate. Your auditor will recommend you for official ISO 9001 certification.
Experts in ISO 9001 Certification and Small Business
ISO 9001 Builds Trust
ISO 9001 can apply to any business of any size. In fact, ISO 9001 can be uniquely powerful for small businesses. As a small business, your success hangs on customer trust and brand reputation. An ISO 9001 certification helps build those critical elements in your business. It opens the door to new opportunities, including many government contracts.
Currently, over one million organizations across 170 countries are certified to ISO 9001. These businesses range from international corporations to one-man shops. No business is too small to reap the benefits of an ISO 9001 certification.
ISO 9001 Consulting or ISO 9001 Certification?
Some businesses offer ISO 9001 consulting services. These organizations can help you prepare for your audit. But only an officially licensed registrar can perform your actual certification audit and provide ISO 9001 certification. CertFast is a licensed registrar. We provide auditing services with an emphasis on the needs of American small businesses. We aim to make the audit process work for everyone.
Why Pursue ISO 9001 Certification with CertFast?
At CertFast, we’re not just experts in ISO 9001. We also have years of hands-on small business experience.
Among registrars, ISO 9001 still sometimes carries a “big business” reputation. Many registrars focus on larger clients, failing to consider the unique needs and constraints of smaller organizations.
At CertFast, we make the certification process simple and affordable. When you work with a CertFast auditor, you work with a real person. We see the audit process as an essential part of small business success.
What Does an ISO 9001 Quality Management System Require?
The ISO 9001 certification standard derives its principles from a reference standard called ISO 9000. Even though they are both ISO standards, only ISO 9001 is a certification standard. ISO 9000 simply provides helpful information and concepts. Technically, a business cannot be “ISO 9000 certified.” If someone asks you to become “ISO 9000 certified,” they likely mean ISO 9001 certification.
For a thorough overview of ISO 9001 requirements, see our article on everything you need to get started.
The essential principles and requirements of ISO 9001 include:
Customer Focus
An ISO 9001 QMS puts the customer first. Customer satisfaction is one of the few things ISO 9001 requires every business to measure. The best way to satisfy customers is to maintain consistent, continually improving quality.
Leadership
ISO 9001 emphasizes your organizational leadership. The certification process must be driven from the top down, with leadership taking responsibility for the project.
Engagement of People
ISO 9001 involves everyone on your team. Your goal is to create a “quality culture” where ISO 9001’s goals guide every process on every level. When you follow ISO 9001, your employees understand how their role impacts the whole.
The Process Approach
ISO 9001 guides you to think about your business in terms of interlocking processes. It also helps you break those processes into manageable parts, making it easier to find areas for improvement.
Improvement
By following ISO 9001, you aim to achieve continual improvement. You will be making plans, implementing those plans, reviewing the results, and acting on your findings. This is known as the PDCA Cycle—Plan, Do, Check, Act.
Evidence-Based Decision Making
When you follow ISO 9001, you’re never just “winging it.” You’re monitoring and measuring your key processes, giving you the visibility to make decisions based on objective data.
Relationship Management
ISO 9001 also focuses on the needs of your customers and other interested parties. You will consider anyone and everyone who has a stake in your business. This helps you determine your context and make informed decisions.
ISO 9001:2015
You may hear ISO 9001 called by its full name, “ISO 9001:2015.” This refers to the latest revision of the standard, released in 2015. All ISO 9001 certified businesses must conform to this version of the standard.
The 2015 revision made ISO 9001 much more applicable to service providers and small businesses. It cut down on required documentation, making the standard flexible to fit around any business context. ISO 9001:2015 also emphasizes risk-based thinking, directing you to build a QMS around the unique risks and opportunities you face.
ISO 9001:2015 Certification
Does it matter which registrar I choose for ISO 9001 certification?
ISO 9001 requirements are the same for every business in every country. That said, the standard leaves some room for interpretation. Naturally, every auditor brings a slightly different emphasis to the table.
Many registrars focus on larger businesses. This can make it difficult to schedule an audit and find an auditor who understands small business concerns.
When you work with a registrar like CertFast, you can rest assured your auditor understands how ISO 9001 works in a small business. You will work with real people who have hands-on small business experience and years of ISO expertise.
ISO 9001 certification proves your quality to the world. Third-party certification makes that possible. With a verified ISO 9001 certificate, customers know you’re a business they can trust.
At CertFast, we see certification as an essential part of ISO 9001 success. We take the hassle out of certification so any business can see the benefits of ISO 9001.
Contact us today or give us a call to learn more and get a hassle-free quote.