ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) is a global organisation that develops and publishes international standards. These standards provide a common set of guidelines and requirements for various industries and sectors, including the fields of technology, manufacturing, and business.
One type of ISO standard is the ISO 9001, which is a Quality Management System Standard. It outlines a set of requirements for an organisation to follow in order to ensure that it is consistently providing products or services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. An organisation that is accredited with the ISO 9001 standard has demonstrated that it has implemented a quality management system that meets these requirements.
There are many other ISO standards covering a wide range of industries and topics, including environmental management, information security, and food safety, to name a few. Obtaining an ISO accreditation demonstrates to customers, regulators, and other stakeholders that the business is committed to meeting high standards of quality and excellence in its operations.
To obtain an ISO accreditation, an organisation must first develop and implement a quality management system that meets the requirements of the relevant ISO standard. This typically involves identifying the processes and procedures that are necessary to ensure the organisation’s products or services meet the required standards, and then documenting and implementing these processes in a way that is consistent with the ISO standard.
Once the organisation has developed its quality management system, it must then undergo an assessment by a third-party certification body to determine whether the system meets the requirements of the ISO standard. This assessment may involve a review of the organisation’s documented processes and procedures, as well as on-site observations to ensure that the system is being implemented effectively.
If the certification body determines that the organisation’s quality management system meets the requirements of the ISO standard, it will issue a certificate of accreditation to the business. This certificate is typically valid for a period of three years, after which the organisation must undergo a reassessment to ensure that its quality management system is still in compliance with the ISO standard.
Obtaining an ISO accreditation can be a complex and time-consuming process, but it can also bring numerous benefits to an organisation, including increased customer satisfaction, improved efficiency and productivity, and enhanced credibility and reputation.
There are over 24,800 ISO accreditations available (that’s a lot, right!) and in order to choose those that will bring the most value to your business, you’ll want to consider the following:
- Research specific requirements for your industry
- Assess your business objectives and goals e.g zero carbon footprint
- Decide which accreditations will give you a competitive edge
- Conduct a gap analysis to improve on weaker areas of your business e.g Cybersecurity
For further guidance, please visit the ISO website at www.iso.org
Whilst we can’t provide certification, nor guarantee it, we can help ready your systems to pass the certification, from an IT perspective. We have a great understanding of ISO, holding 3 of them ourselves:
If you need any guidance or just want a general chat about ISO, one of our It experts would be happy to help. You can reach us on 01843 572600!
