Are you planning to standardise your business processes to ensure consistent quality? Then ISO certification is the way forward. Here are a few online resources, which can serve as ready-reckoners and help you to learn more about ISO certification and the procedure to file for it.
By: Onkar Pandey
Every progressive and quality conscious organisation aspires to be known for the quality of its products, services and processes. The best way to achieve these quality standards is by subscribing to a system that ensures that all processes and product-level quality checks are done as per some pre-defined, globally accepted parameters like the ISO (International Organisation for Standardization) certification.
What is ISO?
ISO stands for 'same' in Greek. The certification aims to promote 'same' or uniform international standards, and facilitate the exchange of goods and services, worldwide.
Being a globally accepted standard, the ISO provides a competitive edge to organisations, which can use the fact of being ISO certified to ramp up their business and find newer markets anywhere in the world. Besides, there are several businesses and government agencies that ask for ISO certification, prior to doing business with you.
Apart from this, an ISO certification improves your product's quality, and helps in ensuring customer satisfaction. It boosts employee morale by bringing in a professional culture, and improves the consistency of operations by having well-documented processes in place.
The procedure to get ISO certification
The process of getting an ISO certification starts with the senior management deciding which certification to go for, and then preparing the different departments to start with the documentation of various processes involved. Then, the firm needs to rope in the services of an ISO certification agency or consultant, who can act as the guide with regard to the various processes involved, and with framing process manuals for different departments and other necessary procedures. Normally, the whole process can take a few months.
After that, an audit is done by the statutory ISO authorities, and then the final certification is awarded. An ISO certificate is normally issued for three years, after which it has to be renewed. Besides, the certifying body conducts periodic audits every six to 12 months, depending upon the size and operations of the organisation. This is to ensure that the audited firm is adhering to the ISO standards.
The costs incurred through the entire procedure often varies with the certifying agencies and the size, sector, product, service and complexity of the processes of the concerned organisation. It is important to make a senior person in the organisation responsible for ISO 9001 implementation--someone who has the authority to make decisions and take the necessary action to get the job done.
If you too are considering getting an ISO certification for your business and want to know more about where you could procure correct and comprehensive information on the subject, we have made this task easier for you.
Here is a list of a few important online resources, which you must visit before taking the plunge
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