The general process for ISO certification is quite complex, its explained in detailed below:
Begin by submitting an application form, as required by the chosen ISO registrar. This application outlines the rights, obligations, liability issues, confidentiality, and access rights of both the entrepreneur and the certification body.
The ISO certification body thoroughly reviews your quality manuals and related documents, examining the policies and procedures in your organisation. This analysis aids in locating any discrepancies between your present procedures and ISO standards.
The pre-assessment is an initial review of your organisation’s Quality Management System (QMS) to identify weaknesses or omissions. The ISO registrar provides an opportunity to rectify these deficiencies before the formal registration assessment.
Upon receiving feedback from the ISO registrar regarding identified gaps, you, as the applicant or entrepreneur, must create an action plan. This plan should outline the necessary tasks to align your QMS with the ISO standards. It may involve training employees to work efficiently and adhere to ISO standards for quality and efficiency.
In order to audit the modifications made inside your firm, the ISO registrar conducts an on-site inspection. During this audit, any deviations from ISO standards are noted as audit findings, categorised as either minor non-conformances or major non-conformances.
The registration process proceeds only after addressing and verifying the closure of all significant non-conformities. This may require a re-audit of affected areas, incurring additional costs.
The registrar issues the ISO certification following the resolution of any non-conformities and the documentation of findings in the ISO audit report.
The benefits of ISO certification can vary depending on the specific standard and the organisation, but some of the most common benefits include:
