An ISO certification is a third-party organization’s authentication of the credibility of a company. An ISO management standard certification indicates that the company meets one or more internationally accepted management standards. A key component of these standards is the development and implementation of well-defined, regularly-reviewed, and employee-adhered-to processes and procedures. ISO certification systems include the following, which can provide:
9001:2015 Standard
16949:2016 of the IATF
2018 ISO 45001 audit
ANSI 9100:2016
2016 ISO 13485
SSI 14001:2015
Standard 9001:2015
Why should I become ISO certified?
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There are many categories of ISO certification, including environmental management, health and safety, quality management, and medical devices, which communicate quality to customers. An organization that becomes certified is demonstrating to its customers that it is committed to operating within a set framework to achieve its company objectives, resulting in a better final product, lower risk, and better business processes. By maintaining control of its processes and procedures, ISO certification also demonstrates an organization’s commitment to delivering quality products on time. Organizations can differentiate themselves from their competitors by obtaining ISO certification.
How do I choose a certification company?
A certification company’s relationship and experience should be considered before making a decision.
Our customer service is second to none, and we offer a no-surprise approach and a quick response time. In our view, it’s more than just a business relationship – it’s a partnership where we work together to help companies succeed. At Smithers, we have confidence in our auditors since they have all been in the industry for a long time and have established and maintained long-term relationships with clients. Our commitment to help our clients maintain successful management systems is demonstrated by these on-going relationships.
How much does ISO certification cost?
Costs associated with ISO certification depend on a variety of factors. The number of employees, maturity of the Quality Management System (QMS), if the company is responsible for design, the square footage of the facility, how many outsourced processes are implemented, and how many buildings are included in the scope. Each company’s unique factors affect these price estimations.
How long does the process take?
It generally takes between six months and a year for ISO certification to be completed from implementation to registration. Businesses are required under this certification to formulate specific procedures and processes in accordance with their chosen standards, as well as to establish and operationalize various systems for a fixed period of time. A three-year certification will be issued after the initial audit is completed, as long as regular audits are performed every 12 and 24 months (i.e. surveillance).
What is the certification process?
Stage 1
An initial assessment will be conducted by Smithers to determine how the company’s QMS and layout are operating, as well as whether any regulatory requirements exist. As part of our initial assessment process, we will refine the scope of the assessment and confirm the number of audit days needed for the assessment.
Stage 2
In order to determine whether documented procedures are being implemented and effective, observations, record reviews, and personal interviews will be conducted. As soon as the Lead Auditor has completed the audit, she will provide a written report to the closing meeting that will include a recommendation for certification, or not. It usually takes between 30 and 45 days to complete the process of recommending certification and receiving certification. In order to ensure that the company is ready for re-certification, Smithers will continue to provide assistance as needed.