A quality management system (QMS) is defined by ISO 9001, an international standard. Following the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard is necessary to be certified to the ISO 9001 standard. Using the standard, companies can verify they can deliver quality products and services that fulfill customer and regulatory standards consistently, as well as show that they are improving over time.
ISO 9001 certification can be obtained in five simple steps: planning, documentation, implementation, and internal audit, and certification.
In order to promote and build your organization, ISO 9001 certification is an excellent option. What is the certification procedure like? How long does it take? You can find out by reading on!
Just don’t make the mistake of trying to handle everything on your own!
For quality management systems, the ISO 9001 standard is one of the most prominent. Its adaptability is a major selling point. It is utilized by a wide variety of businesses and may be tailored to meet their specific needs.
To increase manufacturing performance, quality management systems such as ISO 9001 were developed, giving best-practice procedures and standards to guarantee the most efficient processes. The scope of their work has expanded over time, and quality management methods such as ISO 9001 have adapted to our ever-changing corporate landscape.
A revised version of the ISO 9001 was introduced in 2009 to keep up with changing business practices and trends. In 2015, the most recent version was changed.
A renewed emphasis on process improvement to better fulfill customer needs is shown in this approach, which reflects current corporate technological breakthroughs. As a result of this, it can be used by a wide range of companies, each with its own set of circumstances and demands.
One of the ISO 9000 standards, is the only one that may be certified. A company’s quality management system is said to be certified if it meets the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard. You may use it to develop trust and reputation with your consumers and business partners by using it as a quality mark.
The certification process for ISO 9001 can be a challenge. However, if you break it down into smaller, more manageable steps, you’ll be able to get through it more quickly.
In just five easy steps, you may go from filling out the initial application to receiving your official certification.
ISO certification can be prepared in three methods. Each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses, but one stands out above the rest. There are three ways to go about this:
With an in-house strategy, no outside aid is needed for your organization to complete the certification procedure. To put it another way, your organization conducts the study, makes the necessary policy and structure adjustments, and conducts the post-mortems.
Slowest to take effect, but perfect for smaller organizations with a distinct internal office culture that does not respond well to outside influence. This method is the most time-consuming.
Since there are existing checks and balances in place to ensure standards are being followed, it stands the best chance of keeping its certification.
You can employ an ISO 9001 certified professional to come into your organization as a hands-on consultant. Their job is to ensure that your organization is compliant with ISO 9001 requirements. They’ll be gone after the certification process is complete.
This method is the quickest of the three options. Although it has the lowest success rate, which means the organization is less likely to retain its accreditation once the consultant leaves.
For this reason, it is more possible that the organization will be more lenient in upholding standards and procedures that they may not completely comprehend because they were not directly involved in obtaining the certification.
You can think of a hands-off consultant as being a hybrid of an on-and-off consultant. Hire an ISO 9001 professional once again. However, they are not responsible for implementing any of the adjustments.
As the company’s designated project leader, it is your job to ensure that all standards are in compliance with applicable certifications and guidelines.
In the middle is the hands-off consultant. There’s no need for the firm’s certification project leader to learn about every aspect of the certification process, but he or she must understand how to maintain the standards so that the company may keep its certification once the consultant has concluded its work.
The in-house strategy is the one I recommend out of the three options. It may take the longest time, but it’s a good idea to have the work done in-house by someone who already knows how the organization operates.
A company’s quality management system is certified if it meets the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard. As a result, the first phase in the process is to implement ISO 9001 standards by creating or developing a quality management system. An internal member of the organization, a consultant from the outside, or a combination of the two is typically in charge of this.
A third-party audit of the quality management system is required once it has been implemented. The ISO 9001 standard will be used to measure the effectiveness of the quality management system.
Two audit steps make up the certification procedure itself. When a quality audit is completed, an auditor verifies that all statutory requirements have been met. The second stage is an on-site audit of the entire system and the company. Additionally, at least three months’ worth of quality management system records must be examined.
After three years, a reassessment and renewal of the ISO 9001 certification are required. That being said, it’s imperative that the organization’s daily operations adhere to the new system. Organizations that wish to maintain their ISO 9001 certification must make any necessary adjustments when a new iteration of the standard is released.
