What is ISO Certification?
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a global leader in setting standards in a variety of fields. It was founded in 1947 and now has more than 162 member countries, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. ISO develops standards that encompass a wide range of industrial processes, assisting organizations in increasing productivity and delivering the highest quality products to customers.
ISO certification is a third-party certification body’s independent approval that an organization complies with the requirements of a specific ISO standard. ISO certification assures that customers get exactly what they pay for: high-quality goods or services with long-term durability and dependability. It’s a way for businesses to show their customers or other stakeholders that they’ve been assessed as meeting the ISO standard’s specific requirements.
Is ISO Certification Mandatory?
No, ISO certification is not mandatory. However, it can certainly help you stand out from the competition and present your customers with some peace of mind knowing that they are receiving a product or service that has been independently verified to meet certain quality standards. Additionally, some customers may require that your organization have ISO certification before doing business with you. Therefore, it is becoming more and more important for organizations to achieve ISO certification.
Why is ISO Certification so Important?
ISO certification is important because it can help an organization improve the way it delivers products and services. When an organization becomes ISO certified, it agrees to comply with a set of internationally recognized quality management standards. This usually involves making changes to how the organization operates, but the benefits of doing so can be significant. Organizations that follow strict international guidelines are more likely to have higher customer retention and profitability because it creates more uniform processes to increase efficiency.
Scope of ISO Certification
ISO offers more than 300 certification schemes for all types of organizations, processes, products, and services. Because the ISO system is so comprehensive, the scope of ISO certification varies greatly depending on which standard your organization chooses to follow. Generally speaking though, being ISO certified usually includes undergoing a thorough assessment to meet specific requirements outlined in the chosen standard.
ISO standardization offers wide coverage in all aspects of quality management, providing guidance and recommendations on how to achieve and maintain quality in products, services, processes, and systems. There are a variety of ISO standards that your organization can be certified against, depending on its size, type of business, and operations.
ISO Certification Schemes Offered by IAS
- ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System (QMS)
- ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management System (EMS)
- ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational Health & Safety Management system (OHSMS)
- ISO 22000:2018 – Food Safety Management System (FSMS)
- ISO 27001:2013 – Information Security Management System (ISMS)
- ISO 50001:2018 – Energy Management System (EnMS)
- IATF 16949:2016 – Quality Management System for Automotive Sectors
- ISO 13485:2016 – Quality Management System for Medical Devices/Equipment
- AS 9100D – Quality Management System for Aerospace Industry
IAS can provide more ISO certifications that are specific to a customer’s needs in addition to these mainstream standards. If you require a special ISO certification scheme that is not listed, please contact us and we will create a plan to assist your firm in achieving it.
Benefits of ISO Certification
There are many benefits of ISO certification, both for the organization and its customers. Some key benefits include:
- Improved quality of products or services
- Increased customer satisfaction
- Reduced costs due to fewer reworks or recalls
- Improved employee productivity
- Ability to compete in a global market
- Faster turnaround times for new products
Overall, ISO certification to international standards shows customers and other interested parties that you are a credible organization that takes quality seriously. Organizations that are ISO certified benefit immensely from improved credibility and image because it demonstrates your commitment to quality, which is increasingly important for modern customers. Credibility also opens doors to government contracts and grants, which can be difficult to obtain otherwise. This allows your organization to more effectively market itself and its products or services, which could lead to increased sales.
Furthermore, achieving ISO certification demonstrates your commitment to continuous improvement and your ability to meet the highest standards in terms of quality. This can give your customers confidence in doing business with you and may even help to acquire new business.
Who Issues ISO Certification?
It is important to note that the International Organization for Standardization only forms and publishes the ISO standards. ISO does not take part in issuing ISO certification. ISO certification is issued by third-party certification bodies. These are independent, accredited organizations that have been approved to assess an organization’s compliance with the relevant ISO standard. Certification bodies will audit your organization’s management system against the requirements of the standard and issue a certificate of compliance.
Process of ISO Certification through IAS
For its clients, IAS has established an effective approach for obtaining ISO certification. The purpose is to provide customers with a high-quality service that assists them in meeting their objectives while adhering to worldwide quality and delivery standards.
Among the procedures are:
- Fill out the ISO Certification Application Form first to assist us in better understanding your organization’s needs.
- IAS will evaluate your application and provide you with a quote for our services.
- Before obtaining ISO certification, IAS will assemble a team of IRCA-accredited auditors to undertake a series of audits of your management system.
- Stage 1 Audit – One of our auditors will perform this preliminary audit to learn about your management system processes and analyze paperwork. By identifying any deviations that need to be corrected, the auditor will assist your company in preparing for the stage 2 audit.
- Stage 2 Audit – A final certification audit will be performed to see if your company is ready for ISO certification. The auditor will ensure that all procedures are compliant with ISO standards and that any non-conformities are corrected.
- IAS will award ISO certification if your organization has passed both audit rounds.
- The ISO certification will be valid for three years and will be subject to continuous audits to ensure that ISO requirements are followed throughout that time.
Purpose of Audits for ISO Certification
The audit procedure for ISO certification is a comprehensive process that is carried out by an accredited certification body. The purpose of the audit is to assess whether your organization’s management system complies with the requirements of the relevant ISO standard. The results of the audit will determine whether your organization is awarded ISO certification.
The audit will assess and measure your organization’s compliance with the following:
- Documented procedures that provide evidence of a commitment to quality
- Procedures for product realization and related documentation
- Practices and activities related to all processes employed by your organization in relation to the ISO standard
If any non-conformities are found, your organization will be required to take corrective actions. Non-conformities could include management system elements that are not in compliance with the ISO standard or any other documentation that is missing or incomplete.
A Stage 1 Audit precedes the Stage 2 audit, which is an official final certification audit. The stage 1 audit assesses basic compliance with the ISO standard requirements. The stage 2 audit is a more detailed assessment of your organization’s management system, and any non-conformities found during this audit will need to be corrected before ISO certification can be awarded.
IAS in Jordan
Integrated Assessment Services (IAS) is one of Jordan’s top ISO certification bodies, having been established in 2006. Customers all across the world rely on us for ISO certifications and product certifications. Our knowledgeable auditors can assist your company in obtaining ISO certification in a timely manner. We are here to assist you every step of the way, and we provide the following services:
- Free consultation
- Proposals for audits with no obligation
- On-demand auditing services
- Issuance of Certificates of Conformity
Our ISO certification audits are always carried out in compliance with ISO 17021. This guarantees that every part of your management system is scrutinized and audited to ensure that your company meets ISO standards.
Contact us Today! Mobile: +91-9962590571 E-Mail: info@iasiso.com