International Organisation for Standardisation, or shortly
ISO, is an international non-governmental and independent organisation that
establishes regulations and standards to ensure the safety, consistency, and
quality of systems, services, and products. ISO certifications are found in
various areas of industry, so no matter the size and complexity of your
business, you're advised to get ISO certified.
ISO certification proves that you run an established
business that is ready for development and instils trust among stakeholders.
Therefore, if you're not already, consider becoming ISO certified as soon as
possible to reap the related benefits. Here's a general guide that will help
you get started.
Set goals and select an approach
You first need to determine and understand your goals for a
successful certification implementation. There are several types of ISO, and
each means a different thing. For instance, ISO 9001 is related to the quality
management system (QMS) and aims to show that you provide services and products
aligning with regulatory and customer requirements. ISO 27001, on the other
hand, is the standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS),
meaning that once you get ISO 27001 certified, you'll be able to protect your
data, systems, and reputation adequately. If this latter defines your goal,
consider an ISO 27001 compliance checklist to manage information properly and assess
potential gaps in your organisation.
Prepare Documentation
Perhaps the most important step in becoming ISO certified is
getting all the required resources ready. Your company point person or
management team should help you arrange the right resources, but if you don't
dispose of such help, you must undergo research by yourself. For a successful
certification procedure execution, document items such as process flow
diagrams, quality objectives, and work instructions are often required, so be
sure you present this information to the auditor in charge.
Pre-audit or gap analysis
Such an analysis helps identify possible gaps in your
current management system that are against the ISO compliance requirements. You
can do the pre-assessment by yourself or call for the help of a specialist,
such as a consultant firm's auditor or an internal company expert. Whatever
your choice, one thing is for sure - during the gap analysis, you'll discover
which conditions aren't met and explore ways to meet them.
Implement the Management System
Now that you've covered the aforementioned gaps, it's time
to introduce the management system and make it operational in your enterprise.
If necessary, conduct thorough training for your workers and familiarise them
with their potential new roles and the new controls under the system. If the
fire alarm systems were those aspects that needed improvement, consider making
afire alarm testing template accessible to employees and explain why these
systems' inspection and maintenance are so crucial.
Conduct an Internal Audit
Before applying for ISO, ensure you perform an internal
audit that will highlight all potential non-compliances and areas of concern.
This is meant to ensure the implemented management system meets all the ISO
requirements and provides deep insight into the procedures that should be used
in this regard. Your company should have a team member trained to conduct
internet audits, but in case of the contrary, you can work with a consultancy
firm.
Select an Accredited Certification Body
The final step involves choosing a reliable registrar, i.e.,
a third-party certification body that will analyse your quality management
system's legitimacy and award you the certification if you meet all the
requirements. To pick a trusted certification body, consider checking their
testimonials and experience and, if possible, share opinions with other
fellows.
ISO certifications are found in various areas of industry,
so no matter the size and complexity of your business, you're advised to get
ISO certified. We hope our above-discussed recommendations will help you in
this regard.
