An ISO-certified company is one that’s been assessed by an independent body against the requirements of an ISO standard for the management system of that company.
In simple terms, it means the company has documented processes and systems for the management of an area of its operations, for example, quality, environment, information security, food safety, medical devices, or occupational health and safety.
However, obtaining an ISO certificate does not mean that every product or service of the company is of a set standard. It means that the management system of the company has been assessed within the agreed certification scope and is being managed in accordance with the requirements of the standard.
What is ISO certification?
An ISO certification is an assessment of the management system of a company.
Depending on its business and the objectives the company is aiming for, a company may be required to certify its systems to the following standards and many others:
- ISO 9001 on Quality Management Systems
- ISO 14001 on Environmental Management Systems
- ISO 45001 on Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
- ISO 22000 on Food Safety Management Systems
- ISO/IEC 27001 on Information Security Management Systems
- ISO 13485 on Medical Devices Quality Management Systems
The ISO standard that is relevant to an organization is determined by the company's industry and its risks, customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and business needs.
What does an ISO certified company have in place?
An ISO certified company usually has a management system covering the processes of the company and on which the system is based. It may include:
- Established policies and objectives
- Documented procedures and responsibilities
- System controls and operational plans
- Risk management systems
- Internal audits and management reviews
- Corrective and preventive actions
- Continual improvement activitie
Requirements may vary for each standard and organization for the items listed above.
An example is an ISO 9001 certification, which would focus on quality management processes. ISO/IEC 27001 would focus on managing information-security processes.
What does it take to achieve ISO certification?
An organization first determines the appropriate standard to pursue. A management system must then be implemented to meet the standard. A certification body conducts an audit once the systems are in place.
- The process typically includes the following steps:
- The scope of the certification is defined.
- The organisation's management system documentation is reviewed.
- An audit of the management systems is completed.
- Nonconformities (if any) are noted.
- Required corrective actions are completed.
- Certification is awarded if all requirements are satisfied.
- Periodic surveillance audits are completed to maintain certification.
Certification is an ongoing process. The organization must continue to improve and maintain the management system during the certification period.
What drives companies to pursue ISO certification?
ISO certification may be pursued for many reasons by companies, including the following:
- Better process consistency
A consistently managed process can improve a company’s ability to assign responsibilities, manage process consistency, and monitor performance.
- Greater customer and stakeholder confidence
Many customers, suppliers, and business partners may demand proof that an organization manages its processes to an agreed-upon standard.
- Vendor registrations, business opportunities, tenders
Certification may be a requirement for tenders, registrations, or purchasing requirements.
Risk-based management
According to the standards, organizations should first identify risks and related controls and take the appropriate actions in the areas that require improvement.
Continual improvement
The function of performance evaluation and the development of the organization may be aided by continual internal reviews, formal audits and the performance of corrective actions.
Is an ISO certified company better than a non-certified company?
ISO certification does not automatically mean a certified company is better than its non-certified competition.
Rather, ISO certification provides the confidence that the management system of the company has been assessed by an independent third party against an identified standard within the scope of that system.
Customers and interested parties should consider all mentioned factors (i.e. the company's scope of operation, history of performance, experience and services, etc.) in conjunction with the certification.
How do you check if a company is ISO certified?
To verify an ISO certification claim, the following pieces of information should be checked:
- The name of the stated ISO standard
- The scope of certification
- Legal name of the organization and its location
- Dates of certification
- Name of the certification body
- Accreditation of the certification body, as applicable
This can help determine the relevance of the cited certification to the intended business activity.
Final thoughts
An organization that is ISO certified has successfully completed an independent assessment of its management system against a chosen ISO standard.
Certification is a sign of continued improvement and process control, as well as risk management and customer satisfaction. The management system of an organization, however, determines how useful an organisation's certification is.
ISO certification begins with determining the relevant ISO standard based on your organization’s activities, objectives, and requirements.
Seeking independent ISO certification, audit, assessment, or training services? Contact BMG Certification to discuss the applicable standard and certification scope for your organization.
Contact BMG Certification
Website: https://www.bmgcertification.com
Email: info@bmgcertification.com
Phone: +91 120 412 2830
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