From start to finish - how to obtain ISO

ISO certification can be a little tricky if you are new to to the world of ISO…this is where using a consultant (like us) can be a great solution, because your consultant will:

• know exactly what is needed (and what is not needed)
• can hit the ground running with all the templates you need
• have good relationships with Certification Bodies
• deliver the project fast and cost-efficiently

Remember: regardless of whether you use a consultant or not – you’ll always need a Certification Body to carry out the external audit - their costs vary dramatically so it is good to work with a consultant to advise on the best (cheapest!) Certification Body to work with

Below is a quick guide of the key steps to get you ISO certified … the steps will often overlap. 

• Identify what parts of the company (usually all) will be included in certification scope
• Create a ‘to do’ list – used to track and complete progress of each individual item
• Contact Certification Bodies to confirm their availability and audit costs
• Agree a target timescale for when we want the certificate(s) to be hanging on the wall

• Identify where the ISO documents will be stored and can be shared
• Comms and engagement with everyone to ensure they know what they need to do
• Using supplied templates, create policies, processes, registers, etc. needed
• Confirm audit dates for the external audit with the Certification Body

• Simply doing what the (new) policies and procedures say you need to do
• New ISO activity that needs to be created and completed from scratch
• Existing day-to-day company operations that do not need to change
• More comms with staff to check their responsibilities of the new ISO activity 

• Conduct a full company Internal Audit to see if everyone and everything is operating is OK
• Conduct a formal Management Review with management to review everything
• Make any changes that either the internal audit or management review identify

• Stage One is a document review to see if the ISO system has been set up correctly
• Stage Two is the proper audit – people are interviewed, records of activity reviewed
• Fix any non-conformities that the external Auditor identifies

• Buy a frame for the office wall; update your ‘Certifications’ page on your website
• You’ve passed...you've done it...you’re ISO certified!
• Time to tell all your current and potential customers