How to get certification ISO 9001? We invite you to read this article by GIAYCHUNGNHAN for a more in-depth understanding.

1. What is ISO 9001?

• What does ISO 9001 stand for? ISO 9001 is the international standard for creating a Quality Management Systems (QMS), published by ISO (the International Organization for Standardization). The standard was most recently updated in 2015, and it is referred to as ISO 9001:2015. In order to be released and updated, ISO 9001 had to be agreed upon by a majority of member countries so that it would become an internationally recognized standard, which means it is accepted by a majority of countries worldwide.
• What are quality management systems? An ISO 9001 definition would be that this standard provides the QMS requirements to be implemented for a company that wants to create all of the policies, processes, and procedures necessary to provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory needs and improve customer satisfaction. Quality management systems are the foundation of quality assurance activities.

2. How to get ISO 9001 certified

Step 1: Allocate resources for the certification

Getting an ISO 9001 certification requires a commitment from the top management and the correct allocation of resources. It must be well-supported in order to realise it. You will have to understand whether you will have enough resources to do it yourself or take the help of a consultant. For big organisations, it would be great to hire a consultant so you can do it without errors.

Step 2: Do a gap analysis

Gap analysis is very important to understand your baseline status. To get an ISO 9001 certification, you must check where your organisation now stands and the gaps that you need to fulfill to get certified.

The most commonly-asked questions regarding ISO 9001 are:

• How long will it take?
• How hard is it?
• What’s involved?
• How much will it cost?

As different organisations have different size, different people, and different working environments, there is no single way to answer the questions. The organisations should do a proper analysis to find those answers. Pre-assessment is important to compare the current quality management system in comparison to the ISO standard.

Step 3: Develop and internally audit the system

To get the certification you will need to develop your system up to the level of ISO standard. This means developing new processes, new quality controls, and new organisational policies according to the ISO standards.

Before letting a third-party audit your system, you have to be sure that it fulfills the ISO 9001 certification standards. This is why internal auditing is an important step before applying for the certification.

Step 4: Take a formal training on ISO 9001

If you are doing the certification process on your own, it is good to have a crystal clear understanding of all the requirements for an ISO certification. This is where an ISO 9001 course can come in very handy.

Shiksha Online offers the best-in-the-industry course that will help you to learn the procedures and methods to acquire an ISO 9001 certification.

Step 5: Choose an accredited auditor

You need to get your organisation’s management quality system checked by an accredited auditor to get the ISO 9001 certification. There are a lot of accredited certification bodies that provide the certifications. Check out which one is popular and suit your resources. These bodies will assess all the areas in your quality management system and will share with you if any more gaps need to be filled.

Step 6: Get the certification

When the accredited auditor feels that your quality management system is as per the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard, you will receive the certification. This certification is valid for three years, and you must maintain the system to renew the certification.

Even after getting the certification, you need to continually improve the processes so that it continually fulfil all the requirements. For this, a sound knowledge of the ISO 9001 certification is essential.

3. Why is ISO 9001 certification good for my business?

• An ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS) will help you streamline your processes, reduce errors, free up valuable management time and improve internal communications. Companies adopting this approach benefit from increased employee morale, improved customer retention and healthier revenues.
• In short, through certification to ISO 9001 you demonstrate that your organisation is customer-focused and committed to delivering high quality services.
• Increased efficiency: by following industry best-practice and focusing on quality you can reduce costs.
• Increased revenue: through the reputation of ISO 9001 you can win more tenders and contracts, and by being more efficient you will also retain more customers and experience more repeat custom.
• Higher levels of customer satisfaction: by understanding your customers’ needs and reducing errors you increase customer confidence in your ability to deliver products and services.
• Improved supplier relationships: because ISO 9001 certification ensures best-practice processes are in place which can contribute to more efficient supply chains, certification increases their confidence in your processes.
• Improved employee morale: by improving internal communications you ensure everyone works to one agenda.

For more information on Difference between ISO 9001 and ISO 45001, check out this article!

4. How much does it cost to get ISO 9001 certification?

• ISO 9001 certification costs will differ from company to company. Every company is different; for instance, some include the design and development process and some don’t, and the amount of effort needed to implement the necessary processes to meet the requirements (and the costs associated with this) will vary. Likewise, the cost of having the certification auditors come in will be different depending on the complexity of your processes and the number of employees involved. Some of the main categories of cost that you will need to consider include learning about ISO 9001, external help, cost of employee time, certification costs, and, finally, the costs to maintain your QMS.
• Since one of the biggest costs could be the cost of certification, it is best to contact several certification bodies to get a quote on how much they will charge. The certification body can also help you to identify what requirements are not yet met, the gaps; you can then determine the cost to close these gaps by changing or implementing processes.

5. Questions

Is it mandatory to hire a consultant for ISO 9001 certification?

• No, hiring a consultant is not mandatory, but it can be beneficial if the organization lacks internal expertise. Many organizations successfully implement ISO 9001 using internal resources, guides, and training programs.

How often does ISO 9001 certification need to be renewed?

• ISO 9001 certification is valid for three years, after which a re-certification audit must be conducted by the certification body. However, annual surveillance audits are usually required to maintain certification.

Can an organization lose ISO 9001 certification?

• Yes, organizations can lose certification if they fail to maintain their QMS, do not implement corrective actions for non-conformities, or fail re-certification audits. Certification bodies conduct surveillance audits (usually annually) to ensure ongoing compliance.

How can an organization prepare for the ISO 9001 certification audit?

• Conduct a Pre-Audit: Some organizations hire consultants to perform a pre-audit.
• Review Documentation: Ensure all QMS documentation is complete and up-to-date.
• Train Employees: Make sure staff are aware of the QMS and their roles within it.
• Internal Audits: Perform internal audits to identify and address any non-conformities.

Thank you for taking the time to read our article. We hope this gives you a good understanding of How to get certification ISO 9001. Feel free to contact GIAYCHUNGNHAN if you need more information.