ISO standards 101

ISO standards are a set of international quality management guidelines that provide specifications and requirements for products, services, and processes. These standards are developed and maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

To obtain ISO certification, a company must adhere to the guidelines set forth in the applicable standard and undergo an audit by a third-party certification body. The certification is valid for a certain period of time, after which the company must undergo a renewal audit to maintain the certification.

Some of the most common ISO standards include ISO 9001, which provides guidelines for quality management systems, and ISO 14001, which provides guidelines for environmental management systems. Other standards include ISO 27001 for information security management and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety management.

Adhering to ISO standards can help companies improve their operations, increase customer satisfaction, and demonstrate their commitment to quality and environmental responsibility.

ISO accreditation and certification

The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) is a global association of accreditation bodies that develop and maintain accreditation programs for conformity assessment bodies, such as certification bodies. Accreditation bodies are responsible for evaluating and accrediting certification bodies to ensure that they meet the requirements of applicable standards, such as ISO 17021, which provides guidelines for certification bodies providing auditing and certification of management systems. Accreditation provides assurance that the certification body is competent to carry out conformity assessments in accordance with the relevant standards.

Certification bodies are responsible for auditing and certifying companies to the applicable ISO standard. They evaluate a company's compliance with the standard and issue a certificate if the company meets the requirements. Certification bodies must be accredited by an accreditation body recognized by the IAF in order for their certificates to be recognized as valid. This ensures that the certification body has been evaluated for competence and that their certificates meet international standards.

In summary, ISO develops the standards, accreditation bodies evaluate and accredit certification bodies, and certification bodies audit and certify companies to the applicable ISO standard. This system helps ensure the quality and consistency of conformity assessments and provides assurance to customers that certified companies have met the requirements of the applicable standard.

Steps in getting ISO certificate

To obtain an ISO certificate, a company typically follows these steps:

1. Identify the applicable ISO standard(s) for the company's products, services, or processes.
2. Develop and implement a management system that meets the requirements of the applicable standard(s).
3. Conduct an internal audit of the management system to ensure that it is functioning effectively and identify any areas for improvement.
4. Engage a certification body to conduct an external audit of the management system and verify that it meets the requirements of the applicable standard(s).
5. Address any non-conformities identified during the external audit and implement corrective actions as necessary.
6. Receive the ISO certificate from the certification body if the management system meets the requirements of the applicable standard(s).
7. Maintain the management system and the ISO certification through ongoing internal and external audits and continuous improvement efforts.