International organizations today want to be known for following quality assurance and manufacturing standards. International Organization for Standardization (ISO), certification is a sign of trust and credibility with consumers, stakeholders, as well as other business partners. ISO certification is a guarantee that an entity meets all international standards for business, especially when it comes to trade. We will be discussing ISO certification and why it is important.
What Is ISO?
ISO is an international non-governmental organization that establishes specifications for products and services. These standards are important for international trade because they require goods to meet certain requirements. Their ultimate goal is to improve industrial welfare globally, increasing safety and security for everyone.
It takes hard work and extensive research to achieve a high standard. Experts in one particular field meet together to discuss how they can improve. A voting process is used to bring the organization together. On average, the entire process takes three years. These four conditions are necessary for the creation of standards in an organization:
- Market need
- Global experts gather
- Development through multi-stakeholder processes
- All parties reach a common understanding
Small business owners who plan on bidding on government projects will likely come across the requirement for ISO certification. Although there are many ISO Certification Australia available, all are designed to ensure that the products and services a company uses to comply with acceptable international standards.
Tip
ISO certification certifies that an organization follows international standards in the production, service, and execution of its products. These standards may be related to business management and environmental policies or can be specific to ISO standards for business sectors.
Understanding Iso Standards
There are over 22,000 ISO standards that cover goods, services, or processes. These include the ISO 9000 standards which are designed to ensure high-quality products and services that are continually being improved.
It is currently ISO 9001 2015 and can be used by any company. It addresses eight basic business principles.
- Customer focus
- Leadership
- People involvement
- The process approach
- Management system approach
- Continual improvement
- Factual approach to decision-making
Relationships Between Mutually Advantageous Suppliers
The ISO 14000 family stands for environmental management. It is used, for example, by waste management businesses. Other standards are created for specific industries or sectors.
- ISO 13485 medical devices
- ISO/TS 29001 is for the oil-and-gas industry
- ISO/IEC 90003 Software Engineering
- ISO 17582 to be used by government electoral organizations
- ISO 18091: Local Governments
You can buy the documentation needed to comply with any of these standards at the ISO or from an authorized vendor.
Obtaining ISO Certification
ISO does not certify organizations. A third party must be contacted to audit your organization and determine if it meets the ISO requirements. Many companies start with ISO 9001 certification. This is the foundation of many other ISO standards. The cost of becoming certified depends on the company size. The certification process can take more than a year.
ISO-certified organizations can also provide certification for your company. These standards are set by the ISO’s Committee on Conformity Assessment or CASCO. Although you can choose an organization that has been accredited by CASCO to meet its requirements, the ISO recognizes that not all certifying agencies need to be CASCO-accredited.
When your company becomes ISO certified, you’ll be issued a certificate by the certifying agency. This certificate you can use to advertise to clients, or when you bid for contracts, to show that your products or service meet the ISO’s strict standards.