What is ISO Certification

ISO certification verifies that a company or product is operating ethically and according to industry standards and management practises. It is a global standard governed by an autonomous, non-governmental international organisation with 163 national standards bodies as members and a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. Employees, stakeholders, management representatives, consumers, and buyers can all benefit from ISO certification.

ISO Certificate Types

Up to 22,521 international standards have been initiated by ISO, spanning a wide range of industries from food safety to technology and service to healthcare and agriculture. However, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are the most broad Standards certificates, and they can be used by any type of company or industry.

The following are the most widely used ISO certification standards:

1.ISO 9001 certification

It is a well-known strategy for creating, implementing, and maintaining a “Quality Management Program” for a specific company. It can be used for any firm of any size or funding. The most recent and improved certification standard was published in late 2015, and it has been in use since then.

2.ISO 14001 is a standard for environmental management.
This is a step-by-step guide on setting up an environmental management system (EMS). It consists of processes, policies, strategies, procedures, and documentation that define how your company handles the environment. ISO 14001 provides a framework and policies for establishing an environmental management system (EMS) for any company. The world has adopted the 2015 standards.

3.OHSAS 18001 certification
The standard lays forth the requirements for establishing a workplace health and safety management programme. It consists of procedures, policies, practises, plans, and papers that explain the safety and health laws. The 2007 standards are still in effect and are being followed by all organisations.

4.ISO 45001 certification
The standard lays out the steps that must be taken to set up an occupational health and safety system. It is made up of rules, operations, programmes, procedures, Hazards Identification, Risk Assessment, and records that establish security and health guidelines. The standard was published in 2018 and is presently being used by a number of sectors.

4.ISO 27001 is the fifth standard
This is an information security standard that establishes the management framework for bringing information security under management’s control.

5.ISO 22000 (International Organization for Standardization)
The guidelines for a successful food safety management system are defined in this ISO certified standard (FSMS). It enables any organisation involved in the supply chain, whether directly or indirectly, to build, implement, administer, maintain, and enhance an FSMS that offers commodities and products that are safe for their intended use.

6.ISO 50001:2007
ISO 50001 provides an internationally recognised framework for businesses to improve their energy efficiency. This ISO accreditation oversees energy usage and consumption documentation and reporting. It also includes procurement and design requirements for energy-using equipment, as well as other areas of energy performance that may be tracked and managed by the company.

7.ISO 20000:2008
This standard focuses on ensuring that any organization’s IT Service Management is effective. This is a must-have for every industry that relies on technology. It has an impact on your company’s operations as well as how you interact. It’s an important part of how you do business.

8.ISO 31000 
It’s a risk management curriculum that teaches the foundations and processes for ensuring safety and managing risks while adhering to an internationally recognised standard. A successful business is ensured by the ISO 31000 certification standard. It is now a trusted resource for enterprises to fulfil their objectives, identify potential hazards and opportunities, and provide risk-related treatment resources.

In India, how do you achieve ISO certification?

Here are some of the prerequisites you should be aware of before beginning the ISO certification process:

1.Choose an ISO Certificate Type from the drop-down menu
The first step is to determine the sort of ISO certificate your organisation requires. We examined a range of ISO certifications above, and you should select the ISO certificate that is most appropriate for your company.

2.Selecting an ISO Certification Organization
It’s crucial to note that ISO isn’t the only organisation that certifies firms. Certification is handled by third parties. It is critical to choose a reputable and well-known certifying authority.

Keep the following in mind when selecting an ISO registrar:

• Investigate several ISO Certification service suppliers.
• Check to see if they’re following the CASCO guidelines. CASCO is an ISO body that deals with agreement-checking issues.

Check to see if it’s certified. Although accreditation is not required, it must adhere to the criteria of ISO Accreditation bodies.

ISO Certification in India: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Create an application or contract paperwork 
A contract should be signed by the organization’s registrar and the person who is applying. The contract usually spells out each party’s rights and responsibilities, as well as concerns like confidentiality, responsibility, and access rights.

Step 2: Document Reviews
The ISO Auditor will look at all of the quality standards and papers linked to the organization’s various policies and processes. The examination of the work completed can aid the ISO auditor in identifying any gaps in conformity with the ISO standards’ criteria.

Step 3: Make a plan of action
Following the completion of your ISO auditor’s audit of your organization’s present deficiencies, you must create an action plan. Make a list of the tasks that must be done in order for your firm to undergo the required adjustments. Perhaps you should provide training to your personnel so that they can adjust to new practises efficiently. All staff should be informed about the ISO requirements for productivity and quality.

Step 4: Certification Inspection

There are two types of it: Phase 1 and Phase 2.

1st Phase -After that, an ISO auditor from the company will look through the changes. Then they’ll look for probable nonconformities in your methods and systems that aren’t in line with the ideal quality management system. The transgressions can then be divided into major and small non-conformities. Every non-conformity should be carefully evaluated, and then improvements to the company’s techniques and procedures should be made to ensure that they are aligned to the quality standards sought.

2nd Phase –The ISO auditor will conduct their final audit after the company has completed the necessary improvements. According to ISO quality criteria, the auditor will evaluate if all infractions have been eradicated. If the ISO auditor is pleased, he or she will write an official ISO audit report and send it to the register.

Step 5: Obtain an ISO Certificate
The registrant or owner will give an ISO certificate once all breaches have been rectified and all findings have been included in the auditing process.

Step 6: Audits of Surveillance
It is largely used to determine whether the company is adhering to the ISO quality standards in place. It is done on a regular basis, depending on the need.

ISO Certificate Advantages

The ISO certificate assists businesses in a variety of ways; here are a few of them:

1.Customer satisfaction 
ISO standards make your company’s procedures more transparent, and quality is maintained. It will enable you to concentrate more on satisfying your clients’ needs through your services and goods. This will increase client satisfaction and put you ahead of your competitors in the industry.

2.Global Recognition
ISO is a globally recognised organisation that is known for its rigorous quality standards. Businesses will be recognised and accepted internationally if you become an ISO certification member.

3.Expanded Business Opportunities
When you obtain ISO certification, you will improve the quality and efficiency of your product. Customer satisfaction will skyrocket, but product prices will plummet. All of these will open the door to new sales opportunities in both established and emerging markets across the country.

4.Consistent Performance and Quality
You’ll be aware of the requirements and criteria that must be followed in order to complete company procedures. Regular processes help avoid duplicates, identify difficulties that develop during the process, and provide quick and effective solutions to address them.