ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an organization which develops voluntary International Standards that provide specifications for products, services, and management systems in order to break down barriers to international trade. The ISO certification process allows companies to show the world that they have made a significant effort in ensuring their processes and products meet required standards as set by ISO.
This is the first step in getting ISO certification and it is important to choose the right standard for your business. The standard should be relevant to your business and reflect your current practices.
Once you have chosen the standard, you need to appoint a consultant who will help you develop the required documentation and implement the best practices within your business.
The consultant will give you a list of recommendations on how to improve your business practices and meet the requirements of the standard. You need to implement these changes and track your progress.
Engage a third-party auditor to conduct an assessment of your business to check that you meet the requirements of the standard. Once you have met all the requirements of the standard, the auditor will certify your business. This certification is valid for a certain period of time and needs to be renewed regularly.
To maintain compliance with the standard, you need to track your progress and make sure that you are meeting the requirements. You should also carry out regular audits to make sure that your business is still compliant.
Customers are more confident in companies that have ISO certification because they know those companies have met industry standards and will deliver high-quality goods and services.
ISO best practices help improve product and service quality, enhance customer satisfaction and increase sales.
With standardised organisational processes, employees have more clarity about their roles & responsibilities, hence improving productivity.