If you have come across ISO Certification as a buyer of products and services, or when supplying services to your own customers, you will recognise its value in the supply chain.
Organisations that implement ISO standards demonstrate a commitment to continually improving their processes, while the impartial third-party audit of their system gives some assurance that they are operating to the requirements of the standard.
However, achieving ISO Certification does require some time and resources which can be a barrier for some organisations who might not feel ready to begin the process.
So, when is the right time to start the ISO Certification process and what steps can you take to make it as efficient as possible?
Here’s our top tips:
Why Do You Want ISO Certification?
Firstly, take a minute to understand why you are interested in ISO Certification, and whether your organisation will benefit from the standard itself and the certificate.
There are many reasons organisations adopt ISO Standards, including a requirement by their customer, to make processes more efficient, to evidence a compliance need or just as a marketing opportunity.
All organisations can benefit from ISO standards and certification if they are implemented in the correct way.
Contact our ISO Consultants to better understand the benefits of Certification.
Which ISO Standard Should I Choose?
There are many ISO Standards covering topics such as Quality Management, Information Security Management, Environmental Management & Health & Safety.
Organisations can implement one or more of these.
Which one you choose will largely be determined by your answers to question 1: Why Do You Want ISO Certification?
You should look at what aspects of your organisation customers care about and think about which subject would have the most value.
Searching competitors or similar organisations to yours may also identify standards that are common to your industry.
Contact our ISO Consultants to discuss which ISO Standard is right for you.
When is the right time to become ISO Certified?
ISO Certification cannot happen overnight, so you should plan ahead.
It does take some time and resources to understand the requirements of your chosen ISO Standard(s), implement the policies, procedures and processes, and operate the management system with a minimum of 3 months before the certificate can be issued.
In our opinion there is no bad time to get ISO Certified. The standards are structured so they can be applied to all sizes and types of organisation.
As things change and grow, you can adapt your management system and expand the scope of your ISO Certification accordingly.
Contact our ISO Consultants to discuss the timing of your ISO Certification.
Is My Business Too Small for ISO Certification?
No business is too small for ISO Certification. The standards are structured so they can be used by organisations of all sizes.
However, the way the standard applies is often different. This is where working with ISO Consultants such as Assent Risk Management can really save you time and effort. We can help you build a bespoke management system that works for you.
There are benefits to implementing an ISO standard within an early stage startup, because it allows the framework, and associated processes, to grow with the company – setting the culture for new team members coming in. We have also had experience working with hyper-growth startups, which has its own challenges but is equally beneficial.
How Do I Start the ISO Certification Process?
Contact Assent today and we will talk you through the ISO Certification process and suggest an implementation route that works for you.
If you have some processes already, we can perform an ISO Gap Analysis to determine what else needs to be done. However, if you are starting from a completely blank page, our tried and tested project plan and supporting documents can help you easily meet the requirements.
Our back office team will also support you through the whole project, liaising the ISO Certification Bodies to get quotes and set audit dates.
Our ISO Consultants will attend these external audits to support your team and resolve any potential issues that could put your ISO Certification at Risk.
