Embedding ISO Standards Of Quality Into The Way You Work

Embedding ISO standards of quality into the way you work

Published: 18 December 2024

Building and maintaining an ISO management system will help you embed quality into how you work from day to day, meaning that achieving certification does not add to your normal workload, but is ultimately delivered by it.

What are ISO standards?

ISO Standards provide a mutual declaration of quality between suppliers and buyers across the globe, instilling trust, promoting ease of trade, and setting high standards of safety and quality.

Why we recommend UKAS accreditation

We ensure that all our clients gain certification with a UKAS accredited certification body. UKAS (or the United Kingdom Accreditation Service) is the UK’s sole accreditation service. It is recognised both by the UK Government, and by international accreditation bodies worldwide.

How can ISO standards immediately benefit your business?

A series of case studies by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) describes the benefits reported by certified businesses:

Increased customer confidence and loyalty
Competitive edge in sales and negotiations
Increased product and service quality
Reduced production costs
Reduced waste and environmental impact
Improved communications
Enhanced staff development and training
Streamlined internal operations
Creating and entering new markets
A business-wide ethos of continuous improvement

The ISO certification cycle

Before you begin your certification journey, it’s worth noting that there isn’t one, definitive, end goal. The certification process actually works in three-yearly cycles, and should you need us to work alongside you through these, we can do so.

Year 1 - The certification audit

Every clause of the standards that you are certified to, or are aiming for, is reviewed in extensive detail to ensure you meet all the requirements. This is split into a Stage 1 and Stage 2 audit.

Stage 1 is an overview, where your auditor ensures that you have a system in place and the key documents required by the standard. If they find any issues, they will raise these as improvements that need to be made by the Stage 2 audit.

Stage 2 is the full works! Every clause must be evidenced, so samples of documents and records are taken to verify this. If any non-conformities are raised during this audit, they must be closed out before your certificate can be awarded. This may mean an additional visit from the auditor if the non-conformity is major.

Years 2 & 3 - The surveillance audit

Aspects of your system are sampled to ensure it still meets the requirements of the standards. If non-conformities are raised, you will have to submit a plan to show you are working towards closing these out – they will be checked in the following audit.

Year 4 - The recertification audit

If any non-conformities are raised during this audit, they must be closed out prior to your certificate being reissued. Often this audit takes place three months prior to your certificate expiry date, to allow for any non-conformity close outs.

The process will generally consist of the following steps:

Carry out a gap analysis and present you with a report - we look at your existing system and compare it to the ISO standard to see how close you are to compliance. You may be surprised at how much you already have in place! We can then divide any remaining actions between your own team and QEM.
Establish the scope of the business, focussing on your interested parties' risks and opportunities.
Introduce our isCompliant software to your organisation (if you choose to use it), and provide assistance with populating it.
Evaluation of risk and legal compliance, and suggest mitigation measures to ensure business continuity.
Map your existing procedures, implement any process changes, and develop additional documentation if required.
Gather objective evidence, including carrying out internal audits and inspections and assisting with your management review.
Manage the certification process - we can help identify suitable UKAS-accredited certification bodies, request quotes, schedule audit dates and fill in any pre-audit checks.
Attend your external audits.