ISO Certification: The Importance of International Standards

International ISO certificate

International ISO certification

What is ISO certification and how can it improve the quality of international standards?

ISO certification: is the international standards that contribute to improving the quality of products and services.

International ISO standards

The body entrusted with legislating and issuing international ISO standards is ISO, the International Organization for Standardization.

As one of the oldest international non-governmental organizations, ISO has enabled trade and cooperation between companies around the world since 1946.

Global ISO standards ensure that an organization runs its business using international standards for products, services and processes.

Hence, international standards published by ISO make life easier, safer and better.

Moreover, these standards are considered highly desirable for international trade.

Because it contains requirements that the product or service meets.

Although it is voluntary, individuals, families or companies cannot join the ISO as members.

Currently, there are a total of 165 countries each represented by a recognized standards body.

Published 24,000 international standards and related documents.

Thus, it covers almost every industry, from technology to food safety and healthcare.

The goal of the ISO International Organization for Standardization

The ultimate goal of ISO is to ensure consistency and promote industrial welfare worldwide.

This, by increasing levels of safety and security for all, is useful in facilitating international trade.

It is worth noting that the ISO organization does not issue ISO certificates to companies, while it only issues standards.

Therefore, the process of issuing ISO certificates is carried out by accredited ISO issuing bodies – ISO certification bodies.

What is ISO certification?

Having explained what this organization is, we must also explain what ISO certification is.

As its name indicates, it is a certification given to companies that adhere to the correct application of an ISO standard.

So, if you have a company that provides a product or service, for example, you need to know which ISO standards you can apply to improve the quality of your production and sales.

Once this is done, you will be able to apply the necessary changes and then perform the ISO assessment.

If everything is fine, you will receive the appropriate certificate.

The importance of applying quality standards within companies and obtaining ISO accreditation

Millions of companies around the world are looking to implement standards.
International standards make things work.
It gives global specifications for products, services and systems, to ensure quality, safety and efficiency.
Furthermore, international ISO standards affect everyone, everywhere.
ISO certification opens doors to new business opportunities.
Improving the chance of winning contracts.
Anticipates customer needs.
Stronger reputation among your customers.
Enhances credibility when working with other companies.
Saves money by reducing rework.
Improving customer service, through better communication between departments.
Keep accurate records, using a comprehensive method to record, store and maintain your company’s assets.
Improving employee morale, as well as working relationships.
Safe work environment.
Better relationships with suppliers.
Continuous improvement of your organization.
Effective communication internally and externally.

In addition, multiple ISO standards can provide you with several globally recognized practices that are ideal for your company.

What are the procedures for obtaining an ISO certificate?

Choose the appropriate ISO certificate for your activity, by researching the types of ISO.
Read and understand the ISO certificate you have chosen.
Processes are designed and recorded, and therefore must meet the requirements of the ISO standard.
Training employees in addition to developing their skills according to the chosen standard.
Implementing the management system in accordance with the required international specifications.
Gather objective evidence or management system team documents process flow.
Conduct an internal audit to verify the implementation of the system.
Conduct a management review and then implement the proposed recommendations.
Choose an ISO certification body and thus create an application.
Scheduling the audit, after your application is accepted by the certification body.
The audit process is carried out through an ISO auditor to review your documents.
Issuing the certificate, after ensuring that the requirements of the standard are met.

Read more about the process of obtaining ISO certification

What types of international ISO certifications are appropriate for your field?

Discover with us the types of ISO certificates that your company or field can obtain.

Therefore, you can apply it within your company and obtain it through granting bodies.

Among the types of international ISO certificates, for example:

ISO 9001:2015 certification for business quality management systems.
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information Security Management Certificate
ISO 14001:2015 Business Environmental Management Certification.
ISO/IEC 20000:2018 IT Service Management Certification.
ISO 22301:2019 Business Continuity Management Certificate.
ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management Certification.
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Certification.
ISO 13485:2016 certificate for medical device quality management.
ISO 26000:2010 certification for business social responsibility management systems.
ISO 22000:2018 food safety management certification
ISO 14298:2013 Management of security printing operations.
ISO 7101:2023 Management of Healthcare Organizations .
ISO 10004:2018 Quality Management (Customer Satisfaction) .
ISO 10006:2017 Quality Management (Quality Management in Projects).
ISO 10012:2003 Business Measurement Management.
ISO 10377:2013 Consumer Product Safety Management Certificate.
ISO 10393:2013 Consumer Product Recall Management.
ISO 15378:2017 Management of primary packaging materials.
ISO 21001:2018 Certificate in Management of Educational Institutions.
ISO 28000:2022 for business resilience and security management systems.
ISO 29001:2020 approved management systems for the petroleum.
ISO 30301:2019 information and documentation certification.
ISO 30401:2018 for business knowledge management systems.
ISO 31000:2018 certification for business risk management systems.
ISO 31101:2023 Certified Safety Management Systems for Certified Robotics Services.
ISO 35001:2019 Certification of laboratory biological risk management systems.
ISO 37301:2021 Compliance Management Systems Certification.
ISO 50001:2018 Energy management systems.
ISO/TS 54001:2019 management systems certification.
ISO 55001:2014 Certified Business for Asset Management Systems.
ISO/DIS 56001 certification for business innovation management systems.
ISO 56002:2019 certification for business innovation management systems.
ISO 77200 certification for authorized business security service providers.

This list is not comprehensive.

There are many other types of ISO certificates available.

But it is important to choose the type of ISO certification that is appropriate for your company’s needs.

Read more about the types of ISO certifications.

How to implement the ISO system: a step-by-step guide

First, start by getting to know the ISO standard and understanding its provisions.
The commitment of the senior leadership to its role in implementing and meeting the system.
Create an implementation team.
Giving new roles, responsibilities and powers to the implementation team.
Conduct a gap analysis of your current management system.
Develop existing documentation or create your own new documentation.
System application
internal audit
Corrective action
External audits (certification).
Finally, continuous improvement

Read more about applying the ISO quality certificate

The bodies responsible for issuing the ISO certificate

ISO certification is the process by which a company is evaluated, thus verifying its compliance with specified ISO standards.

In addition, certification bodies conduct audits.

That is, to evaluate whether an organization’s management system meets the requirements of a particular ISO standard.

Furthermore, ISO certification bodies must be accredited by accreditation bodies that are members of the IAF.

The role of accreditation bodies

It is responsible for accrediting ISO certification bodies.

Thus, it ensures that certification bodies maintain high levels of professionalism.

Examples of accreditation bodies include: UKAS, JAS-ANZ, IAS, UAF, ANAB, DAKKS, TURKAK.

The role of ISO certification bodies

It issues certificates to companies according to ISO standards.

Moreover, it helps organizations improve their quality and compliance with standards.

Examples of ISO certification bodies include: QRS, QRS.

How to choose the appropriate ISO certification body for your company?

– Accreditation, as it must be accredited by accreditation bodies affiliated with the IAF

– Experience relevant to your field

– Cost of certification

– Local presence

– Good reputation

– Transparency and integrity

– Customer support

– Customized approach

– Technological capabilities

– Value-added training

Read more about choosing ISO certification bodies.

Companies interested in obtaining ISO

– Construction management.

– All types of factories

– Information technology services.

– Hospitals.

– contracting companies.

– Export offices.

– Factories.

– Petroleum services companies.

– All companies that provide services.

– Public sector companies and the government sector.

Verifying the validity of the ISO certificate

There are several ways you can check the validity of an ISO certificate:

– In the international online registry

The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) has released a global online registry.

Hence any ISO certificate can be verified worldwide through a single platform.

So, all you need to know is the business name only.

Additionally, go to IAF Cert Search, start typing the company name in the search bar, and if the company is certified, it will appear.

This is the simplest and easiest way to check the validity of an ISO certificate.

– In the online regional registry;

This is done by accessing the accreditation body’s website itself

By searching for the entity, type the name of the organization and the country, and then the application will show the data.

– In the online registration of the certification body (not always available).

By contacting the certification authority and searching, you will find your data, however it may not be available.

Documents required for the ISO registration process

establishment certification
Goods and Services Tax Certificate
Small and medium enterprises certificate
Company letterhead or visiting card.
Invoice details that include: sales invoice and purchase invoice

This is a limited list of records required for this procedure.

But, there are many other mandatory and optional documents that must be submitted.

The cost involved in the ISO certification process

To clarify, the cost of obtaining ISO certification is not fixed and varies from one organization to another.

However, the cost of obtaining ISO certification is determined by:

Number of Employees.
Number of operations.
The level of risks associated with the organization’s scope of services.
Complexity of the management system.
Number of working shifts, etc.

What is the validity period of the ISO certificate?

The ISO certificate is valid for three years.

Therefore, you must continue to maintain a management system in order to meet ISO certification requirements.

Moreover the certification body will also come and check you every year through a monitoring audit.

This way, it is checked whether you are really working according to the certification requirements.

After three years, instead of a monitoring audit, you will undergo a recertification audit.

This review is of course much more comprehensive than annual oversight audits.

But if you have maintained and updated your management system on an ongoing basis, an external audit should cost you much less effort than the first audit.

Benefits of obtaining ISO certification

ISO certification opens doors to new business opportunities
Increase customer satisfaction
credibility
Simplifies operations
Enhance revenues
Allows further expansion.
Safety guaranteed
Maintaining customers
Promotes team responsibility
Ease of international trade
Improve consistency
A culture of continuous improvement
Greater employee engagement.

QRS Certification Company for international ISO standards issuance services

It is a company specialized in issuing ISO certificates

Therefore, the company provides administrative systems evaluation and review services, in order to help institutions comply with international standards.

Thus, obtaining various ISO certificates, for example:

ISO 9001: Quality Management System
ISO 14001: Environmental Management System
ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management System
ISO 27001: Information Security Management System

QRS Certification Company provides ISO certificates in the Middle East countries

Countries where QRS provides international ISO certifications services