Safer Environments

ISO 9001 certifiers: The importance of choosing the right one

Choosing an effective Certification Body can take the stress out of your audit and certification process

You need to dedicate a bit of time and investment, but if you get the right Certification Body, your life will be so much easier for a long time.

The following tips will help you find the right ISO certification body and save you a significant amount of time and money in the process.

There are eight things you need to look for when choosing an ISO provider.

1. Reputation

How well recognised is the certification body in question?

Do some research on Google and social media to get a gauge for the reputation of each company. You can’t risk the time and money you spend on an ISO provider only to find they have a track record of poor service or an infamous reputation within the industry.

2. Accreditation

This one’s a simple task.

Is the ISO certification provider accredited, and is that accreditation a signatory of the IAF?

This might seem elementary, but there are some questionable operators around. A little bit of research could save you a significant amount of stress.

“A little bit of research into ISO Certification Bodies could save you a significant amount of stress.”

3. Specialisation

Is the Certification Body experienced in your industry?

You don’t want to have to explain your business and how it operates to your service provider.

You need your Certification Body to understand the ins and outs of your business so you can save time on getting them up to speed, and focus on your own development.

4. Integrated audit

This is a question you’ll have to ask potential Certification Bodies. If you are looking at becoming ISO 9001 certified as well as ISO 14001 certified and to other standards, you can ask for an integrated audit. A well implemented and integrated management system can be audited as an integrated audit, saving you some time and money.

5. Results-oriented

Does your ISO Certification Body genuinely care about you achieving the best possible result? Ask them about the best ways to achieve quality management goals and work with them to create the success your business needs.

Ask to see case studies, or for real-life stories of how they’ve actively achieved positive results for their clients.

6. Customised services and support

There’s nothing worse than investing a load of time and money into a certification body that doesn’t follow through.

Ask potential certification bodies about their customisation options and determine their level of flexibility. The kind of industry you work in will affect the level of support or services you require, so take the time and see what each can offer your business.

7. Cultural fit

This is an often overlooked aspect of your decision. This may not be a strict requirement for your business – it will certainly help though.

When talking to potential certification bodies, try to develop a conversation to give you a good understanding of their personality, the way they communicate and how they educate.

Your business will be much better off working with a partner that understands you and your business – the right cultural fit will make the partnership much more effective.

8. Location and staffing

Is the certification body a small, customer service focussed organisation, or a larger business with a huge team?

Are they located near your business, or are do they work online with a virtual office setup?

If you run a smaller operation, you might prefer a boutique service with a better commitment to customer service. Other businesses may place more emphasis on a cheaper option, or a faster certification process.

Ready for QMS to help you take the lead?

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