It’s hard to pin a price tag on ISO 9001 certification, but unless you are extraordinarily lucky you can bet it won’t be cheap. What’s more important, experts say, is to decide whether or not you need it.
Becoming ISO 9001 certified means a certifying agency tested your facility and determined that it met ISO 9001:2015 standards for quality management. Scores of firms offer the certification—or at least offer to see if a company meets the standards—and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) reports that more than 1 million companies and organizations in more than 170 countries have passed the test.
“This standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement,” the ISO reports. “Using ISO 9001:2015 helps ensure that customers get consistent, good quality products and services, which in turn brings many business benefits.”
Companies looking at going for certification should also note that ISO 9001:2008 is in its final days. Effective September 2018, ISO 9001:2015 will be the new standard. Quality mangers, ISO coordinators, internal auditors, management decision-makers and C-suite execs have a lot to ponder as they decide whether to move ahead to seek ISO certification.
Is Certification for You?
While ISO certification has some benefits, it’s not the right fit for everyone. While some may find all they can really do once they have the certification is brag about it, for others the certification is key to survival.
“More organizations are becoming ISO-certified than ever before, and many are limiting their business relationships to similarly certified companies,” notes one consultant, the Edward Lowe Foundation.
Industry pros agree on a number of reasons why a company might want to pursue the certification:
- To meet customer requirements and increase customer satisfaction
- To earn more revenue and business from customers
- To improve your company, the quality of its products, and the consistency of your operations
- To improve employee morale and strengthen your professional culture
- To improve efficiency, reduce waste, and save money
- To achieve international recognition for quality
And what’s the main reason not to? “Cost,” the Edward Lowe Foundation said. “In the short run, certification preparations take resources away from production operations, and (ISO) audits may reveal new obligations for change to meet regulations.”
Understand the Payoff and Be Ready for the Test
According to ServiceThread, one company that attained certification, before any certification applicants should:
- Make sure their paperwork is in order
- Make employees aware of the company’s quality objectives
- Be certain that workers can state in their own words the company’s quality policy
- Ensure that employees are property trained for their tasks and understand the process they are to perform
“Following these guidelines everyday not only makes the audit process simple and smooth, but also helps to improve quality and lower costs,” the company’s technical and quality manager said.
Attaining ISO certification is not guarantee of success, analysts note.
“ISO 9001 is not a quick fix nor does it require that every problem you face is solved,” states one company that helps with the certification process. “It is an ongoing process of improvement that requires planning and dedication over time. During an initial certification audit, the Registrar will not expect perfection. Instead, evidence that shows a QMS that works will pass the audit. . . . [C]ertification is the starting line not the finish line for continual improvement.”
