Tips for ISO Certification

Here are the top best practice tips for anyone considering ISO 9001:2015 implementation or those who are in the 2008 transition.

Tip 1 – Conduct a Gap Analysis Audit

You need to remember that everything can be done quickly with minimal resources and in a reasonable time frame. The best tip is to plan out your implementation/transition project right from the start in effective and efficient ways by conducting a 100% compliance Internal Gap Analysis Baseline Audit. It doesn’t matter if you are ISO 9001:2008-certified, this will provide you with all the planning requirements for your implementation project or transition project. Clear planning and implementation structures that address gaps in your quality management system, with clear responsibilities and due dates to close them and obtain ISO certification-ready, will help to ensure projects of this magnitude are on time and on budget. This will give you opportunities to lower costs and increase your profitability. You can make your QMS work right away!

Tip 2 – Create Process Compliance

It is a way to document all core processes. This will allow you to describe the current and expected ISO 9001.2015 compliant state. This will ensure compliance with existing ISO 9001.2015 requirements. This document may be the first “A Plus”, as your Third Party Registrar will see it during your ISO Certification Audit. Registrars must audit organizations to verify that they have created process compliance with the new ISO 9001.2015 standards. This is an obligation that the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) has placed on Registrars.

Tip 3: Document Development Data Mining, Definition of QMS Objectives

The new ISO 9001-2015 does not require a Quality Manual. This document should reflect your Quality Policy and list all of your Standard Operating Procedures to run your QMS. You can set goals and objectives to improve your QMS performance. While many firms gather data, it is what you do with that data that will give you the best “Bang For The Buck” for your QMS. Don’t collect data just for the sake make it meaningful to your company!

During this stage, it is important to review the Risk Plans of your company. In the case of global supply chains, a “holistic”, global-oriented Continuity and Risk Plan will be most effective. However, a local contingency plan will also meet the new Risk-Based Thinking requirements of ISO 9001.2015. Failing Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA), while it can cover all operational risks. Therefore, any type of sufficiently developed Risk Plan/Register that covers both operational and management risk might be better to protect you during Third-Party Audits. This is where a shift from product risk to overall management may be necessary.

Tip 4: Training and Implementation Rollout

Most firms make the key mistake of not educating and reporting on the ISO process to all employees. You can only make your system successful if everyone is involved, from the top of the organization chart to the lowest level. This phase is where you will educate all employees about the ISO program and how they relate to the QMS. It is important to establish goals and objectives for your departmental managers so that they can implement projects and take corrective action. Here is where you will see the return!

Tip 5: Readiness ” Mock Audit ” and QMS Management Review

You’ve done a lot of hard work and are now ready to get your ISO certification. You should now complete an internal audit of your QMS. Documented corrective actions should be taken to any issues that were not clear in previous reviews. These audits are useful because they serve as a guideline for the measurable metrics in your QMS. Any internal information you discover is an asset to your QMS continuous improvement process. After the cycle has been completed, it is time for your QMS Management Review. Here, Top Management reviews the progress, goals, and inter-company metrics for your entire quality management. To make your QMS system successful, you need to have total management support.

Tip 6 – Final Preparations

You have made a lot of progress and worked hard. It’s now time to present what you and your team have achieved, and get that Third-Party Certification Registrar recommendation for ISO Certification. Resolve any customer complaints, nonconformities, or audit findings. Celebrate your company’s success. Your company is on the right track to becoming a benchmark for others companies.