FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here are the most frequently asked questions that prospective customers ask us. Please contact us if your question does not appear here and we will try to answer it.
What is ISO Certification?
ISO Certification is a seal of approval from a 3rd party body that a company runs to one of the internationally recognized ISO management systems. The certification can be used to bid for business as proof of the credibility of a company, but also to build confidence in the potential customer that you will keep your promises.
Why would I want ISO certification?
ISO certification is a message to your stakeholders, staff and senior management that the company wants to function within a defined framework to achieve its corporate goals. Either goals of customer satisfaction, production targets or environmental goals etc. Through giving yourself the challenge of retaining an external credential, you show the company’s adherence to these targets as well as strengthening the brand / service or product’s reputation and customer trust. For example, a company can stay in control of its processes and procedures by running a quality management system, ensuring that if anything goes wrong it is rectified quickly, efficiently and to the customer’s satisfaction. It can also ensure a smooth contact at all times between staff, suppliers and customers. Many public and private sector tenders request ISO certification as either a pre-requisite to moving to the next stage or as a filter to remove companies from the tender process. By achieving the ISO certification that your customers give weight to, ensures that you are on a ‘level playing field’ with your potential competitors and improves your chances of successfully tendering. Many companies we work with report a major internal efficiency improvement which allows them to achieve greater results both in a sales and operational capacity.
What dose ISO certification ?
ISO Certification costs vary dependent on the size of an organization and the level to which the company is already run with regards to processes and procedures. If you decide to implement more than one standard at the same time, there are some preferential fees available. We are a fixed fee organization, which means once we have met you to discuss your requirements and sent you a formal quotation, this fee is then set. We will not charge you any extra then what is specified, so that you know from the outset your costs and the payment method.
How long does it take to achieve ISO certification?
We aim for a 2-4-week delivery period, but again this can vary from organization to organization. We will never delay the process; however, we understand that things can happen that may mean you require a small delay. We will accommodate this where possible; however, for those who are looking to achieve the certifications as soon as possible, we will endeavor to ensure you obtain your certification within our standard timescales.
How do I obtain ISO certification?
Our main goal is to keep the process for you as simple as possible. As soon as the proposal is approved we will conduct two stages of audit, stage 1 audit will review the documentation of your management system, the stage 2 audit will review the implementation of your management system then we will produce audit report and if there are not non-conformities then we will issue the certificate.
What ISO standards do I need?
There are over 16,500 different management standards, therefore finding the ones that are right for your business can sometimes be confusing. The best place to start is ISO 9001 quality management systems, as this is the core standard that most of the other well-known standards are based on. It’s focused on customer service and ensuring your customer receives the service they want, at a time that’s relevant for a cost that’s fair. Based on your company’s activities there may be additional ‘bolt on’ standards that might complement the business i.e. as waste and recycling company may benefit from the ISO 14001 environmental management systems as this is a fundamental element for their industry, or a manufacturing business might benefit from the ISO 45001 health and safety management systems as they use lots of heavy machinery which could have risks associated. The best way to find out which standards are most relevant is to contact us today and let us know about your business. We can then send you the details of the standard/s most relevant to your company.
