How to achieve ISO certification – a little more detail
The Standards and their Requirements
Which aspects of your business do you need to control? Or to demonstrate to your customers that you’re controlling?
Quality – ISO 9001
The Environment – ISO 14001
Heath and Safety – ISO 45001
Information Security – ISO 27001
These are all nationally or internationally published standards. You can see what they involve by visiting a helpful website www.praxiom.com. Look for the ‘Plain English’ explanations of the standards and the terminology they use. It’s a good place to familiarise yourself with the standards before you consider buying them.
The official copyrighted publications can be purchased at www.tsoshop.co.uk. Specific links are below (we’ve included their ISBN in case the linked pages move).
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems – Requirements ISBN 9780580687389
ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use ISBN 9780580688423
OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems – Requirements ISBN 9780580594045
ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems – Requirements ISBN 9780580467813
Implementing the Requirements
Having ascertained what you need to do, the next step is to do it! As we’re a Certification Body and our job’s to audit what you implement, we aren’t permitted to assist you with your management system.
However, we can discuss your options and point you in the right direction. Please contact us for some free guidance to help you get on the right track.
One popular route to expedite the process towards certification is to locate a management consultant who has helped lots of other companies get ready for their certification audit.
If you decide to implement more than one standard, you may find it beneficial to merge the systems together. Please see our Integrated Management Systems section.
Appointing a Certification Body
Once you’re sure that your management systems adhere to your chosen standard(s) you’ll need to choose a certification body to audit them.
You’re likely to have a long term relationship with the company you choose, so make sure that you feel comfortable with them. Ensure you’re able to get all the information you’d like from them and that their auditors will provide you with a friendly and helpful service whilst auditing you. Of course, value for money’s also important, so be sure to check for any ‘extras’ or expenses they may levy.
At Approachable Certification we try hard to provide a first class service from your first contact with us right through being audited and as an ongoing customer. If you’d like a free quotation (without any obligation) for your audit, please click here. Our price will be competitive, and of course our auditor will be Approachable!
If you choose to accept the quotation, we will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient date for the audit. For more information about how this works please see The Audit Process.
