ISO / Quality Certification Consulting

Service description

ISO certification consulting helps a business build a management system, such as one for quality, and prepare for an audit against a standard like ISO 9001. A consultant maps current practices to the standard, writes procedures, trains staff and runs an internal audit. An outside certification body then audits the business and issues the certificate.

Common industries

Applies to manufacturers and service firms whose customers require a certification.

ROI

Certification is often a prerequisite to win certain customers and contracts — the return is eligibility for that revenue.

Benefit

Prepare for and achieve an ISO (or similar) certification — build the management system and pass the audit.

Why get it

Customers and contracts often ask suppliers to hold a certification. The standard itself is voluntary, so the business first needs to know which certificate its customers actually require.

When you benefit

Building the system is a one-time project, but certification is recurring: it is kept up through periodic audits and renewed.

What it costs

Typically a project fee.

When you pay

Consultants usually charge a fixed project fee or an hourly rate for the preparation work, scaled to the size of the business and how much of the system is already in place. The certification body bills its own audit fees separately.

Other costs

The certification body's audit and certificate fees, staff time for training and internal audits, and any records or software the system needs.

Risks to know

A business can write a system on paper that does not match how it really works, and then fail the audit. Certification has to be maintained through later audits and can be lost if the system lapses. A certificate from a body that is not accredited may not be accepted by the customers who asked for it.

When risks arise

Gaps show up at the certification body's audit, and again at each later audit. Customers may check the certificate when they qualify suppliers or renew contracts.

The process

The consultant compares current practices to the standard, closes gaps with documented procedures and training, and runs an internal audit. The business then hires an accredited certification body, which audits the system and issues the certificate if it conforms.

Your commitment

Management names a lead and commits staff time to document processes, attend training and take part in an internal audit. The business gives the consultant its current procedures, records and customer requirements, and chooses a certification body.

Documents to gather

• Current procedures, work instructions and process maps
• Quality records, such as inspection results and customer complaints
• Customer or contract requirements that call for certification
• Organization chart and a list of sites

Helpful reading

• The IAF MLA Explained — International Accreditation Forum
• Certification Body Accreditation — UK Accreditation Service