ISO certification: what it is, main types and how to get it

ISO certification is one of the main pillars of quality management. She is the one who dictates the main standards within each sector for the quality of the offering of products and services, the standardization of processes and the company's reliability. 

As it is an international certification, ISO establishes standards that can be applied in any sector, regardless of the segment, in any country and for any size: from small to large organizations.

In this article we will explain how ISO operates, what are the main types of certification that organizations are concerned with obtaining and how the certification process works.

What is ISO certification?

ISO's main objective is to establish minimum criteria to guarantee standardization and quality. The requirements are based on pillars such as leadership, customer focus, continuous improvement and process approach. 

Among the most sought after ISOs we have ISO 9000 which is related to quality management, ISO 4001 relating to environmental management and ISO 5001 relating to the energy consumption of organizations. 

Therefore, each company must have a set of documented and constantly monitored procedures in order to ensure the effectiveness of processes and compliance with the standards required by ISO certification.  

The certificate lasts for 3 years and annually companies undergo external audits by regulatory bodies, in order to prove compliance with standards.

How to achieve ISO certification?

To implement ISO standards, it is recommended that companies hire a consultant who will assist in adapting to the guidelines and developing the tools and processes necessary for the ISO certification they wish to achieve.  

Before embarking on the assessment that will actually grant certification, the company can request a pre-audit from a certification body. The pre-audit works as an assessment. It is at this stage that the company identifies possible changes to adapt to certification and requirements that have not yet been met correctly. 

After identifying and correcting the problems that could lead to non-certification, the company can now request the actual audit. 

Certification is valid for a period of 3 years and audits are carried out annually to ensure that processes are working properly. After this period, it is common for new audits to be carried out for recertification.

Advantages of ISO certification

ISO certification not only serves to encourage the standardization of processes, it also brings benefits to companies.

Discover other advantages of certification. 

Improvement of business management:

Process management becomes more effective with ISO applications, as it standardizes processes, identifies the core of the emergence of non-conformities, prepares action plans and establishes indicators in order to monitor the company's main results.

Furthermore, the company sees itself in a process of continuous improvement, since after mapping, strategic planning comes into action to ensure that that error will not be repeated, adapting the processes. Contact us for ISO Certification Course

Decision-making also becomes more assertive, because it will be based on an organized process, with a history of actions that have already been implemented and tested within the organization and that will guide more appropriate strategic plans. 

Productivity improvement:

When looking at each phase of the production process, process management tends to identify unnecessary steps, eliminating waste, failures and rework. At the same time, it is possible to identify fundamental steps for the process, but which have not yet been implemented by the company.

Increases the quality of the product or service offered 
When the production process changes and becomes more productive, consequently the quality of the products and services offered tends to improve. 

With ISO certification, this increase in quality occurs due to two factors: continuous improvement processes and identification of non-conformities. Both contribute to performance being monitored and new measures implemented with a focus on quality assurance. 

As a result of improved quality, customer satisfaction is also impacted, generating greater value for the work the company performs.

Increases market competitiveness:

Achieving ISO certification alone will ensure your company stands out in the competitive market. Consumers will understand that the production process of your product or service meets high standards of quality and organization, which is a great differentiator for consumers to choose your company.

Furthermore, the fact that ISO is an international certification puts your business in the spotlight, as it applies globally validated guidelines, already proving the effectiveness of its measures.

The results that ISO certification can bring to your company are surprising. Then follow the articles on the Service Portal in Highlight every Tuesday and Thursday with topics related to management, maintenance and other trends in the service market.