With an ISO certificate, you have proof that your organisation meets all the requirements of the standard. Certification bodies issue the certificate after a 2-3 day audit.
ISO certification: how to get started?
NBN put together a 9-step plan that gives you guidance throughout the process. Do you follow it? Then you are well on your way to obtaining your ISO certificate!
The nine-step plan
- For which management standards(and) do you want to get certified?
What do you want to achieve? What are the specific needs of your organisation? The answers to those questions determine your choice of your management standard(s).
- Ensure broad support.
ISO certification is a management decision that affects the entire organisation . Convince your management and colleagues in advance of the added value of the standard(s).
- Follow a training.
You're not the first (nor the last) to seek ISO certification. Discover the knowledge and insights of experts during a training or master class so you don't have to reinvent the hot water.
- Conduct a baseline or GAP analysis.
Review, with colleagues or an outside consultant, what your biggest areas of work are.
- Set concrete goals.
Use the results of the GAP analysis to set goals for your organisation and for management. Create an orderly schedule, designate project teams and distribute tasks.
- Communicate clearly to all involved.
Involve all stakeholders and make sure everyone is on the same page. Keep them informed of progress.
- Work purposefully toward implementation of the standard.
Follow all actions carefully and encourage others to do the same.
- Contact the certification body for the audit.
Contact a certification body for an audit. Then discuss any deficiencies together.
- Certificate obtained?
Congratulations! Now, above all, keep working on your management system.
The benefits of ISO certification
Certification, above all, expands your opportunities for example, if a customer only purchases products or services from certified suppliers, or if you want to export your products. You can also use the ISO logo in your communications, which reinforces your reliability and image.
Choosing a certification body
The Belgian accreditation body, BELAC lists all accredited certification bodies on its website. Before choosing a certification body, compare them. For example, ask if they have already certified organisations in your sector, and check if they adhere to CASCO standards. These standards include ISO's policies and guidelines for certification bodies.
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