ISO management standard certification: why do it?

31/1/2023
ISO certification

Management standards help you manage day-to-day operations and support the rollout of your organisation’s strategy. They give you guidance on key areas such as quality, the environment, safety and sustainability. And they are universally applicable – to SMEs, multinationals, and the public sector, as well as public and private non-profit organisations.

ISO management standards: the benefits

By implementing management standards in your company or organisation, you increase customer satisfaction. The process-oriented approach broadens your focus, allowing you to think in a customer-oriented, as well as a product- or service-oriented, way. On your journey to certification, you optimise your processes. This helps you save money and reinforces your potential for success and growth. Finally, this step-by-step approach also allows you to pay more attention to sustainability and quality.

ISO certification: proof that your organisation applies the standard correctly

In addition to implementing a management standard, your organisation can also become certified. Why is that worthwhile? An ISO certificate is a mark of quality. It proves that your organisation applies the standard correctly, which improves your credibility and boosts your (international) image. Also, new markets accept your products or services faster, both at home and abroad.

What is ISO certification?

An ISO certification is an assessment about the quality management system within your Organisation. An external party verifies that your organisation meets the requirements described in the management standard. ISO certification requires resources and a time investment, but you get a lot in return. It benefits your organisation. In several areas: ISO certification increases efficiency and optimizes business processes. And it has a positive impact on your corporate image, which means you win more contracts and clients.

The ISO audit is an important part of the certification process.



What is an ISO audit?

In the case of the ISO 9001 standard, for example, it’s important to know if the quality management system is properly and effectively implemented, and whether or not it actually works in practice.

An internal audit is the first evaluation tool to use. It enables you, as an organisation, to continuously improve. It puts internal processes under the microscope and evaluates them. Based on this evaluation, you can then adjust your approach and implement any improvements prior to the external audit.

The ISO audit by an external party is a mandatory element of the ISO 9001 certification. In addition to the certification itself, it provides you with practical and useful information about the quality management system you’re working with.


Which ISO management standards can you get certified for?

The number of standards for which you can get certified is large. You can find the complete overview in the NBN e-book. Quality, the environment, and energy are important topics, and certification for health and safety standards is also in high demand. Which are the most frequently applied certifications?

  • ISO 9001:2015 (quality management systems - requirements) establishes the requirements for an effective quality management system.
  • ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management systems - requirements with guidance for use) allows you to set up an environmental management system.
  • ISO 45001:2018 (occupational health and safety management systems - requirements with guidance for use) takes a systematic approach to the safety and health of your employees.

These are just a few examples from the rich array of ISO management standards for which you can get certified.

Want to know more about certification?

Then request the NBN's e-book  'Certification for ISO management standards: roadmap to success'.

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