The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international organization which brings together experts to share knowledge and develop international standards that support innovation and provide solutions to curb global challenges
ISO certification is a seal of approval from a third party body that a company runs to one of the international standards developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
ISO certification identifies companies committed both to quality standards and the quality management systems needed to meet these standards.
ISO 9001 is defined as the international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS).
A quality management system is a collection of business processes focused on consistently meeting customer requirements and enhancing their satisfaction. It is aligned with an organization's purpose and strategic direction. (value addition)
Organizations use the standard to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
It helps businesses and organizations to be more efficient and improve customer satisfaction.
ISO 14001 is a set of standards created to help companies around the world to reduce their adverse impact on the environment. It’s a framework for improved and more environmental-conscious quality management systems by organizations- large and small.
ISO 14001 is meant to be a step-by-step guide for establishing and then achieving environmental-friendly objectives for business practices and products. The purpose is to help companies manage processes efficiently while minimizing environmental effects.
The premise is to demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability is something all organisations should be doing in today’s society. Getting ISO 14001 certified is one way to achieve this.
ISO 45001:2018 specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, and gives guidance for its use, to enable organizations to provide safe and healthy workplaces by preventing work-related injury and ill health, as well as by proactively improving its OH&S performance.
ISO 45001:2018 is applicable to any organization that wishes to establish, implement and maintain an OH&S management system to improve occupational health and safety, eliminate hazards and minimize OH&S risks (including system deficiencies), take advantage of OH&S opportunities, and address OH&S management system nonconformities associated with its activities.
ISO 45001:2018 helps an organization to achieve the intended outcomes of its OH&S management system. Consistent with the organization's OH&S policy, the intended outcomes of an OH&S management system include: a) continual improvement of OH&S performance; b) fulfilment of legal requirements and other requirements; c) achievement of OH&S objectives
ISO 45001:2018 enables an organization, through its OH&S management system, to integrate other aspects of health and safety, such as worker wellness/wellbeing.
Food safety management system which is outcome focused, providing requirements for any organization in the food industry with an objective to help to improve overall performance in food safety.
ISO 22000 is an internationally recognised standard that combines the ISO 9001 approach to food safety management and HACCP for the assurance of food safety at all levels. The standard maps out how an organisation can demonstrate its ability to control safety hazards to ensure that food is safe.
ISO training is a process of training individuals or organization’s workforce to meet the latest ISO standards by maintaining a quality management system. Fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement through an effective training management system.
It allows organizations to streamline and optimize in-house training processes. It promotes organization to identify the proper training needs and effectively train employees for the process. ISO Standard training provides the businesses with a competitive edge over peers making them a front runner for business opportunities and fueling growth
Identify Knowledge/Skill Gaps Before They Become A Problem: It’s better to highlight a potential problem and tackle it head-on, rather than becoming aware of the skills gap when an issue arises because of it.
Improve the efficiency and productivity level of an employee: The workforce will be able to gain competence and become more productive. This will ultimately improve employee engagement and boost employee morale.
Improve the quality of services: The training helps to meet the desired goals of the company.
Opportunity for learning and development: ISO training is considered beneficial for an organization as it provides an opportunity for learning and development through proper training.
Helps improve worker productivity: The proper training makes workers feel more confident in their abilities to work more efficiently.
As stated above ISO does not provide companies’ certification. It needs to be done by the external certification bodies. Thus it is mandatory to recognise the credible certification body. When selecting a certification body, the entrepreneur has to follow the things listed below.
Evaluate several certification bodies
Check if the certification body uses the relevant CASCO standards
Check whether the certification body is accredited.
Note: Accreditation is not compulsory; however, the companies should meet the ISO accreditation bodies’ requirements.
To find an accredited certification body in our country, contact the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), India.
The process for obtaining ISO certification in India is explained in detail below:
Once the entrepreneur or application has selected the ISO standard and ISO certification body, need to make an application in a prescribed form (depends on the ISO registrar). The application should contain rights and obligations of entrepreneur and certification body parties and includes liability issues, confidentiality, and access rights.
The ISO certification body will review all the quality manuals and documents related to various policies and procedures being followed in the organisation. Review of existing works will help the ISO registrar to identify the possible gaps against the requirements stipulated in the ISO standards.
The Pre-assessment is an initial review of the Quality Management System in an organisation to identify any significant weakness or omissions in the system and registrar will provide the organisation with an opportunity to correct the deficiencies before the regular registration assessment is conducted.
After the ISO registrar notified the existing gaps in the organisation, the applicant or entrepreneur has to prepare an action plan to eliminate these gaps. The action plan should contain the list of the required tasks to be performed to meet the Quality Management System
Note: The entrepreneur may need giving training to employees to work efficiently to achieve quality management system. Make all the employees in the organisation to aware of the ISO standards concerning work efficiency and quality standards.
The ISO registrar will conduct a physical onsite inspection to audit the changes made in the organisation.
During the audit, if the registrar finds anything that does not meet with the requirements of the ISO standards, registrar determines the severity and issue findings. Audit findings are usually called as nonconformities and fall into one of two categories depending on severity.
A Minor Non-conformance – It deals with minor infractions of procedures or minor failures of the system in meeting the ISO standards.
A Major Non-conformance – It deals with issues where the nonconforming products are likely to reach the customers or where there is a breakdown in the quality system that results in an inefficient system in meeting the requirements of the standards.
The registration cannot proceed until all significant nonconformities are closed and verified by the Registrar. This usually involves a re-audit of the affected areas and, of course, the associated costs.
Note: Minor nonconformities require a corrective action plan and that will be closed at the first surveillance.
After all, non-conformities are addressed, and all the findings are updated in the ISO audit report, the registrar will grant the ISO certification.
Surveillance audit will be conducted primarily to ensure that the organisation is maintaining ISO quality standards. It will be performed from time to time.
1.why important iso for business?
Ans:-ISO certification is a globally recognized standard that signifies a company's commitment to providing high-quality products or services. By achieving ISO certification, a business demonstrates its dedication to meeting and exceeding customer expectations, which can help build trust and credibility with customers.
2.how many stanadrs of iso certifictae?
Ans:-There are many different standards of ISO certification, covering a wide range of industries and areas of focus. Some of the most common ISO standards include:
ISO 9001: Quality management systems
ISO 14001: Environmental management systems
ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems
ISO/IEC 27001: Information security management systems
ISO 22000: Food safety management systems
ISO/IEC 20000-1: IT service management systems
ISO 50001: Energy management systems
ISO 13485: Medical devices - Quality management systems
ISO 26000: Social responsibility
ISO 31000: Risk management
3.why iso 9001?
Ans:-ISO 9001 is a standard for quality management systems that provides a framework for organizations to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve their processes and procedures to meet customer requirements and enhance customer satisfaction.
4. what is importance of ISO 14001?
Ans:-
The importance of ISO 14001, specifically, lies in its focus on environmental management and providing a framework for organizations to minimize their environmental impact and improve their overall environmental performance. Here are some key reasons why ISO 14001 holds significant value:
1. Reduced Environmental Footprint: Implementing ISO 14001 encourages organizations to identify and manage their environmental aspects (activities, products, and services that can impact the environment). This leads to decreased resource consumption, waste generation, and pollution, contributing to a more sustainable future.
2. Enhanced Regulatory Compliance: ISO 14001 helps organizations stay up-to-date with changing environmental regulations and ensures compliance with relevant environmental laws and standards. This minimizes the risk of legal penalties and fines.
3. Improved Operational Efficiency: By streamlining environmental management processes, ISO 14001 can reduce operational costs in various ways, such as minimizing energy and water consumption, optimizing waste disposal, and identifying potential cost savings through resource efficiency.
4. Enhanced Brand Reputation: Consumers and stakeholders are increasingly conscious of environmental responsibility. Demonstrating commitment to environmental stewardship through ISO 14001 certification can boost your brand image and attract environmentally conscious customers and partners.
5. Competitive Advantage: In today's market, having an ISO 14001 certificate can give you a significant edge over competitors. It demonstrates your commitment to environmental sustainability, making you a more attractive choice for environmentally conscious clients and potential investors.
6. Improved Risk Management: Proactive identification and mitigation of environmental risks through ISO 14001 can prevent environmental incidents, accidents, and associated liabilities, leading to better risk management and operational resilience.
7. Increased Employee Engagement: Implementing ISO 14001 often involves employee participation in environmental initiatives. This fosters a culture of environmental awareness and responsibility within the organization, boosting employee engagement and morale.
8. Continuous Improvement: ISO 14001 emphasizes continuous improvement in environmental performance. This cyclical approach ensures that organizations are constantly seeking ways to minimize their environmental impact and become more sustainable over time.
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