ISO Certification Bodies
About ISO
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international organization founded in 1947. ISO is dedicated to developing and maintaining international ISO standards that provide world-class specifications for goods, services, and safe working practices to facilitate trade. It creates and promotes a variety of proprietary, industrial, and commercial standards. ISO does not issue certification, despite the fact that it develops and publishes ISO standards. As a result, corporations seek ISO certification from third-party ISO certification bodies for the numerous standards that are issued.
What is the Purpose of ISO Certification Bodies?
An ISO certification body is an independent third party that oversees the ISO certification process. ISO certification bodies are used by businesses to gain independent recognition. In a globalized environment where potential clients are unable to visit potential suppliers or service providers on the other side of the globe, independent recognition is becoming increasingly vital. ISO certification bodies are subject to ISO’s requirements for impartiality, non-discrimination, openness, and transparency in the ISO certification process.
What are Accredited ISO Certification Bodies?
Accreditation is the process of an independent accreditation authority recognizing and approving a certification body, thereby certifying that the certification body operates in compliance with international standards. Non-accredited certifying bodies, as well as those that claim to be accredited but aren’t, may not be subject to regular performance, quality, or competence monitoring by a national accrediting authority.
How to Choose Between ISO Certification Bodies?
Choosing the right ISO certification body out of all of them is a challenging job for any individual or corporation. The following are some key points to think about before choosing an ISO certification body:
Quality of services: It is important to consider what ISO standards does the ISO certification body offer and how long they have been offering them. ISO certification bodies that offer more ISO standards and have been doing so for a longer period of time are generally more reputable and recognized than those that offer only a few ISO standards.
Fees: It is important to consider the fees involved with ISO certification since this cost will vary depending on the ISO standard being certified against. Some ISO certification bodies may also offer discounted rates on ISO standards that are prerequisites for ISO standards that you require, so it is important to be on the lookout for these deals.
Accreditation: If anyone can provide you a piece of paper claiming to be ISO certified to any standard, but no one is accredited (licensed) to do so, you should be suspicious. In that situation, you should examine whether the certifying body has a prominent accreditation.
Flexibility: Not all ISO standards are the same. Some ISO standards are more complex than others and may require a greater amount of time to prepare for certification. Consequently, you should choose an ISO certification body that is flexible enough to accommodate your needs.
Experience: As ISO standards are becoming increasingly in demand in the globalized work environment, ISO certification bodies and their employees require vast experience in running ISO registration processes. As a result, check whether or not the ISO certification body has experienced professionals working for them. ISO
Language: If a translator is required, the ISO certification organization may offer one. However, if the auditor knows your language, the audit will go much more smoothly. When there is no language barrier, he will be able to read your full documents much more quickly, and you will be able to create a better relationship with him.
Advantages of ISO Certification Bodies
The following are some of the advantages of hiring an ISO certification body:
- Provide you with third party recognition of conformity to ISO standards
- Certification gives you a competitive advantage to do business internationally
- Helps save your company time and money through an efficient certification process
- ISO certification bodies must have a thorough understanding of your industry, so it aids in the identification of best practices.
- It decreases the need to re-audit your firm, which reduces paperwork and boosts efficiency.
Helpful Tips on Selecting ISO Certification Bodies
Begin by determining what benefits the certification will provide for your company. You may then begin creating a set of criteria that are tailored to your own scenario. As an example, some companies choose ISO certification bodies based on their reputation among potential clients, including experience and skills. Other businesses select ISO certification bodies that are well-known in their target areas.
- Begin looking for ISO certification bodies as soon as possible. The majority of companies begin selecting ISO certification bodies near the end of the management system setup process. You can begin by requesting estimates from at least a number of ISO certification bodies and inquiring about the other services they can give in addition to the certification audit. For instance, they could be able to advise you on the breadth of your management system.
- Check with your primary clients or competitors to see which ISO certification bodies they utilize. Perhaps these ISO certification bodies have better knowledge about your industry and can offer helpful advice.
- Examine the services that are covered. Make sure you’re comparing similar items when comparing charges, such as checking if trip expenses or documentation review are included.
After conducting your preliminary research, contact the ISO certification bodies on your shortlist and request a meeting to discuss your concerns and assess their potential as partners in more than simply compliance evaluation.
For more information about ISO certification bodies, please contact us or visit ISO certification bodies frequently asked questions
