ISO Certification in the USA
To be able to see the whole picture of ISO Certification in the USA, it is important to make a little stop at its history. Although ISO was not established in the USA itself, its origins are in Europe. So, when the Europeans were getting ready to establish their own version of quality management system standard, they were required by general rule to start with ISO. Because of this rule, the first version of the ISO 9001 standard was released in 1987. The USA started to work on their own quality system standard in 1990 and finally, American National Standard (ASQC) A9004-1 certification was approved by ANSI in 1994. From that point on, different types of standards were created in order to support software manufacturers, but these standards did not have an impact on the American market.
About ISO Certification in the USA
All of that was until 2003 when ISO 17025 standard started to influence different parts of the world. Eventually, under the pressure of TS 16949 standard released just two years later, conformity became compulsory for many large companies. That’s how the ISO 9000 family of standards became one of the most popular quality management systems in the USA.
The Standards Today
These days, there are 6 main standards that influence different aspects of business all over the globe, but they also affect US companies more than any other standard. These 6 standards are:
ISO 9001: 2015 – Quality management system
ISO 13485: 2003 – Medical devices Quality Management System
ISO 27001: 2005 – Information security management system
ISO 45001: 2018 – Occupational health and Safety Management System
ISO 17025: 2017 – Laboratory Management System
ISO 50001: 2018 – Energy Management System
ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management System
How can I get ISO certification in the USA?
Once you are familiar with the standards, you will be able to work on your own Quality Management System. When it comes to ISO certification in the USA, there are two ways to make this process happen. First of all, you can put together your company’s Quality Manual and start preparing for an external auditor that will come from one of the many certification bodies. The second option is to participate in one of ISO Certification training courses offered by various organizations around the world. Usually, preparing for an external auditor takes about 6 months with significant discounts being available for companies that opt for training classes.
The Benefits of ISO Certification in the USA
2012 research showed that more than 90% of worldwide quality management systems were certified according to one of the ISO 9000 family standards. This number alone should give you a clue about the benefits that are being reaped by companies that have achieved ISO certification. These benefits range from quality improvement to faster time-to-market, but their best asset remains increased customer satisfaction.
Certified Quality Management System will help your company in many ways, but here are the TOP 4 reasons why you should choose to be ISO certified:
Improved Quality of Product and Services: A quality management system is a set of activities that aims at delivering products and services on time while maximizing customer satisfaction. A Quality Management System certifies your company’s ability to meet all requirements stated by clients, but it also shows that your company can produce better products under all circumstances.
Decreased Time-to-Market: Time to market is affected by many factors that are being influenced by the quality management system in place. This means that if you have an ISO-certified Quality Management System then you are likely to decrease time-to-market while increasing customer satisfaction.
Increased Customer Satisfaction: A quality management system can be a good way to increase customer satisfaction thanks to the wide range of activities that a company can perform in order to meet all requirements stated by clients. As mentioned, the number of companies that have ISO certification is over 90% which shows how many organizations worldwide are in the process of reaching their goals.
Improved Compliance : Any business person who has worked with safety is aware of safety data sheets (SDS). They are made available when it is necessary to show the hazardous properties of materials used by an organization for producing goods or supplying services so that employees, customers, and any other people who could be affected are aware of potential dangers. It is no surprise to learn that being ISO certified means complying with Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems Standards.
ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System
2016 research done by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) showed that only one out of every six companies in the US have their quality management system certified according to ISO 9001. The reason for this low number is the increase in quality management system audits that most companies must pass before they can be considered as a candidate for certification.
ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management System
According to 2012 research done by BSRIA, most organizations with environmental management systems are aware of increased customer demand and improved image. The same study shows that only 35% of companies use environmental management systems to satisfy customer requirements and less than 1% can be considered ISO 14001 certified.
ISO 27001:2013 – Information Security Management System
One important reason for organizations to undergo an audit in order to become compliant with the ISMS standard is the increased awareness of information security risks. Although this is a good thing, the bad news is that only 22% of organizations have their ISMS certified according to ISO 27001 standard in contrast with 96% of organizations worldwide.
ISO 50001:2018 – Energy Management System
The last example is the energy management system which covers all types of organizations that are looking for ways to improve their energy efficiency. In order to be certified as an EN ISO 50001 company, your organization must prove its ability to manage energy resources appropriately, which is a good thing for the environment as well as for the economy.
What do You need To Know About ISO Certification?
ISO certification is awarded by an independent third party after a successful audit of your company’s procedures and processes. Even if you pass the initial audits successfully, your organization will be under regular surveillance in order to prove that all ISO requirements are being met on a regular basis.
Being ISO compliant can bring many benefits for any organization because it enables companies to increase customer satisfaction while also decreasing costs, which is a combination that everyone is looking for.
As you can see, there are many reasons why organizations like yours should become ISO certified and the benefits which such certification brings to your business makes it worth all effort you make.
For more information about how your organization can benefit from becoming ISO compliant visit the official website of IAS, a UQAS accredited certifying organization.
The IAS Group is the premier global provider of quality assurance, certification, and advisory services. Recognizing that their clients are seeking alternatives to reduce costs, increase efficiencies and stand out in the marketplace, the IAS Group has established a lean operating model with their head office situated in Brisbane Australia and as a result, has been able to offer opportunities for their clients as well as their employees.
Contact IAS today to learn more about ISO certification, or visit our ISO certification frequently asked questions page!
