From start to finish - how to get ISO

Going for ISO certification can be a little tricky if you are new to ISO … this is where using a consultant can be a great solution, because your consultant will:

know exactly what is needed (and what is not needed)
can hit the ground running with all the templates you need
have good relationships with Certification Bodies
deliver the project quicker and cost-efficiently

Remember: regardless of whether you use a consultant or not – you’ll always need a Certification Body to carry out the external audit - their costs vary dramatically so it is good to work with a consultant to advise on the best (cheapest!) Certification Body to work with

Below is a quick guide of the key steps to get you ISO certified … the steps will often overlap, typically we will start working on steps 1 and 2 on day one !

step 1 : scoping

step 2 : get going

Identify what parts of the company (usually all) will be included in certification scope

Create a ‘to do’ list – used to track and complete progress of each individual item

Contact Certification Bodies to confirm their availability and audit costs

Agree a target date for when we want the certificate(s) to be hanging on the wall

step 2 : get going

Identify an area where the ISO documents will be stored and can be shared

Comms and engagement with everyone to ensure they know what they need to do

Using supplied templates, create policies, processes, registers, etc. needed

Confirm audit dates for the external audit with the Certification Body

step 3 : operating

step 2 : get going

step 3 : operating

Simply doing what the (new) policies and procedures say you need to do

New ISO activity that needs to be created and completed from scratch

Existing day-to-day company operations that do not need to change

More comms with staff to check their take-up of the new ISO activity

step 4 : stop, test

step 5 : audit time

step 3 : operating

Conduct a full company Internal Audit to see if everyone and everything is operating is OK

Conduct a formal Management Review with management to review everything

Make any changes that either the internal audit or management review identify

step 5 : audit time

Stage One is a review of documents to see if the ISO system has been set up correctly

Stage Two is the proper audit – people are interviewed, records of activity reviewed

Fix any non-conformities that the external Auditor identifies

step 6 : all done !

step 5 : audit time

Buy a frame for the office wall; update your ‘Certifications’ page on your website

You’ve passed ... you've done it ...

you’re ISO certified!

Time to tell all your current and potential customers

From start to finish - how to get ISO

step 1 : scoping

step 2 : get going

step 2 : get going

step 2 : get going

step 2 : get going

step 2 : get going

step 3 : operating

step 2 : get going

step 3 : operating

step 4 : stop, test

step 5 : audit time

step 3 : operating

step 5 : audit time

step 5 : audit time

step 5 : audit time

step 6 : all done !

step 5 : audit time

step 5 : audit time

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