What is ISO Certification?

ISO certification is a formal recognition from the International Organization for Standardization(ISO) that sets standards for organizations, guiding them toward innovation and the advancement of trade practices. It is obligatory for organizations to adopt ISO Certification as it establishes specific standards that guarantee the quality, safety, and efficiency of their products and services. ISO certified tag ensures that a company's products or services meet both consumer expectations and regulatory requirements, certifying that the company's management system aligns with ISO standards, which is advantageous for the business, clients, and employees.

Furthermore, ISO Certificate serves as criteria to project continuous improvement and ensures that various processes adhere to standardized quality criteria. ISO Certification is issued across various fields, and each ISO certification has distinct criteria, encompassing:

• Management Systems
• Manufacturing Processes 
• Service or Documentation Processes

What is ISO Certification Prerequisites?

To obtain ISO Certification for your organization, certain essential prerequisites must be fulfilled, including:

• Attaining the appropriate ISO 9001 Certification.
• Identifying the best ISO registrar for certification.
• Understanding customer perceptions.
• Enhancing overall outcomes and product services.

What is Common Categories of ISO Certification?

• ISO 9001:2015- Quality Management System
• ISO 10002 – Compliant Management System
• ISO 14001:2015 – Environment Management System
• OHSAS 18001 – Occupational Health & Safety Management System
• ISO 31000 – Risk Management
• ISO 27001 – Information Security Management System
• ISO 26000 – Social Responsibility
• ISO 28000 – Security Management and Resilience 
• ISO 22008 – Food Safety Management
• SA 8000 – Social Accountability and Staff Management 
• EnMS EN 16001 ISO 50001 – Energy Management
• ISO/IEC 17025 – Testing and calibration laboratories
• ISO 20121 – Sustainable events
• ISO/IEC 27001 – Information security management
• SO 13485 – Medical devices

What are the Benefits of ISO Certification?

ISO Registration offers several benefits such as:

• Enhanced Business Efficiency: ISO registration is vital in establishing credibility in international business and improving overall business efficiency.
• Improved Customer Services: ISO aids in improving customer services and satisfaction, motivating organizations to deliver high-quality services.
• Better Marketability: ISO Certification expands the marketability potential of a company. ISO Certified products are presumed to attract more customers. 
• Enhanced Product Quality: ISO Certification ensures that products meet international quality standards, preventing rejection due to quality issues.
• Increased Credibility: ISO Certification is essential for businesses seeking to expand both domestically and globally, as it enhances credibility.
• Priority Tenders Allotment: ISO Certified tag provides an advantage in government and private sector tenders, giving businesses an edge over competitors. 
• Reduced costs: ISO certification can help organisations to identify and eliminate waste and inefficiencies. This can lead to reduced costs, which can be passed on to customers or used to improve the organisation's profitability.

What Activities under ISO Certification?

Apart from the above-mentioned benefits, ISO standards can be likened to several other profits that offer an approach to achieving peak performance across a wide range of domains. These standards encompass a vast array of activities, some of which are described below: 

• Elevating Quality Management: ISO standards streamline operations, reducing product-related issues and enhancing overall quality control.
• Promoting Environmental Responsibility: They encourage eco-friendly practices and waste reduction, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability.
• Ensuring Occupational Safety: ISO standards play a crucial role in maintaining workplace safety, mitigating the risk of accidents and injuries.
• Energy Efficiency: These standards promote lesser energy consumption and energy conservation, aligning with global efforts to conserve valuable energy resources.
• Safeguarding Food Safety: ISO standards provide assurance of food safety, protecting public health by ensuring the quality and safety of our food supply.
• Securing Information: ISO standards for information security safeguard sensitive data, preserving confidentiality and integrity in an increasingly digital world.

In essence, ISO standards serve as guiding principles, enabling superior performance and safety across the diverse challenges of our modern world.

What are the Documents Required for ISO Certification?

ISO Registration requires the following documents including:

• Identity and address proof
•  PAN Card
• Aadhar card copies.
• Copy of Sale deed for owned property.
• Rent Agreement for rented property.
• In the case of a company, a Certificate of Incorporation, MOA, and AOA.
• Passport-size photographs
• Utility or Electricity Bill.

What is the ISO Certification Process?

Obtaining ISO Certification is a long process and involves several steps, each of which is discussed in detail below:

• Type of ISO Certification: The initial step is to determine the specific type of certification that the company or organization requires. This forms the foundation for the entire ISO registration process.
• Filing of Application: Once the desired ISO standard has been finalized, the applicant must submit a formal application in the prescribed format. This application should outline the responsibilities and authority of both the applicant and the certification body.
• Submission of Documents: The application, along with the necessary documents, is submitted to the ISO certification body. The certification body thoroughly reviews these documents, which may include quality manuals and various policies adopted by the company or organization.
• Initial Assessment of Quality Management System: To identify any significant weaknesses in the company's Quality Management System, a preliminary assessment, known as the Pre-assessment, is conducted by the Registrar. This preliminary assessment offers an opportunity to rectify any deficiencies before the formal registration assessment takes place.
• Developing an Action Plan: Following the initial review, the ISO registrar highlights any existing gaps within the organization. To address these gaps effectively, the applicant is required to formulate an action plan. This action plan should comprise a list of necessary steps to align the organization with the Quality Management System.
• On-Premises Audit: The Registrar conducts an on-site audit to evaluate the changes and improvements made within the company or organization. If the Registrar identifies that the requisite changes do not fully align with the ISO standards, the organization is categorized into one of two groups based on the severity of non-compliance:

1. Minor Non-compliances
2. Major Non-compliances
3. It's important to note that ISO registration cannot proceed until all significant non-compliances have been addressed and rectified during a subsequent re-audit.

What is Obtaining the ISO Certification?

Once all identified non-compliances have been successfully resolved and documented in the ISO audit report, the Registrar issues the ISO certification to the organization. This certificate serves as official recognition of the organization's compliance with ISO standards, affirming its commitment to maintaining a high-quality management system.

What are the Types of ISO Certification?

ISO Registration involves various types of audits to assess business plans and records:

• Internal Audit: conducted by trained staff or an external organization.
• Supplier Audit: performed by lead auditors to ensure proper supplier functioning.
• Certification Audit: carried out by auditors from Certification Bodies to validate compliance with ISO standards.

How Can ApkaTax Assist You?

What is the ISO Certification Fees?

Are you looking for ISO Certification Fees then here the details for you. The ISO Certification cost start from ₹2000 to ₹10000 along with Government Fee ₹0 and Professional Fee ₹2000.

FAQs