How to get ISO 9001

Preparing your business for certification to standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 45001 can seem daunting. If you’re looking to get ISO 9001 certified for the first time (or recertified due to a lapsed accreditation). We can help.

Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide on how to get ISO 9001 certified quickly all the while benefiting from the experience by improving the goods and services your business produces.

STEP ONE: CHOOSE THE RIGHT CERTIFICATION FOR YOUR BUSINESS

The first step for any organisation is making sure that the ISO or Australian Standard (AS) you’ve chosen is the right fit for your organisation. In many instances, your potential customers or clients may require your business to hold a specific endorsement, such as ISO 9001.

STEP TWO: FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH THE STANDARD

Buying a copy of the standard can be useful, but isn’t necessarily required. In truth, the jargon involved may even put you off! This is where ISOsafe can add value to the process. We are able to guide you and your business through the ISO 9001 certification process from start to finish. As part of our service we are able to bring experience and professionally prepared systems to ensure your business is certified, without disruption and unnecessary costs.

STEP THREE: LEADING THE WAY

Implementing an ISO management system needs to be an organisation-wide. This can only be done with the involvement of management at each level.

ISOsafe are able to deliver training to all staff and management at your location to ensure good habits are formed.

STEP FOUR: USING A CONSULTANT

We provide consultancy services in addition to training and the documentation needed to get certified to ISO 9001.

Beware of ‘ready made’ management systems which may not suit your organisation.

STEP FIVE: SELECT A CERTIFICATION BODY

It’s important to know exactly what you’re getting when engaging a certification body. JAS-ANZ recognised certification bodies are best placed to issue ISO 9001 certificates.

ISOsafe are able to recommend the most appropriate certification body for your business based on your business’ needs.

STEP SIX: DEVELOPING A MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The ISO management standards are designed to be generic, applicable to organisations of all sizes and industry sectors. Whilst the standards provide a framework for good management practice, they do not provide detailed steps or information the ISO 9001 auditor may be looking for.

ISOsafe’s experts are able to advise and prepare tailored documents avoiding costly failed audits; making for a faster, smoother certification process.

STEP SEVEN: THE INTERNAL AUDIT

Before any certification audit it is important to have internally audited your ISO system.

ISOsafe’s 9001 experts are able to internally audit your management system, providing a detailed report and documenting all meetings to ensure your certification audit is a success.

STEP EIGHT: GETTING ISO 9001 CERTIFIED

The process starts with what’s known as a ‘Stage 1 Audit’. This is when an certification body auditor reviews your existing systems and provides you with a gap analysis report which will identify the actions required to meet the standard. ISOsafe are able to close any gaps following this audit, making the necessary changes to satisfy the requirements of the relevant ISO standard.

At this point your organisation will be ready to proceed to ‘Stage 2 Audit’. This audit will reveal the effectiveness of your management system and whether it meets all the requirements of the specific ISO standard you wish to be certified to (e.g. ISO 9001 and/or ISO 14001). If you are fully compliant, you will be recommended for certification. The auditor’s report will then be checked via an approvals process and if no anomalies are identified, certification is officially awarded.

STEP NINE: MAINTAINING YOUR CERTIFICATION

The maintenance of your management system is where the hard work really starts. Continued buy-in from everyone is important for implementation to succeed, and for you to gain the true benefit of becoming certified.

ISOsafe are able to provide your business with the ongoing support and training needed to consistently achieve certification.

WHY ISOsafe?

ISOsafe are Australia's leading HR, Employment Law and Health & Safety consultancy firm. We have helped over 3000 businesses with expert training, advice & compliance documentation.

We also develop, implement and audit ISO Quality (ISO 9001), Safety (ISO 45001 / OHSAS 18001 / ASNZS 4801), Environmental (ISO 14001) and Integrated Management Systems (IMS).

Looking for ISO 9001 certificate to win a new tender or contract? Find everything you need here

We have all the answers when it comes to ISO 9001 accreditation. Call us 1300 789 132.

ISOsafe understand ISO9001 Quality Management Systems certification is time consuming and sometimes confusing. This is where we can help you.

We will prepare and train your staff ensuring ISO 9001 compliance. We take the worry out of the quality process leaving you to focus on what you do best – running your business.

Why do evaluation tenders and pre-qualification questionnaires ask for ISO 9001? 

Having ISO 9001 compliant suppliers assures your customers that your business will produce good quality products and services, consistently.

And what does it mean for your business?

Your business will have established processes for everything that it does; meaning less errors and issues. By being a reliable and robust business you will gain the confidence of your customers.

How does it work?

✓ Our specialists will collect all the necessary information for preparation of your ISO 9001 system.
✓ We will complete internal audits of your Quality Management System (QMS) and provide ongoing support every step of the way until your business is certified to the globally recognised ISO 9001.

Call the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and AS 4801 experts today on 1300 789 132 to get immediate support for your QMS certification.
 

Click here for more information about ISO 9001 – link to International Organization for Standardization.

Our best kept secrets to getting more value out of your ISO auditor

Organisations seeking certification of their ISO management system are required to undergo regular audits. After each audit cycle, it is important for top level management to review the auditor’s report and act on or commit to any recommendations – this will help the organisation keep with current best practices and ensure compliance with the requirements of the relevant standard.

Another major factor to consider is whether your organisation’s ISO management system is living and breathing… In other words, is everyone complying with your documented policies and procedures? The auditor’s report will remain impartial, further, it will play a huge part of your systems long term success.

Part of the audit will be spent looking at how you are progressing to meet your business objectives. You can come away from your audit at the end with fresh knowledge of new objectives to aim for and how you can achieve these.

Do you have an external audit approaching? We can help your organisation achieve audit success; avoiding costly and time consuming failed external audits. Call ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132.

What is required as an absolute minimum for ISO 9001:2015 certification?

It is a common misconception that every process within an organisation (business) must be documented in order to gain ISO 9001 certification. This is simply not the case. With the shift towards risk based thinking, the 2015 revision of the standard is more adaptable than ever before. We’ve put together a list of the required documents for ISO 9001 below

Policies and Records required by ISO 9001:2015
Policies	Clause
Scope of the Quality Management System	4.3
Quality Policy	5.2
Quality Objectives and Plans for Achieving Them	6.2
Procedure for Control of Externally Provided Processes, Products and Services (outsourced processes)	8.4.1
Records	Clause
Record of Maintenance and Calibration of Monitoring and Measuring Equipment	7.1.5.1
Competence Records	7.2
Product/Service Requirements Review Record	8.2.3.2
Record of New Requirements for Product or Service	8.2.3.2
Design and Development Inputs Record	8.3.3
Record of Design and Development Controls	8.3.4
Design and Development Outputs Record	8.3.5
Record of Design and Development Changes	8.3.6
Record of Evaluation of External Provider (supplier)	8.4.1
Record of Product/Service Characteristics	8.5.1
Record of Changes on Customer’s Property	8.5.3
Record of Changes in Production/Service Provision	8.5.6
Evidence of Product/Service Conformity	8.6
Record of Nonconformity	8.7.2, 10.2.2
Monitoring Performance Information	9.1.1
Internal Audit Program and Results	9.2.2
Management Review Results	9.3
Nonconformities and Corrective Action	10.2.2

Feeling overwhelmed?

Contact ISOsafe for help with your ISO 9001 project on 1300 789 132. Don’t risk a failed ISO audit

ISO 9001:2015 - How we can help you get there

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It is the most widely used standard in the world, with over 1.1 million certificates issued to organisations in 178 countries.

ISO 9001 provides a framework and set of principles that ensure a common-sense approach to the management of your organisation to consistently satisfy customers and other stakeholders. In simple terms, it provides the basis for effective processes and effective people to deliver an effective product or service time after time.

ISO 9001:2015 was released on 15th September 2015. Organisations currently registered to ISO 9001:2008 will have 3 years to make the transition to the 2015 version. In support of the transition process, we wanted to answer some of the more common questions that we have received.

 Why was ISO 9001 revised?

All ISO standards are revised every five years to keep them current and relevant to the marketplace.

When should my organisation start the transition process and how will ISOsafe assist me through the transition?

Immediately! The first step is to contact ISOsafe – we’ll work with you on the transition timeline. The next step is to sit back while our expert consultant prepares all the necessary documents and delivers the ISO training your staff require. We will run the ISO project, on your behalf, through to issue of certificates.

Can our organisation upgrade in 2016 during a re-certification or surveillance audit?

Yes, providing your quality management system meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2015. Organisations may transition during a surveillance, recertification or special audit.  Transition audits will take place in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

My organisation is thinking of getting certified to ISO 9001 in 2016, what version should we be using?

We suggest you consider ISO 9001:2015 but this is your decision and ISOsafe will support an initial certification to ISO 9001:2008.

If you are seeking ISO 9001 certification for the first time, you can expect the following benefits: operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, process improvement, product improvement, reduced wastage, enhanced risk management at all levels in your business and new business / contracts – as this globally recognised certification will give your business a competitive edge in the market.

How can I get a copy of the ISO 9001:2015 Standard?

ISOsafe recommend purchasing Standards from an Australian supplier, such as SAI Global.

What are notable changes when transitioning to ISO 9001:2015?

The new ISO 9001 standard aligns with high-level organizational structure, requiring all new ISO management system standards to be aligned on a high-level structure with a set of common requirements. Additionally, there is a greater emphasis on risk-based thinking as a basis for the management system, more focus on achieving value for the company and its customers, increased flexibility regarding use of documentation, and a more approachable structure for service businesses.

ISOsafe have helped many organisations seamlessly transition to the revised Standards. Don’t wait till its late call us today on 1300 789 132