So you want to get ISO 9001 but your head is full of questions? Here, we will try and answer the top 5 most frequently asked questions about ISO 9001.

1. What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). The purpose of it is to improve quality within your organisation, this is usually done by making processes more efficient, monitoring customer satisfaction and promoting continuous improvement.

2. What are the benefits of ISO 9001 certification?

The benefits of ISO 9001 certification can be great. As the whole focus of ISO 9001 is improving quality, you will also usually improve efficiency, customer satisfaction, reduce costs and much more. The whole process of implementing ISO 9001 will really allow you to see the gaps in your organisation.

3. How much does ISO 9001 cost?

This is a huge question as the answer varies so much dependent upon the size of your organisation, the number of employees, the complexity of what you do and more. In the most part, there are two key areas to think about.

First the implementation of your QMS. You may employ a consultant to help with this or you may look at D.I.Y approach. If you employ a consultant, they will usually look after the whole process for you however, it will be more expensive. If you’d prefer a D.I.Y. approach you may wish to use our QMS Toolkit to help. This contains all of the documentation, processes, templates you might need to begin implementing your QMS.

Next, you will need to consider the auditing costs. Certification bodies daily rates vary significantly, and it is always a good idea to get at least two quotes to compare when looking for a certification body. The cost of certification and the total number of days of assessment will vary depending upon staff numbers, the complexity of the business and number of sites.

Unfortunately, there is no set guide on how much it will cost but if you are unsure of anything get in touch and we can offer some advice on where to start.

4. How does the certification process work?

After you have implemented your Quality Management System (QMS) you will be ready to be assessed. For an initial assessment this is done in two stages.

A Stage 1 Assessment is a document review or readiness check. The auditor will look at your quality management system and decide if they think you will be ready for your Stage 2 assessment. They usually provide you with some findings of things you can fix or improve for your Stage 2 Assessment.

A Stage 2 Assessment is the second part of the process. The auditor will test your system against the processes that are happening within your business. Whatever you have said in your QMS needs to be what is happening on the shop floor! This stage usually involves site visits, interviews with employees and in-depth reviews of your documentation.

After you ‘pass’ the Stage 2 assessment you will be recommended for certification. You will usually receive your certificate within 2-4 weeks following your stage 2 assessment and relevant compliance checks.

5. What happens if I don’t pass?  

Different certification bodies have different rules regarding findings and non-conformances. Usually if the auditor finds a major NCR, you will need to complete Corrective Action to remedy it. You usually have around 2-4 weeks to get this submitted to the certification body. Minor NCRs and smaller findings are usually checked at your next audit. Be sure to check with your certification body for their specific guidelines.

Hopefully this has answered some key questions for you about ISO 9001 and the certification process. As always, if you have any further questions or need some advice please get in touch support@theisoconsultant.co.uk or head to our YouTube for lots of helpful hints and tips.