Steps involved in getting ISO Certification

In my last article, I covered Implementing and ISO Process - A Quick info. Read on here to know the process of getting an ISO certification includes a rigorous audit of the company's operations, procedures, and documentation.?

Steps involved in the beginning stage of ISO certification:?

1.Vendor Identification: Once you finalize to go with ISO certification, you need to identify the right vendor who can help you throughout the process. Talking to multiple vendors with the right questions and their detailed proposals would help to identify and finalize the right vendor. Also, ensure to negotiate well for the certificate as well as for the support. Usually, the proposal will define all that is covered for obtaining the certificate, which includes the annual surveillance audit cost as well.

2.Core Team: A representative from each department is required to provide complete information especially related to policy, process, operating procedures, etc... The core team is also required for internal audits as well as being an internal auditor for other departments as well.

3.Identify Gaps: Once the vendor and core team are finalized, the?ISO team (vendor) would do a gap analysis which means the required process vs the followed process. During the meeting, the ISO team will ask relevant questions to each department head/representative to provide necessary data/information. All the missing data/information would be considered as gaps and the ISO team will ask the team to come up with certain documents as per the compliance process that is required to fill the gaps.

4.Internal Audit: For regular internal audits there should be an Internal Audit team which needs to be finalized in the initial stage itself, remember you have already identified this during the core team finalization. This team needs to be available during the audit process as prescribed the by ISO lead. Usually, a quarterly audit in the initial stage would be recommended to ensure the process is followed as per ISO compliance. conducted by an internal team that is identified by the ISO Leader/management.?Internal auditors are to be trained by the ISO lead to ensure the audit goes as per the ISO process.

The next few steps are very important as it involves getting the certificate and sustaining compliance with ISO.?stay tuned for my next article in the upcoming weeks.?

?About Author:

Anthony Vincent, working as Operations Manager at?Chimera Technologies, hobbies are playing musical instruments keyboard, rhythm pad, and guitar.?