Quality Quote – “A customer left in the dark cannot be seen leaving”
Author unknown – Don’t leave your customers in the dark!
What is required for ISO 9001 Certification?
There are a number of articles online that provide long-winded explanations on what is required for ISO 9001 Certification however in this blog we will try and keep things as short and to the point as possible.
Three simple steps required for ISO 9001 Certification
- Develop and implement a Quality Management System that meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems.
- Complete an internal audit to ensure the quality management system conforms with clauses 4 -10 of ISO 9001 and is effectively implemented and hold a QMS Management Review Meeting.
- Engage a JAS-ANZ Accredited Certification Body – they will complete the ISO 9001 audit in two stages:
- Stage 1 is a documentation audit to ensure your system meets the requirements of ISO 9001, and
- Stage 2 is an implementation audit to ensure you have implemented the system as documented.
That is it – provided you pass the audit and action any major non-conformances then you are certified!
If you haven’t developed a Quality Management System before then it may pay to engage an ISO 9001 Consultant to assist with the process – if they do their job properly then the Certification Body audit should be a tick in the box process.
If you think that you may be partway there, but would like to know how you are tracking then consider engaging a Streamline ISO Consultant to undertake a Gap Analysis Audit. Gap Audits are a great way to have an external party complete an independent assessment of your quality management system and provide you with a detailed action list with recommendations prior to completing Stage 1 of your certification audit. Also, note that there are some risks associated with Cheap ISO 9001 Certification, click here for more information.
How Streamline can help
Streamline consultants can design, develop and implement a certification-ready Quality Management System from the ground up to meet ISO 9001 requirements. If you already have an existing management system in place we will help you integrate ISO 9001:2015 into your current management system (eg ISO 45001 Safety or ISO 14001 Environmental) to form an Integrated Management System (IMS).
Our trained and experienced consultants have a 100% track record achieving certification for our clients and we guarantee your ISO 9001:2015 quality management system will get certified by a JAS-ANZ accredited Certification Body.
Contact Us Today
If you’d like more information, or to request a Quick Quote please use the form to the right and one of our consultants will contact you within one business day. Alternatively, you are welcome to contact us by phone or by emailing [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you may have.
External Link: To purchase a copy of ISO 9001:2015 Click Here
Cheap ISO 9001 Certification
Cheap ISO 9001 Certification – sounds great, doesn’t it!
Alas, however, much like anything, cheap ISO certification most likely means poor quality, and “the Bitterness of Poor Quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” (Benjamin Franklin).
There is a range of risks when trying to achieve certification on the cheap:
- The ISO Management System does not fully conform with the clauses of the reference standards (eg ISO 9001, ISO 45001 or ISO 14001 etc). This can lead to Major Non-conformances at audit time, delayed certification and additional resource requirements to close out the non-conformances.
- The ISO Management System may not be aligned with the organisation’s processes. This often happens with badly designed management systems, when a company downloads a template, or when a system is “borrowed” that has been developed for another company. This is akin to trying to fit a square peg into a round hole – it is never going to work. In fact, it will most likely have the opposite effect and actually act like a handbrake on the organisation. The most likely effect though is the system is just not used, and the benefits of the framework and continual improvement model never appreciated.
- Timeframes to certification can be dragged out. When most companies decide to undertake certification to ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems or any of the other standards, it is fair to say that they would like, or need it done by a certain date. If you are attempting to develop the system internally then no doubt the resources allocated have other responsibilities and when these responsibilities take priority the outcome is a delayed ISO certification schedule.
- Process mapping may be done incorrectly or inefficiently. Documenting organisational processes including Risks, Inputs, Outputs and process inter-relationship takes time, and to be done correctly and to a level that will support and help achieve business growth requires a high level of engagement of an experienced consultant with key personnel to ensure ownership, a high degree of implementation.
- Cheap ISO Consultants often insist that you choose a specific certification body. Always make sure you obtain a number of quotes from different JAS-ANZ accredited Certification Bodies.
Whether you are attempting to develop the system internally or just looking to engage a cheap ISO 9001 Consultant, make sure that whoever is developing the system has a solid, demonstrated history of management system design, implementation, internal auditing, and certification.
Government Funding Grants for ISO 9001 Certification
Did you know that many Australian businesses are actually eligible for help with ISO 9001 Certification through a government-funded Business Growth Grant? Click HERE for more information.
Need your ISO Certification Fast?
To achieve fast ISO 9001 certification there are a few key requirements. For more information on the requirements to get quick QMS Certification CLICK HERE.
Beware of things going cheap! Contact Us Today
If you’d like more information on ISO Management System Design, or to request a Quick Quote please use the form to the right and one of our consultants will contact you within one business day. Alternatively, you are welcome to contact us directly by phone or by emailing [email protected]
- Brisbane ISO Consultants 07 3667 8280
- Sydney ISO Consultants 02 8315 7780
- Melbourne ISO Consultants 03 9034 3990
We look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you may have.
For more information on JAS-ANZ Click Here.
How Much Will it Cost & How Long Will it Take to get ISO 9001 Certification?
How much does it cost to obtain ISO 9001 certification in Australia? Just as the cost of building a house can vary significantly depending on quality, size, scope, and schedule, so can the cost of ISO 9001 certification. You could say “how long is a piece of string?” as there are a number of factors that influence ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification cost and timeframes to certification.
Factors that may affect the time and cost of ISO certification:
- What systems, policies and procedures are already in place?
An organisation might be almost there, or they could be just getting started – this is where engaging an ISO 9001 Consultant to complete a Gap Analysis Audit is beneficial.
- What is the scope of the products and/or services offered by the organisation?
The larger the scope, the longer (and more costly) the development of the system will be.
- What is the size of the company?
Larger companies = more stakeholders so this factor will affect development and implementation requirements. Alternative implementation strategies may be required for small, medium and large enterprises.
- Is the Senior Management Team committed to Quality and Continuous Improvement or do they “just want the certificate”?
If the culture of quality doesn’t come from the top then there is a much higher likelihood of delayed schedules and limited adoption of the Quality Management System.
- What is the availability of key personnel?
If key personnel are not available to provide input into the development of the ISO 9001 QMS then delays are probable and personnel will not have ownership over the system – another contributor to the likelihood of delays.
- Is the ISO Consultant fully qualified with extensive experience across a wide variety of industry sectors?
An ISO Consultant that is in high demand may cost more than newer, inexperienced consultants but their systems are almost certainly of a higher quality with lower administrative overheads so you will save money in the long run.
- Does the company have an established Strategic Plan that provides clear direction for operational activities?
Documenting a Strategic Plan and establishing the strategic direction of the organisation is a great first step in establishing a Quality Management System.
- How many ISO Certifications are required?
Is the organisation just looking for certification to a single standard eg ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems, or to a multi-standard Integrated Management System eg ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems, ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems or HACCP Food Safety etc.
- What is the cost of the ISO Certification Auditors / JAS-ANZ Accredited Certification Body?
This will be an annual cost with a certification/recertification audit every three years, followed by two annual surveillance audits.
Government Funding Grants for ISO 9001 Certification
Did you know that many Australian businesses are actually eligible for help with ISO 9001 Certification through a government-funded Business Growth Grant? Click HERE for more information.
How long does it take to get ISO 9001 Certification?
With regards to timeframes, we recommend a three-month schedule:
- month 1 for the Quality Management System development,
- month 2 for implementation of the Quality Management System, and
- month 3 for internal audit and management review.
Quality Management Systems can be built, implemented and certified in as little as ten days, however, very short timeframes have the potential to result in rushed development and immature implementations. Likewise, if you take more than three months then the project can often lose momentum and does not remain at the forefront of priorities. The three-month schedule seems to work well.
If you need a certified Quality Management System in a hurry, for example, where ISO 9001 is a requirement for a tender, then it may be possible to complete a Fast ISO 9001 Certification in as little as ten days. This can only be completed under certain conditions but it can be done – CLICK HERE for more information on Quick ISO 9001 Certification.
If your organisation is looking to achieve certification to ISO 9001 and are considering Quality Management System cost then we recommend you obtain a number of quotes from ISO 9001 Consultants and JAS-ANZ accredited certification bodies. Ensure you undertake due diligence and understand What to Look for when choosing an ISO 9001 Quality Consultant because a badly designed system will definitely cost you in the long run – beware of cheap ISO 9001 Certification!
Remember – you get to use the certification logo of the Certification Body that you use so if this is important then make sure you like the logo before you select a Certification Body.
Three simple steps for ISO 9001 Certification
- Develop and implement a Quality Management System that meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems.
- Complete an internal audit to ensure the quality management system conforms with clauses 4 -10 of ISO 9001 and is effectively implemented and hold a QMS Management Review Meeting.
- Engage a JAS-ANZ Accredited Certification Body – they will complete the ISO 9001 audit in two stages:
- Stage 1 is a documentation audit to ensure your system meets the requirements of ISO 9001, and
- Stage 2 is an implementation audit to ensure you have implemented the system as documented.
That is it – provided you pass the audit and action any major non-conformances then you are certified!
If you haven’t developed a Quality Management System before then it may pay to engage an ISO 9001 Consultant to assist with the process – if they do their job properly then the Certification Body audit should be a tick in the box process.
If you think that you may be partway there, but would like to know how you are tracking, then consider engaging a Streamline ISO Consultant to undertake a Gap Analysis Audit. Gap Audits are a great way to have an external party complete an independent assessment of your quality management system and provide you with a detailed action list with recommendations prior to completing Stage 1 of your certification audit.
How Streamline can help
Streamline ISO Consultants can design, develop and implement a certification-ready Quality Management System from the ground up to meet ISO 9001 requirements. If you already have an existing management system in place we will help you integrate ISO 9001:2015 into your current management system (eg ISO 45001 Safety or ISO 14001 Environmental) to form an Integrated Management System (IMS).
Our trained and experienced ISO 9001 Consultants have a 100% track record achieving certification for our clients and we guarantee your ISO 9001:2015 quality management system will get certified by a JAS-ANZ accredited Certification Body.
Contact Us Today
If you’d like more information, or to request a Quick Quote please use the form to the right and one of our ISO consultants will contact you within one business day. Alternatively, you are welcome to contact us directly by emailing [email protected] or by calling:
- Brisbane ISO Consultants 07 3667 8280
- Sydney ISO Consultants 02 8315 7780
- Melbourne ISO Consultants 03 9034 3990
We look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you may have.
For more information on how to use Smartsheet for a cost-effective ISO 9001 Management System CLICK HERE
Quality Quote by Aristotle – Greek Philospoher
“Quality is not an act, it is a habit”.
Aristotle – Greek Philosopher (384BC – 322BC)