How to get an ISO certification

To get an ISO certification, you need to develop your management system, implement your system, and register your system. For details on these steps and other helpful information on getting an ISO certification, use this guide:

• Develop your management system

This is your first step and it starts with identifying your core or business processes. It should be a quality management system that adheres to the most recent ISO 9001 standard.

You then need to document processes with the involvement of your employees.

Finally, you should then review, approve, and give out the documents to the parties that need to access the information.

• Implement your system

Next you need to ensure procedures are being performed as they are described in your documentation, and also that employees are trained properly for the tasks they are performing.

Create effective reporting systems to cover inspection, testing, corrective actions, preventive actions, management review meetings, monitoring of objectives, statistical techniques, and other critical data.

Then monitor the effectiveness of your processes via the use of measurable data, wherever possible. Review your processes, and take action to improve in the applicable fields.

You also need to make sure your system is running effectively by conducting the audit and reviewing the processes and system for compliance and effectiveness.

Then observe interview people and look at sample records with the focus of identifying and reporting strengths and weaknesses of the management system. Take corrective or preventive action as necessary.

• Register your system

For this step, first start off by determining the proper auditing body for external registration. Then submit your management system documentation for review to ensure it complies with the applicable standard.

Lastly, you need to prepare for review by an external auditor to confirm that the system's requirements are meeting standards and that the management system is implemented effectively.

• Costs for ISO certification

Here are the costs to keep in mind:

• Developmental costs - mainly the time spent documenting and implementing the system.

• There are also costs associated with training employees to prepare the necessary documents and to plan and conduct effective internal audits.

• Lastly, is the cost of registration, which includes conducting the audit and registering the management system. The cost depends on the number of locations, the scope of work, the number of shifts, and other factors.

It will cost between $12,000 and $50,000 to implement a formal management system, this depends on the maturity of your existing management system, the size, and complexity of your organization, and the scope of registration.

You also have to consider the costs of the registration audits, which usually run between $2,000 and $30,000 per year.