What is ISO?

 ISO certification is an abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization, a Swiss organization for standardization.

ISO standards and ISO certification

The many standards created by the nonprofit ISO are referred to as “ISO standards” and are widely accepted as being of an international standard both locally and abroad.

Both “things” (i.e., products) and “management” (i.e., management and systems) make up the ISO standard.

A corporation must have “ISO certification” to demonstrate that its goods and services are compliant with ISO guidelines and that its management practices follow the PDCA cycle.

Benefits of obtaining ISO certification

• There are three main benefits to obtaining ISO certification.

Differentiation from competitors

Since ISO standards are international standards, ISO certification is subject to rigorous examination by a third-party organization.

Obtaining this certification proves that you are conducting highly reliable management that has passed strict screening criteria, which helps differentiate you from your competitors.

Easy to enter overseas markets

The ISO standard is a global standard, and obtaining certification can prove the safety of international transactions, increasing reliability and making it easier to enter overseas markets.

Helps improve the company’s image

Obtaining the Best ISO certification means that we have a system in place to conduct management in accordance with international standards while implementing the PDCA cycle when providing products and services.

In addition, there is transparency in providing information openly to third parties in order to obtain ISO certification, which improves the company’s external image.

Points to note when obtaining ISO certification

ISO certification is rigorously reviewed by a third party to prove that a company complies with an international standard.

There are a few things to keep in mind when acquiring one, so I will explain them.

It takes time to create documents

When undergoing an ISO certification acquisition audit, you must prepare various documents according to ISO standards. For example, the following documents are required to obtain ISO9001 certification.

• Scope of QMA
• Quality policy, quality goals
• Quality control organization chart
• Procedures and specifications
• forms etc.

In other words, it is necessary to prove that not only the new documents created for the audit but also the documents used in daily operations meet ISO standards.

Even after the acquisition, maintenance tasks are necessary.

The method still includes routine audits even after attaining ISO certification. Renewal audits are performed every three years, thus your company’s management system needs to be routinely managed with PDCA in mind.

There will be a cost

ISO certification audits and renewals are expensive, and costs vary depending on the industry and size of the company.

If the task is contracted out to an outside consultant, there will be a request fee in addition to the costs directly associated with the inspection.

In addition, we not only create paperwork for ISO certification but also host briefing sessions for outside organizations. Due to the involvement of numerous parties in the preparation and response to the examination, there is a tremendous burden in terms of both financial and human resources.

It takes time to take effect

Obtaining ISO certification will improve your company’s credibility, but it will not necessarily improve your external reputation immediately. Optimization of the management system can be expected to improve internal work efficiency, but it may take time for the system to become widespread among all employees.

summary

Developed by the non-profit ISO, the “ISO Standard” attests to the management and operation of initiatives like quality assurance of goods and services and effect reduction on the environment in compliance with global standards. A business will have more worldwide reputation if it receives this certification.

However, obtaining ISO certification is not only difficult, but also takes time and money, so it is essential to clarify the purpose of receiving it.

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