Most common motivation for ISO implementation and certification:

• Acquiring greater market share through the competitive advantage of a better image
• Often, it is a prerequisite for winning an important customer
• competitors have a certificate, using it as a competitive advantage.
• A prerequisite for public contracts.
• Ensuring verifiable legal compliance.
• Making implementation and system processes in the company more transparent and stabilized.
• Reducing the need of operative interventions and problem solving.
• Defining responsibilities and competencies within the company.
• Preventing damages and financial losses.
• Increasing the companies value.

Certificates for a limited time period, usually for three years, are issued by an accredited certification body. In order to keep the certificate valid, a periodic audit is performed, typically once a year. If fundamental deviations from the standard requirements are discovered, the extreme measure of the certificate withdrawal can be applied. This is a very rare, exceptional and unpleasant situation. Therefore, when a company decides to implement and follow an ISO standard, it is a voluntary commitment to continuous improvement and development, which is worth the company’s effort.

None. The term `certification body’ is used in some countries, because TRAIBCERT as certification body issue certificates (licences). Elsewhere, they prefer to say that they `register’ organizations complying with ISO 9000.

In simple terms, accreditation is like certification of the certification body. ‘Accreditation’ should not be used as an interchangeable alternative for certification or registration.

It gives value and credence to the certification. An accredited certificate is usually the only type accepted in tenders for new business.

Thanks to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), accreditations are mutually recognized by member countries. There are currently no formal differences between accreditations although in terms of trouble-free acceptance at international markets, traditional countries that were among the first to issue accreditations are widely acknowledged. A list of each country’s Accreditation Body can be viewed at www.iaf.nu.

Yes, it can. This usually happens when an organisation becomes dissatisfied with the service provided by a certification or the fee it charges. Perhaps the quality of the audits or auditors is not as would be expected, additional ‘extra’ fees are being added to invoices, or the certificate does not display a valid accreditation mark? For companies wishing to enter international markets or win an important client, an accreditation mark, such as UKAS, can play a crucial role.

Contact TRAIBCERT at Email: info@traibcert.org.uk ; Tel: UK : +44-7721042185 | UAE: +971-526909311 ; Website: http://www.traibcert.com/. Refer our training section, for auditor’s qualification, training, experience,etc.

Absolutely, we’ve worked with companies of one or two people who decided to get certified. The processes that you’ll put in place would have the same intent as a much larger company; it’s just that the implementation will be simpler. We work with organizations to assist them in balancing the appropriate level of documentation with what’s necessary to meet requirements.

As a minimum you should familiarize yourself not only with the requirements of IS/ISO standards but also with the content and philosophies given in Quality Management Principles. You have to clearly understand your organization’s activities and processes and appropriately interpret the requirements of the standards. Implement the requirements in the various activities and processes adding value to these processes and activities. For training programmes on general awareness on the requirements, content and philosophies of the IS/ISO standards, please contact us at Email: info@traibcert.org.uk ; Tel: UK : +44-7721042185 | UAE: +971-526909311 ; Website: http://www.traibcert.com/.

Many companies choose to attain ISO certification on their own, so having a consultant is not a mandatory but highly advisable. We do believe that having access to a consultant’s knowledge and expertise can be very helpful as you try to sort out how to apply ISO in your business. And if you have an urgent need to attain certification and limited resources, using a consultant is often the most practical approach. We provide several flexible options to meet most needs.

The standard specifically requires records for the following items:

• Management reviews
• Education, training, skills and experience
• Evidence that processes and product or service meet requirements
• Review of customer requirements and any related actions
• Design and development including: inputs, reviews, verification, validation and changes
• Results of supplier evaluations
• Traceability where it is an industry requirement
• Notification to customer of damaged or lost property
• Calibration
• Internal audit
• Product testing results
• Corrective action
• Preventive action
• Records you need to provide evidence of following your processes.

There is no specific requirement for frequency of management review meetings. We recommend quarterly meetings. This allows you to stay on top of upcoming issues and yet collect data between meetings that is meaningful. We have found annual meetings are not acceptable to all registrars. With annual meetings you may not be able to prevent issues or resolves issues in a timely manner. Management Review.

Recently we have been receiving questions regarding process auditing and what it means. If you are auditing your quality management system by area or department and then auditing all the applicable ISO elements while in that department, you are doing process auditing. If you are auditing your quality system by ISO elements throughout the organization you are not set up currently for process auditing. Process auditing.

There is no specific requirement for audit frequency. The audit schedule should be based on the importance of the area and on what previous audits have uncovered. In a new system, you will want to audit frequently, perhaps monthly, to make sure everything is implemented and working. In a mature, audits can be performed much less frequently. For a mature system (in place for several years) we recommend every six months to one year. Taper down your audits over time. If you start at monthly, try quarterly for awhile and see if it is working. Do not audit less than annually.

Of course this depends upon several factors such as: how large your organization is; how complex your processes are; what procedures you may have in place already, etc. For a smaller company (less than 100 employees) an implementation can take 2-3 months; for a larger company (more than 100 employees) the process can take 5 – 6 months. The process also depends on the time and resources your company can apply to implementation.

Many people are hesitant to begin the certification process, because they incorrectly believe that they will need mounds of paperwork to comply. In fact, the ISO standard only requires a quality manual and six written procedures: Control of Documents, Control of Records, Internal Auditing, Control of Nonconforming Product, Corrective Action, and Preventive Action.

Beyond those requirements, it’s really up to you how much additional documentation you need to plan, operate and control your business effectively. Some companies find the need to add extra controls they didn’t have previously; some use the process to delete older documents that are redundant or not worthwhile to maintain.

There are several factors that dictate how much time to dedicate to the Quality System. Factors such as size of the organization, complexity of the process, manual administrative systems verses automated or electronic systems (ex: Document Control) all have a role in determining if there is a need for a full-time person. Of course, during the set-up of the Quality Management

System there is more of a time commitment than after you are certified. For most small companies, it is a part time role.

Establish and implement documented HACCP SYSTEM (as per IS 15000:1998) and ensure its effectiveness. For QMS-HACCP, establish and implement integrated food and quality management system (as per IS 15000:1998 and IS/ISO 9001:2008) and ensure its effectiveness .

• Submit application along with the questionnaire and necessary fees (Application Form, Questionnaire and Fee Structure are available and can be downloaded from this website – Certification)
• Submit the quality manual and/ or concerned documents, when asked for
• Arrange audit by TRAIBCERT Assessment Team
• Take actions on non-conformities observed by assessment team and get them verified. If found satisfactory, grant of licence is recommended.
• Obtain the Licence!!!

The licence will enable the company to compete effectively in national and international markets.