|
ISO Certification UK is a dedicated knowledge centre offering information to small and medium businesses on how to begin the process to certification. This is a free resource from DNV Business Assurance.
What is ISO?ISO is the world´s largest and most long–established international standards development body. It produces internationally recognised standards that help businesses and other organisations implement best practice. ISO was set up in 1947 and currently 163 national standards institutes – one from each represented country – participate in writing ISO standards. ISO StandardsThere are currently around 19¸000 ISO standards. The vast majority are very subject–specific technical specifications – broadly speaking¸ they cover how to make things. Meanwhile a handful are ‘management systems standards’– these are standards on how to do things. These are the well–known standards that can be used by any organisation‚ of any size. Of these‚ ISO 9001 for quality management is the most popular standard in the world – used by around a million organisations. The second most popular ISO standard¸ also a management systems standard¸ is ISO 14001 for environmental management. Did you know what ISO means?
It’s fine to think of ISO as the ‘International Organisation for Standardisation’‚ but of course that actually spells ‘IOS’! In fact‚ ‘ISO’ comes from the Greek word ‘isos’‚ meaning ‘equal’. ISO creates what are called ‘consensus’ standards on the basis that every participating national country member is equal. When a standard is being written‚ even if only one country disagrees with something‚ the standard has to be re-drafted until every participant is happy. What is certification?Standards help organisations to be more successful and more profitable. In addition, if you can show the marketplace that you’re using the standard properly‚ you can attract better customers‚ participate in wider supply chains and reassure stakeholders about how well run your company is. To get that recognition‚ and to make sure that the standard is being used correctly‚ companies apply for ‘certification’. That means calling in a third party certification body (CB) to check how the standard is being applied. If it‘s being used effectively‚ the CB issues a certificate. The organisation can then publicise itself as ‘certified’ to the standard and enjoy all the benefits that brings. What is UKAS accredited certification?UKAS is the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. It’s the UK’s representative in a network of internationally recognised bodies that make sure the companies offering certification services are properly qualified and competent to do so. So UKAS is UK Government appointed to assess and accredit certification bodies like DNV. It is highly advisable for companies to make sure that the certification body they choose to work with is UKAS accredited. It shows that the certification body is legitimate‚ and competent to deliver the work to a high standard. Also‚ subject to assessment, you’ll get a ‘UKAS accredited certification’ – which is among the most prestigious and widely recognised certifications in the world.
|
|
10 Steps to ISO 9001 Certification providing you with:
 |
Enhanced customer confidence and satisfaction – key factor in increasing sales |  |
|
Competitive advantage – companies increasingly expect Management System certification from their suppliers and sub-contractors. | |
|
Reducing operating costs - ISO 9001 certification prompts you to implement schemes and actions designed to reduce errors. | |
 |
||
MANAGING RISK SINCE 1864
DNV (Det Norske Veritas) is an independent foundation with the purpose of safeguarding life, property, and the environment.
DNV Business Assurance is a leading international provider of assurance and certification services. Our auditors are trained in helping businesses and organisations of any size to implement management systems compliant with globally recognised standards best practice standards.
DNV Business Assurance is one of three companies within the DNV Group, and is fully-owned by DNV (Det Norske Veritas) , an independent foundation established in 1864. As part of the DNV Group, we belong to a network of more than 10.000 employees working from 300 offices around the world.
