What is ISO Certification?
The RSI International Organization for
Standardization or ISO is an international independent and
non-governmental body that lays out a set of rules and guidelines to ensure the
quality, safety, efficiency, and performance of products and systems. When
there is competition in a global market, it is essential that checks and
balances should be in place. If these are not kept in an organization,
there is a possibility that stability and quality are affected in the
industries.
To avoid such scenarios and maintain industry standards
across nations, certain international standards are maintained which help to
keep sectors and organizations on the playing field. One such set of
global standards is ISO.
ISO certifies that any particular organization, management
system, manufacturing process, or documentation method has met all standard
quality assurance requirements. The motto of ISO standards is to ensure
consistency. Energy management, social responsibility, medical equipment, and
ISO standards are applied in many industries.
Each ISO certification has a different set of criteria
and is classified numerically. For example, one of the most common ISO 27701 certifications
is ISO 9001. You may come across organizations that expose their
certifications in the format of ISO 9001:2008. Let us have a look at what
these three things are in the certification format-
·
ISO: This refers to the international body
that is in charge of all ISO certifications
·
9001: This is the number appearing after
ISO. It helps to classify the standard. The ISO 9000 family of
standards refers to quality management. 9001 is one of the best quality
standards of ISO and has many management principles.
·
2008: The last number in the series
represents the version of the ISO
standard. For example, 2008 means that an organization is following
the ISO
9001 version introduced in 2008.
More than 22000 different ISO certifications
are used as standards for product services
and processes around the world.
How does this help your business?
ISO certifications
can help your business in many ways. Not only is it a standard of quality
assurance, but it also covers factors that can have a direct impact on your
customers. Let us discuss some of the ways by which ISO certifications
help your business-
customer satisfaction
When it comes to customer
satisfaction, businesses try their best and
sometimes even travel the extra mile. This is also because in today's
world the competition is very high, and customers are rational. Customers
today are far more aware of the market than they were a few years ago. So,
if they find a brand adhering to international rules and regulations, they will
naturally choose them when purchasing goods and services. As a result,
even if your business is doing everything right, a lack of ISO certifications
can cause you to lose your customers.
process improvement
When it comes to multiple processes within an
organization, standardization is the best way to improve them. By
observing the industry standards set by ISO, you can examine your
organization's processes and take measures to improve them.
product improvement
There are
various ISO certifications available for these products. A look at
the guidelines mentioned in them will help you compare your product with
international standards. If your products are not up to the standards,
then repair them on the various parameters mentioned in the ISO certification.
executive efficiency
International guidelines
are created to enable seamless operation across all industries. Once you
opt for certification, it not only improves your processes but also your
organizational processes. With a smooth operation, your business and
employees can be more productive and achieve better results.
Internal
Audit
Internal auditing is essential
for the growth of your organization. It helps you keep your processes up
to date and maintain standards for all of them. ISO certification helps
with quality assurance, something you may see during your internal audit.
risk management
Risk management is another important
aspect of an organization. It helps to sustain your business even in the
midst of a crisis. With ISO certification, you can minimize your business
losses by complying with a useful set of guidelines already accepted across
industries.
training and
competence
ISO can help you stay competitive in
the market and train your employees with international standards. This
means that you will be on a level with all the big players in the industry and
you will have the opportunity to mark your customers with
better-skilled employees and more importantly a competitive edge.
Brand and
reputation
An ISO certification directly
affects your organization's brand value. On the one hand, it makes your
brand more reliable and trustworthy. As in other projects, your products
are qualitatively valuable. These factors are responsible for building a brand
reputation in the market.