International Standards are strategic tools and guidelines to help companies tackle some of the most demanding challenges of modern business. They ensure that business operations are as efficient as possible, increase productivity and help organizations access new markets.
ISO stands for International Organisation for Standardisation, whose standards address basic requirements that should be documented and followed rigorously within the scope of the company. These systems can be for quality, environment, safety, or any other aspects of a company. ISO has developed and published more than 23,528 International Standards.
ISO Certification: Why get certified to ISO Standards?
Certification to ISO standards or British standards demonstrates that your organisation works to international or national best practices, demonstrating your credibility and competence to stakeholders and customers. Certifications are legally obligated in some industries, while in other industries they are often included in tender requirements. The guidelines set forth by the standards are applicable to all types and sizes of organisations and aren’t restricted by industry, risk exposure or geographic reach.
When a company implement these systems and applies for certification through an ISO certification body, it needs to clear a surveillance audit as well as a certification audit. The certification body audits the company’s system and for adherence to bare minimum requirements mentioned in ISO. On successful completion of an audit, the organisation is ISO certified by the certification body. This cycle is repeated every three years to ensure the effectiveness of the system, along with a surveillance audit every year.