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Frequently asked questions about ISO certification
Answers to the most common questions about choosing a standard, preparing for certification and the certification process.
ISO certification shows that a business operates an organised management system that meets the requirements of a specific international standard. Depending on the standard, the system may cover quality, occupational health and safety, the environment, information security, energy, food safety or other areas of how a business operates.
It depends on your activity, your clients, contractual requirements, the tenders you take part in and your business goals. For example: • ISO 9001 — Quality Management • ISO 14001 — Environmental Management • ISO 45001 — Occupational Health & Safety • ISO/IEC 27001 — Information Security • ISO 22000 — Food Safety • ISO 50001 — Energy Management If you don't know which standard applies to you, we can look at your business's activity and requirements and point you to the right standards.
There is no single timeframe that applies to every business. The time needed depends mainly on: • the size of the business, • the number of sites, • the activity, • the standard chosen, • the existing organisation, • the level of documentation, • how ready the staff are, • how complex the processes are. After an initial assessment we can estimate the steps and the timeline much more accurately.
The cost is not the same for every business. It depends on factors such as: • the standard or standards, • the size and activity of the company, • the number of employees, • the sites, • how complex the processes are, • the current state of the system, • the extent of the consulting support needed. The cost of preparation and consulting should usually also be distinguished from the cost of the independent certification body, where these are provided by different organisations.
Yes. Our support can cover the whole process, depending on what the business needs: • initial assessment, • gap analysis, • system design, • writing procedures and documentation, • defining responsibilities, • staff training, • implementation support, • internal audit, • corrective actions, • preparation for the final audit. The aim is for the system to fit the way the business actually works, not to burden the business with unnecessary procedures.
The first step is a short initial assessment of your business's needs. We look at: • your activity, • the size of the business, • the standards you are interested in, • why you need certification, • where things stand today, • any specific deadlines. The right scope of work and the support needed can then be defined.