Achieve ISO 9001 and ISO 14001
Benefits of ISO certification
ISO standards play a significant role in harmonising practices by providing a global, common framework for organisations (businesses, industries, governments) to establish, implement, maintain and continuously improve their processes and procedures. ISO has developed a range standards which are applicable in a wide array of fields addressing topics such as quality management, environmental management, risk management, information security risk, and social responsibility. ISO certification will help your organisation achieve:
- Enhanced employee morale and engagement
- Improved credibility and reputation
- Increased customer confidence
- Enhanced quality management
- A continuous improvement culture … and more.
Why should I certify with STC?
A certificate creates trust. Trust in your products, services, (management) processes and employees. Your certificate enables you to demonstrate that your organisation works efficiently and safely, that you manage the work and work processes and that you strive to be sustainable. When your business operates to a sound quality management system, there’s structure to support everything you do. You have a sensible framework that helps to ensure business success. Business gain this certification, not only to show their clients that they are a well managed business, but to have that internal framework that provides support and a drive for continuous improvement.
Certification for a business is a mark of approval; demonstrating that your business literally has an effective and working Quality Management System. When it comes to certification of an individual’s skills, a certificate offers certainty about the knowledge, competence and skills that someone needs to perform certain activities.
Certification can facilitate improved business efficiencies, control and communication, since there’s a structured way of working. Certification identifies opportunities for continuous improvement. Risks (mistakes, delays, unnecessary costs) can be identified and reduced as well. Thus, certification can offer rapid return on investment.
Certification will help you foster engagement. When all elements of your work processes have been identified, your employees work more efficiently and make fewer mistakes. They will be increasingly engaged and goal-oriented. While doing so, they’ll have more pleasure in their work. And sustainable management will become second nature.
Stakeholders that are important to a business gain confidence when the business is certificated – these stakeholders are your customers who can better justify a low risk rating in their supplier approval process when they’re able to demonstrate that you’re a certificated business. It can mean a simplified approval process rather than requiring your customer to conduct an audit for example. While this isn’t guaranteed, certification certainly increases confidence in a business which is likely to facilitate trust. The same applies to other stakeholders such as Environmental Health, Trading Standards, other businesses you work with such as suppliers, subcontractors and your own staff too who appreciate operating in a professional environment.
While you improve the quality and efficiency of all you do, thanks to the certification requirements and continuous monitoring, your customers will get better service and better products. That way, you’ll improve customer satisfaction in both the short and the long run.
A certificate will give your product a good name in the (international) market. Furthermore, it is an excellent marketing tool and offers plenty of marketing opportunities. You will have an additional selling point: not you, but a renowned, independent inspection institute like STC certifies that you provide quality. Make use of that fact and show off your certificate!
ISO 9001
Is the most well-known and widely implemented standards focusing on Quality Management Systems (QMS). Organisations that are able to demonstrate compliance, which is regularly independently verified as meeting the requirements of ISO 9001, communicate that they are committed to provide a product or service of the highest quality to their customers
ISO 14001
Calls on organisations to proactively manage their environmental impact through a commitment to pollution prevention, legal compliance, and continual improvement. Environmental Management System certification to the ISO 14001 standard helps organisations demonstrate an ongoing commitment to improving environmental performance.
Stage 1 Audits and Stage 2 Audits
Stage 1 Audit
- The primary purpose of the Stage 1 audit, often called the “Initial Audit” or “Document Review,” is to assess an organization’s readiness for the Stage 2 audit.
- It aims to understand the organization’s management system and to evaluate if it is adequately designed to meet the requirements of the specific ISO standard.
- Reviews documentation such as policies, procedures, and manuals to ensure they comply with the relevant ISO standard.
- Identifies areas of potential non-conformance and assesses the organization’s understanding of the requirements.
- Examination of the documented management system.
- Evaluation of the location and site-specific conditions.
- Interviews with key personnel to understand the scope of the management system.
- Identification of critical or significant aspects and processes.
- A report detailing any areas of concern or non-conformance that need to be addressed before proceeding to Stage 2.
- Recommendations for improvement and readiness for the next stage.
Stage 2 Audit
- The main goal of the Stage 2 audit, often called the “Certification Audit” or “Main Audit,” is to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the organization’s management system.
- This audit determines if the system meets all the requirements of the relevant ISO standard and is functioning as intended.
- In-depth assessment of the management system’s implementation.
- Verification of the effectiveness of processes, procedures, and controls.
- Assessment of actual performance against the documented system.
- Detailed site visits and inspections.
- Comprehensive interviews with a broader range of personnel.
- Observation of processes and activities.
- Review of records, reports, and other evidence of implementation.
- Verification of corrective actions taken to address any issues identified in the Stage 1 audit.
- A detailed audit report outlining any non-conformances, observations, and opportunities for improvement.
- If the management system is found to be compliant, a recommendation for certification.
- If significant non-conformances are found, the organization may need to take corrective actions and undergo additional reviews before certification.
- Total if stage 1 and 2 is based on 4 days would be £3,200 + VAT and that includes everything other than auditor travel expenses – for year 1.
- £1,900 for surveillance audits based on 2-day duration.
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