So, you’ve decided that it’s time to certify your company’s management system, perhaps according to ISO 14001 or even ISO 9001:2015. After taking all the necessary steps, you need to find an accredited certification body like Best Practice to certify your management system according to your preferred ISO standards.
However, due to the many organisations purporting to offer ISO certification to companies in various fields globally, getting a genuinely accredited and licensed certification body has become a challenge. Below are some of the factors you need to consider when choosing an ISO certification body:
Reputation
If you’d like to use your ISO certification as part of a marketing campaign, then it’s only prudent that you get it from a certification body with a good reputation. The beauty of getting your certification from a reputable ISO certification body is that it positions you in the market as a reliable business.
A great strategy would be to get your ISO certification from the same body your competitors and suppliers have used. However, it is highly recommended that you consider both national and international ISO certification bodies. If your business operates in multiple countries, it’s in your best interest to choose a certification body with a solid reputation globally.
Accreditation
It is very easy for an organisation to hand you a piece of paper indicating that you’re ISO certified. However, it is crucial to understand that not all bodies are accredited or licensed to do so. You need to ensure that the ISO certification body you choose is approved by the national accreditation body in your country to issue certifications.
This is the only way you can be sure that your business will get a genuine certification. For example, in Australia, all ISO certification bodies need to get their accreditation from JAS ANZ (The Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand).
Specialisation
When choosing an ISO certification body, you need to ensure that they have proven experience certifying businesses in the industry you operate. For instance, if you run a banking business, it will not be a great idea to obtain your ISO certification from an organisation known to certify manufacturing companies only.
As much as their auditors are experienced in safety, quality, environment, and information security, if they’ve only audited manufacturing companies, you might end up wasting a lot of time explaining to them the dynamics of the banking sector.
Experience
At times many businesses go for auditors with low experience levels to get by easily. However, it’s actually in your best interest to choose an experienced auditor so that you don’t end up missing out on valuable insights.
Remember, ISO certification is a value-driven exercise. This means that you shouldn’t use this exercise only to obtain ISO certificates but also to learn more about improving your business and bridging quality gaps.
Integrated Audit
For now, you might be starting with ISO 27001, but if you’d also like to implement other standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001, you can ask the certification body to do an integrated audit.
This implies that you won’t need to hire other certification bodies to get the other ISO certifications. However, it’s paramount to ensure that the certification body you choose can do an integrated audit and issue you with the certification audits.
Get a Reputable ISO Certification Firm Today
Are you looking for an ISO certification body to help your business unleash its full potential? At Best Practice Biz, we will work with you to ensure your company is ISO compliant to enhance its growth and development. Please get in touch with us today to get started.
