ISO 9001 Certification
Quality Management

ISO 9001:2015 is the most recent revision of the ISO 9001 Quality Management Standard, replacing ISO 9001:2008 as of September 2018.

The 2015 version of the ISO 9001 standard aims to bring a number of benefits that the 2008 version of the standard either briefly touched on or did not previously offer:

• It has more focus on risk-based thinking
• It follows the same structure as other ISO management system standards, making system integration much easier
• It addresses supply chain management more effectively
• It now puts more emphasis on leadership engagement
• It helps address risks/opportunities in a more structured manner within Organisations
• It now uses a simpler language, with common structure and terms
• It’s been adapted to be more user-friendly for service and knowledge-based organisations

ISO 9001 can bring many benefits to your company. By creating a quality management system, you can streamline your processes to create a customer and quality-focused business, which means that you can deliver high levels of customer satisfaction. Other benefits include increased efficiency, better supplier relationships and a stronger reputation when it comes to winning new business. 

From your first consultation with our ISO specialists through to certification, the process can take as little as 45 days. However, this does depend on the size and complexity of your business.

Remember, we can normally save you time and money by drafting the Documented Management System Manual for you. This can also help your business gain certification faster.

For more details on what it takes to gain an ISO 9001 Certification, please download our ISO 9001 checklist to see what information you will need to provide to meet the ISO 9001 requirements.

Your initial certification will last for 1 year when the certification cycle begins. At Citation ISO Certification, we operate a 3-year certification cycle process. The process involves a series of audits carried out over a 3-year cycle, which are known as re-certification and surveillance audits. 

At the end of your initial 1-year certification cycle, we will perform a re-certification audit. Upon the successful completion of this, you will be awarded a second certification that lasts for 3 years. Surveillance audits will then take place after your first year, and the cycle will be repeated as long as you remain certified with Citation ISO Certification.

In accordance with ISO 17021, accredited certification bodies are required to issue certified organisations with certificates that are reflective of a 3-year certification cycle.

Certifications can be issued for longer than this period providing the requisite external audits are performed and the certification cycle followed. QMS typically issues certificates over the period of a ten year contract.

To achieve ISO 9001 certification, you need to ensure that your Quality Management System can evidence it meets the ISO 9001 Standard for certification. As a starting point, you should consider these seven basic ISO 9001 requirements.

• Context of the organisation
• Leadership
• Planning
• Support
• Operation
• Performance evaluation
• Improvement

ISO 9001 certification provides your business with the opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement and ensure your customers remain satisfied.

Having an ISO 9001 audit carried out on your business ensures an independent and objective process is followed that helps gather all the evidence you need to help you meet compliance standards. We have a range of dedicated pages that provide all the information you need about the auditing process for ISO 9001.

If you want your business to evolve and grow, then you need to consider ISO 9001 certification to strengthen your hand when tendering for contracts. Being certified with ISO 9001 brings the following benefits: 

• Higher revenues
• Increases customer satisfaction
• Improves efficiency
• Boosts engagement of employees
• Strengthens your client base
• Promotes a culture of continuous improvement

Absolutely! You’ll drive down costs, improve performance across your business and boost sales. ISO 9001 for small businesses is made simple with Citation ISO Certification. We’re committed to helping SMEs evolve.

Conducting a series of preparation measures before your ISO 9001 audit will massively help your business when the time comes. The more areas you inspect, the fewer amendments to your current processes and procedures you’ll need to carry out, making certification quicker and easier. Prepare properly by considering the following areas: 

• Conduct an internal gap analysis to identify areas for improvement. 
• Gather documentation of your processes and procedures, including any gaps highlighted in your gap analysis. 
• Ensure adequate ISO training processes are in place across the correct areas to get your workforce up to speed on the requirements ahead of implementation.
• Create a plan outlining the roles and responsibilities of management and employees.

There are occasions where misconceptions about the ISO 9001 Standard mean a business doesn’t meet the requirements for IOS 9001 certification. This can cost time and money, so it’s best to avoid the following pitfalls to ensure you pass your certification audit with no problems at all. 

• Ensure your processes and procedures are compliant with the latest Standard – ISO 9001:2015. 
• Always work with an accredited body like Citation ISO Certification.
• Ensure everybody is on the same page about certification. A breakdown in communication between departments in your workforce can lead to non-conformities.