What is the ISO certificate?

What is the ISO certificate?

ISO International Standard

ISO specifications are issued by the International Organization for Standardization ISO, and these specifications are a set of frameworks that help you and your organization run your business effectively.

ISO certification is a third-party proof of compliance with ISO standards and helps your organization confirm and ensure quality.

You should be aware that the global ISO does not issue ISOs and its role is to issue specifications and standards.

The process of issuing the ISO certificate is carried out by accredited organizations, called ISO certification bodies, these are independent organizations that conduct audits as neutral third parties.

The importance of implementing quality systems and obtaining ISO accreditation.
The ISO standard helps to increase an organization's competitiveness over its competitors.
ISO and quality certification are accepted and recognized worldwide.
It is recognized as a statement of compliance with quality standards.
Development of the management system in institutions and companies.
Improve the image of the organization in the eyes of customers and give them confidence in goods and services.
Increasing the ability of the organization to participate in public tenders after obtaining ISO certification.
Opening new markets, increasing sales and profits, and improving quality, as some countries require the exporter to be ISO certified.
Enhance the organization's ability to meet quality standards at all stages of the delivery of products or services.
Understand the context of the organization and identify the stakeholders and their needs after the introduction of the ISO system.
Identify potential opportunities and risks and develop effective countermeasures.
Take corrective action when nonconformances are identified.
Have a system of preventive measures to avoid problems before they occur and corrective measures to address problems that do occur or reoccur.
Procedures and requirements for obtaining ISO certification.
Correctly read the applicable ISO International Standard and understand all the points it contains.
Forming the team and selecting a team leader responsible for ISO certification.
Assigning specific tasks to the team, working independently or with the help of a specialist consultant.
Review current operations and activities and prepare a gap analysis between the current and desired situation.
Rebuild the company's human resources by implementing a series of training programs.
Implementing a documented system according to the requirements of the required standard
Applying the documented system to find objective evidence of compliance with ISO standards
Conducting an internal audit of the implemented system to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the procedures developed.
Organize management review committee meetings and monitor the progress of the quality system.
Choosing an ISO certification body

What types of ISO certifications are appropriate for your company?

There are different types and classifications of ISO and international quality certificates, which are awarded to companies, institutions, and organizations after verifying that they have an integrated and documented system and recording it as objective evidence of its implementation:

ISO 9001:2015 ISO Quality Management System QMS
ISO 14001:2015 EMS Environmental Management System
ISO 22000:2015 Food Safety Management FSMS
ISO 45001:2018 OH&S Occupational Health and Safety Management System
ISO 22301:2012 Business Continuity Management System BCMS
OHSAS 18001:2007 OH&S Occupational Health and Safety Management System
ISO 50001:2018 EnMS Energy Management System
ISO 27001:2013 ISMS Information Security Management System
ISO 13485:2016 Quality System Certification for Medical Industries and Devices
ISO 31000:2018 ISO Business Risk Management
ISO 37001 Anti-Corruption and Anti-bribery Management System
ISO 37301:2021 Compliance Management System
ISO 21001:2018 Management of Educational Organizations
ISO 10002:2018 Customer Satisfaction Management System
SA 8000 Social Responsibility Management System Certificate
ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Management System Certification
ISO 10006 Project Quality Management Certification
ISO 18091 ISO 9001 specification for local administrations “municipalities, secretariats … etc.”
ISO 15189 Accreditation of medical laboratories
ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation of Test and Calibration Laboratories
ISO/IEC 17020 Accreditation of Inspection and Inspection Bodies
ISO 17021 Accreditation of Management Systems Certification Bodies

How to use the ISO program?

- Consider hiring a consulting firm that specializes in ISO qualification.

- Determine the scope and application of the standard's requirements in your organization.

- Conduct a gap analysis to determine the company's current status and develop a focused business plan in accordance with ISO requirements.

- Develop documents and procedures for ISO systems and train staff in their use.

- Training and qualification of staff to make them aware of ISO requirements and documentation and qualification of a group of employees as internal auditors.

- Use of documents, procedures, management, and records

- Conducting internal audits to detect and correct non-conformities.

- Selecting ISO certification bodies

The bodies responsible for obtaining the ISO certificate

The ISO certificate is issued by certification bodies after they have carried out an audit and assessment of the company's ISO system.

They are accredited by international accreditation bodies in accordance with the ISO 17021 standard. There are many international accreditation bodies, depending on their nationality, such as UKAS, IAS, EGAC, DAC ... etc.

The recognized international accreditation bodies are members of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), which in turn organizes the IAF MLA, which means that the certificate is recognized worldwide.

Responsibilities of the certification body

The ISO certification body is responsible for

carrying out the first phase of verification and audit
reviewing the ISO system documents and procedures and preparing an initial audit report with observations
informing the company's quality management of any questions or observations made during the audit
If the company passes the first audit, a date will be set for the final audit.
At the end of the audit, a final meeting is organized during which the main conclusions of the audit are presented.
the ISO certificate is issued and published on the website of the donor company

Organizations involved in ISO

1. All types of governmental and private institutions, social and non-profit organizations.

2. small, medium, and large industrial enterprises and all types of businesses.

3. schools, colleges, institutes, and universities, e.g. rectors' offices of universities.

The validation mechanism for ISO certificates.

1. First check the donor, his reputation, and previous experience.

2. check the accreditation of the donor by the accreditation body.

3. check the geographical scope and coverage of the donor's accreditation.

4. Check the number of the certificate on the website of the body issuing the certificate.

Check the status of the certificate (valid - pending - expired).

6. ISO certificates are issued for three years and are valid for three years, subject to annual renewal in due course.

Cost of ISO certification.

The cost of obtaining ISO certification depends on a number of factors, including :

1. the nature of the activity and the type of products and services the facility offers to its customers.

2. the size of the facility, with the number of employees taken only as an estimate.

3. the complexity and overlap of operations and activities.

The cost structure is divided into :

1. the cost of certification of operations, ISO implementation, and staff training.

2. the cost of the issuing authority and the ISO certificate in the first year.

3. the cost of the annual renewal of the ISO certificate.