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5.4.2: ISO

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    111206
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    The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various standards organizations.

    Founded on 23 February 1947, the organization promotes worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial standards. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and works in 164 countries.

    ISO is an independent, non- governmental organization and is the largest developer of voluntary international standards. Use of these standards assists organization to create products and services that are safe, reliable and of good quality. The standards help businesses increase productivity while minimizing errors and waste. By enabling products from different markets to be directly compared, they facilitate companies in entering new markets and assist in the development of global trade on a fair basis. The standards also serve to safeguard consumers and the end-users of products and services, ensuring that certified products conform to the minimum standards set internationally.[4]

    Video: What ISO Standards do for you

    Steps in obtaining ISO certification

    1. A firm must initially begin by documenting and implementing their systems for quality management. Add: These documents must include Policy, Procedures and work instructions. This is no small task. This documentation may take a great deal of time, effort and collaboration by all of their employees. In addition to this, the company will develop a Quality Manual that outlines how they will assure the quality of their goods and service.
    2. Training of all employees involved with these processes must take place. The employees must gain full understanding and be comfortable with these new work procedures and documents
    3. An audit must take place. The organization must arrange to have a certification body come to complete the audit. There are many different private companies that have been granted (by ISO) the authority to grant ISO9000 certification. These private companies are themselves accredited by ISO.

    The cost for the above steps will clearly depend largely on the size and complexity of the organization. Many firms choose to use external consultants to guide and assist them in this process. Generally it is accepted that it will take somewhere from 12 to 18 months to complete this process. The usual certification process lasts for three years. Skeptics think that some organizations pursue their ISO Certification only because customers require it. In reality, a deep desire to improve internal performance should be the intrinsic motivation to implement any quality program.

    What benefits are there to obtaining ISO certification?

    The benefits of ISO certification are many. Read the article below from Business Development Bank of Canada.

    Seven ways ISO certification can help your business

    There are other certifications besides ISO9001. ISO14001 is an International Standard for evaluating a firm’s environmental performance.


    5.4.2: ISO is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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