Bespoke packages can be created for clients wishing to implement an ISO standard. On average the journey to certification is approximately 12 months. This can vary depending on the size of the business, the maturity of the QMS and the documentation already in place. It can also be impacted by the availability of assessors within the certification body the business chooses.

If an ISO certification is something your business is considering but you are not fully aware of the requirements or the benefits of accreditation we would be happy to discuss to allow you to make an informed choice regarding which certification is right for you. ISO 9001:2015 is one of the most commonly implemented standards for quality management and is internationally recognised. However, there are many other standards which can be considered depending upon your business or industry sector.

For any business seeking certification the first step is to buy a copy of the standard to familiarise themselves with the content. ISO standards are covered by strict copyright licensing rules so copies purchased should not be shared.

A business will often have a quality manager in post to manage and maintain their QMS and accreditation but this is not a requirement. It is recommended that in the absence of a quality manager, a nominated employee is identified as the key person of responsibility for implementation of the standard as they will need to manage the QMS and accreditation throughout the 3 year assessment cycle. Business Enterprise Solutions will liaise directly with this person and guide them through the process and ensure they are equipped with the knowledge required to lead the certification assessment. Seeking certification requires commitment from top management and sufficient resourcing to effectively implement and maintain the quality management system.

Packages can include:

• Initial gap analysis
• Implementation of a quality management system (QMS)
• Selection of a certification body
• Preparation for stage 1 and stage 2 audits
• Staff training
• Creation of documents
• Implementation of processes
• Attendance as support for the certification assessment visit.
• Project Management of the implementation