ISO 9000

4. Certification

Certification involves an independent assessment of your quality system to confirm that it meets the requirements of ISO 9001.

4.1 You will need to design, document and implement your own quality system.

The system will need to cover all the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard.

• You may need outside help (see 5.2).
• Your quality system cannot be audited until you have generated documentary evidence to show that you are meeting the standard.Many certification bodies will not conduct a formal assessment until the system has been operating for at least three months.

4.2 To find a certification body with relevant experience in your sector and accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), visit the UKAS website.

• Certification by a non-UKAS accredited body is likely to lead to credibility problems with your customers.

4.3 Arrange a visit from the certification body's auditors.

• They will seek objective evidence that you are complying with each of the clauses of the ISO 9001 standard.

4.4 The auditors will tell you of any shortcomings in your system.

• If you satisfy the standard, the auditors put your name forward for certification.
• You can also be certificated if the auditors only identify a small number of 'minor' problems.You will be required to correct these problems within a specified timeframe.
• If the auditors identify more serious 'major' problems, you will be required to correct these before certification.

4.5 All certification bodies are required to revisit registered companies to ensure they still meet the requirements of the standard.

These surveillance visits normally take place twice a year at agreed dates.

• You will be given time to deal with any minor or major problems which are identified before any action is taken to withdraw your certificate.