The ISO 9001 standard is a recognised worldwide standard that an organisation can use to help improve its overall performance and to demonstrate its commitment to quality. In order to achieve ISO 9001 certification, a business must first develop and implement a stringent quality management system (QMS). The implementation of a quality management system is often a strategic decision. An effective quality management system can help an organisation to:
- demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services
- enhance customer satisfaction
If the QMS fulfils the requirements of ISO 9001, the company can then obtain independent certification in order to demonstrate this to potential customers.
But is ISO 9001 certification still relevant in the year 2021? Do decision-makers still look for the ISO certificate when seeking companies to do business with, or is it a relic of a different time? With the help of the World Wide Web, we can now find out almost anything about a given company with just a few keystrokes - so is there any reason for businesses to go to the trouble of getting certified in this day and age?
Why ISO certification still matters
The truth is that, while the Internet has made information easier to find than ever before, it can still be difficult to spot high-quality businesses. Anyone can set up a website and tell the world that they offer a particular product or service - but ISO 9001 certification demonstrates that your business has customer-focused processes in place and is dedicated to the pursuit of continuous improvement.
SEE ALSO: When Is The Next ISO 9001 Update?
The COVID-19 pandemic has made remote working far more widespread than it was before. In the past, when establishing a business relationship with a new client, supplier or service provider, you might have visited their head office and met key individuals in person; the coronavirus crisis has made that less feasible, so it's more important than ever to have a reliable means of evaluating a company's quality. ISO 9001:2015 certification can help you to achieve that.
If you would like to obtain ISO 9001:2015 certification for your business, ISO Accelerator can help you to get certified quickly while minimising costs. Click here to get started!
How Our Remote ISO Certification Process Works
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There is a certain amount of debate surrounding quality manuals, what exactly they are, and whether a quality manual is actually required. Many people confuse the term 'quality manual' with a quality management system (QMS); this is understandable, because in the past...
- ISO 9001 talked about a quality manual
- Companies would often keep a large folder (or folders) containing master copies of their quality procedures, policies, forms, etc. This was sometimes known as the 'quality manual'.
Today, some in the certification industry see quality manuals as unnecessary. At ISO Accelerator, we aim to give our clients clear and simple guidance on this topic - whether or not you require a quality manual depends on the format and structure of your QMS.
ISO Accelerator helps businesses to implement effective quality management systems. As part of each QMS, we do also provide clients with a digital quality manual. However, this quality manual does not itself contain copies of quality procedures, policies, forms, and so on - instead, these are supplied as part of the complete quality management system. The quality manual is simply a document that describes the intent of the QMS and how it operates.
Developing a quality management system
Here at ISO Accelerator, we offer a comprehensive ISO 9001 certification service. We will work with you remotely, helping you to develop a quality management system and put it into practice.
Once your QMS has been properly implemented, a remote audit will be conducted to confirm that you are meeting the requirements of your quality management system. You will then be awarded your certificate of ISO 9001 certification.
As a bonus, you will be able to give clients and customers a copy of your quality manual to reassure them that you have processes in place to ensure a quality service.
How Long Does It Take? Get ISO 9001 Certification
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National treasure David Attenborough delivered a truly heart-wrenching speech to the UN Security Council yesterday as he warned "it's already too late" to prevent the effects of climate change.
Attenborough went on to say that he doesn't envy the position that governments find themselves in because "we have left the stable and secure climatic period that gave birth to our civilisations".
He's calling for people to re-think their daily actions to help cut global emissions to "net zero". In order for us to achieve this, there needs to be a dramatic reduction in harmful gases and pollution being released into our atmosphere. So, we all need to take steps to live in more conscious, greener ways.
An eco-friendly certification option
Here at ISO Accelerator, we offer a remote ISO certification service that allows businesses to gain their certification while keeping emissions to a minimum.
Our service can be completed without anyone ever traveling to or from your business, meaning your certification with ISO Accelerator will have an overall lower impact on the environment than certifications provided by other (non-remote) assessment bodies.
We can help you develop a suitable management system, conduct an audit of this system, and award you your certificates remotely. Not only does this have some pretty considerable benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it also has a positive impact on the environment. A real win-win!
Ready to start your ISO certification and help save the planet? Learn more about the certifications or get in touch today.
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Read More: How to Achieve Environmental Objectives and Save Money on ISO Certification
Globalisation has forever changed the way the world does business. Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic has made cross-border movement more difficult in recent months, but people are being vaccinated, the tide is beginning to turn, and in the meantime, the Internet allows us to continue collaborating with people all over the world.
With more and more businesses working with clients and suppliers in other countries, there is a real and pressing need for solutions that transcend international borders. That's why independent global accreditation for SMEs is a key goal for us here at ISO Accelerator - we want to make it easy for quality businesses to:
- Obtain independent ISO management system certification
- Maintain certifications online with remote audits
- Quickly and easily confirm the status of a company’s independent ISO management system certification
Our Scan and See© authentication system (launched last month) is just one of several initiatives that will bring us closer to our goal of independent global accreditation. We already offer online certification to businesses all over the world - see How Does It Work? to find out how you can get certified remotely with ISO Accelerator.
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As we move towards global accreditation, ISO Accelerator is proud to announce the launch of its global real-time ISO certificate authentication system Scan and See©.
Download the Countermark app and scan the code above to receive a copy of our USAS accreditation certificate!
The problem with traditional paper ISO certificates is that, once printed, they are static and hard to authenticate. You can always try to make contact with the certification company that issued the certificate - but in a global marketplace, this can be problematic, especially if you're trying to make a quick decision and there are time differences and/or language barriers in play.
To overcome this problem, ISO Accelerator has launched a global real-time ISO certificate authentication system called Scan and See©. This technology allocates a unique digital 'countermark' to an ISO certificate of registration. When the countermark is scanned using the Countermark app, the user is:
- Immediately informed of the validity of the certificate, and
- Automatically emailed a copy of the ISO certificate (if valid) from the certification body.
When presented with an ISO certificate, this system allows you to validate it against the most recent authorised certificate issued by the certification body - instantly!
What does this mean for ISO Accelerator customers?
Scan and See© allows for 100% real-time global authentication of ISO certificates or registration at any time, wherever you are, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
As this new system is rolled out, we will continue to temporarily issue certificate numbers; however, we are planning to phase these out on new certificates over the coming months. All existing ISO Accelerator customers will be issued with a certificate bearing a countermark after their next surveillance / recertification audit. There is no need for existing customers to contact us unless you would like to be issued with a replacement certificate bearing the countermark ahead of time.
We at ISO Accelerator are world leaders in using technology to simplify and perfect the process for independent ISO management system certification. If you would like to make savings on the cost of your ISO certification and join us on our journey to enable independent ISO certification in a safe, secure and environmentally friendly manner, please contact us today.
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More excitingly, if you would like to see how the countermark works, simply download the Countermark app from the App Store or Google Play and scan the countermark above.
Keeping a close eye on ISO standards can eat up a lot of your time - which isn't ideal when you're trying to focus on growing your business. Here at ISO Accelerator, we work hard to ensure that we're constantly up to date with the latest version of each standard, giving you one less thing to worry about.
Our customers occasionally ask us how we're able to stay on top of all the latest ISO changes. We'd like to shed some light on that subject today.
How do we keep up with developments and changes in ISO standards?
In order to demonstrate our commitment to being at the forefront of the development of international standards, we decided it was important for ISO Accelerator to become a member of one of ISO's in-country representatives.
Since ISO Accelerator is a global company, we then had to determine which national standards body we wanted to join. We came to the conclusion that, because our international headquarters are located in the United Kingdom, BSI - ISO's member body in the UK - would be the best fit for us.
How does BSI membership benefit our customers?
ISO Accelerator's BSI membership demonstrates that we are:
- Committed to high standards
- Committed to performing better
- Committed to delivering excellence
But beyond that, our BSI membership also ensures that whenever standards like ISO 9001 are updated, we are among the first to hear about it.
Learn more about BSI membership >
Why don't we just become an ISO member?
ISO is a global network of national standards bodies. There is only one member per country and each member represents ISO in its home country. It is important to understand that individuals and companies cannot become ISO members.
If you would like to benefit from our BSI membership and join one of the world's leading online certification companies, please contact ISO Accelerator to find out more about our remote ISO certification services.
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At 11pm on 31 December 2020, the Brexit transition period ended and the UK officially completed its departure from the European Union.
It remains to be seen what opportunities and challenges this new era will bring our way, but here's one fairly safe prediction: now that Britain has distanced itself from the European single market, a closer trading relationship with the USA is all but guaranteed.
The UK and the USA have been firm allies for many years (much has been made of the 'special relationship' between the two countries), and while a new UK-US trade deal has yet to be agreed upon, British businesses should be prepared to work more closely with our friends on the other side of the Atlantic.
Get certified with a USA-accredited company
ISO Accelerator is a UK-based company that offers online ISO certification to businesses in virtually all industry sectors. We are accredited by USAS, who are headquartered in Florida, so getting certified through us will help to reassure your American clients that your business is reliable and trustworthy.
How Certification Works Get Certified Now
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During the first lockdown, many organisations found themselves saddled with expenses that had suddenly become unnecessary. Office buildings stood virtually empty as employees worked from home. Company vehicles sat stationary in car parks, unneeded.
Now England has been placed under lockdown again, and as before, business owners are stuck wasting money on superfluous overhead costs. Rent and utility payments for office space that's barely in use. Insurance premiums on vehicles that aren't being driven.
Here at ISO Accelerator, we don't charge our customers extra to cover these unnecessary overheads. We are an independent, forward-thinking certification company that uses Six Sigma and Lean Management Tools to provide independent ISO certification services in a safe, secure and environmentally-friendly manner.
What does this mean?
- All of our services are delivered remotely
- We eliminate activities that add no value, such as travel and idle time
- Our auditing process is consistent and repeatable
- We use technology to provide a world-class service
- We reduce pollution by removing the need for travel
- Our customers do not pay for inefficiencies
As a result, our customers are delighted with our services. From day one, ISO Accelerator was designed to operate remotely; this is how we have remained extremely competitive even during these uncertain times.
If you would like to save money on your independent ISO certification - or simply take advantage of our world-class services - please contact ISO Accelerator today.
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Implementing a quality management system (QMS) and achieving ISO 9001 certification is a great way to make your business more appealing to potential customers. This applies to businesses of all sizes - even if it's just you!
Regardless of whether your company has one hundred employees or just one, an ISO-compliant QMS will help you to work more efficiently, deliver better results, and win new business.
Here at ISO Accelerator, we can help sole traders, freelancers and other individuals to get ISO 9001 certified quickly.
Who can get certified with ISO Accelerator?
We offer a comprehensive set of services for individuals who...
- Need a QMS and ISO 9001 certification
- Already have a QMS in place and just need to get certified
- Are already certified, but want to reduce their certification costs
Learn more: How to Get Certified with ISO Accelerator
Any Questions? Contact ISO Accelerator Now!
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ISO 9001 isn't just for big organisations with lots of different departments. Small businesses can also benefit from implementing a quality management system (QMS) and achieving ISO 9001 certification.
Related: What Is ISO 9001?
If you run a small business (i.e. one with fewer than 50 employees and a turnover under £10 million), ISO 9001 certification can benefit you and your company in a number of ways, such as...
Helping you to work more efficiently
A quality management system that meets ISO standards will help your business to achieve continuous improvement and reduce waste. Once your QMS has been implemented, it will help to ensure that all of your work has the maximum possible impact.
Making your customers happier
Better work means happier customers. Implementing and adhering to an ISO 9001-compliant QMS will help you to deliver a better service to the people who keep your business running.
Opening new doors
Some businesses only work with ISO 9001 certified suppliers, so depending on what sector you're in, achieving this certification can enable you to take on a whole host of new clients.
ISO Accelerator can help you to get certified quickly. Our remote ISO 9001 certification service is delivered entirely online, which means no time-consuming consultation sessions and no need for us to visit your premises. Call 02381 040269 to find out more.
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