Frequently Asked Questions about ISO Whether it is the customer, vendor or manufacturer; every stratum of society wonders about the illustrious International Organization for Standardization at some point. You need not turn to ISO certification companies for answers, the answers to your questions are right here.

1. What exactly is an ISO standard?

Contrary to the popular belief that ISO is a certificate of some kind, it is in actuality a documented agreement. The definitions, rules, criteria, guidelines and other specifications are mentioned in this agreement. These work as the guidelines for ideal materials, products, services and processes. This agreement is used to develop a quality system for issues, safety and reliability.

2. How does ISO choose sectors for its standards?

A group of ISO members do not deicide standards over a meeting. It is the people who decide. When a need for a new ISO standard is felt by any industry or business sector, members of that sector communicate the requirement to ISO. This new requirement is then discussed and if approved, the process of setting a standard begins.

3. I have heard the term “conformity assessment”, what does it mean?

As the name suggests, conformity assessment means confirming the materials, products, services and processes as per the specifications to the relevant standard. One of the main aims of ISO is to keep the customers and suppliers on the same ground. Conformity assessment thus becomes easy, as both parties (supplier and buyer) follow the same guidelines.

4. How long does it take to become certified?

The duration depends on the size of the organization. The bigger the organization, the more time it will take. However, there are many ISO consultants out there that can help you through the entire process, of which the end result will be your organization being an ISO certified company!

5. When is an audit required?

An audit is required every year for maintaining certification. The surveillance audit is required every year to ensure the fulfilment of requirements. The companies receive a written report of the result, which assures transparency. Companies are also given a set period of time if the ISO authorities observe major non-compliance.

6. What are the commonly sought-after ISO standards?

The most popular ISO standards are the ones that are related to Quality Management System and Environmental Management; which are 9000 and 14000 respectively.

These were some of the most frequently asked questions that customers ask the ISO certification companies. As you must have guessed, these are not the only questions, there are a lot more. But don’t worry, there are many more to come.