Obtaining ISO 9001 certification

As soon as you have applied for ISO 9001 from a certification body such as TÜV UK Ltd. you are ready to begin the certification process.

The certification audit consists of two stages as below;

• Stage 1: Preliminary investigation
  Does your business meets the ISO 9001 requirements on paper? If the answer is yes, then your business is ready for the certification audit

• Stage 2: Implementation audit
  This stage of the audit ensures the system has been deployed by interviewing a sample of employees. The results are then documented in an audit report detailing non-conformances.

• Certification decision
  Does your Quality Management System complies with the requirements? Are there no non-conformances? Congratulations! The auditor will provide you with your well-deserved ISO 9001 decision at the closing meeting.

Shortly after the assessment you will receive the audit report with observations you should pay special attention to and your ISO 9001 certificate.

The certification cycle is a 3 year cycle with annual audits and a renewal stage on the 4th year

• Year 1: Initial audit (Comprised of a Stage 1 & Stage 2)
• Year 2: 1st Surveillance
• Year 3: 2nd Surveillance
• Year 4: Renewal

Now it’s up to you! Your effort has paid off and you have obtained ISO 9001 certification. You can be proud, to be one of millions ISO 9001 certified companies.

There is a need for the system to be maintained however. As shown in the 3 year cycle above, annual audits will check if your business continues to be in line with the ISO 9001 requirements.