What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is an internationally recognized standard for Quality Management System (QMS). In practice, it is a set of management rules intended to help you consistently deliver high levels of customer satisfaction. It achieves this by promoting the continual improvement of your business by providing the discipline of process performance measurement. Certification to ISO 9001 can improve business performance, remove uncertainty and widen market opportunities.

What is ISO 14001?

ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard for Environmental Management System (EMS). This series of standards is designed to help organisations continuously achieve environmental performance and compliance with legislations. The effect of the impact businesses have on the environment is growing and demand for companies to be certified to ISO 14001 is increasing.

What is OHSAS 18001?

OHSAS 18001 is a standard for Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS). It provides a framework for managing OHS performance that can help to reduce the risk of accidents and litigation. Certification to OHSAS 18001 also helps companies to stay in compliance with legal requirements.

What is Integrated Management System?

An Integrated Management System integrates all of an organisation’s systems and processes into one complete framework enabling the organisation to work with unified objectives. This system has many benefits for those organisations that are looking to integrate one or more of their management systems into one cohesive system.
ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 are compatible and those companies looking to implement more than one standard will benefit from reduced costs by having an integrated management system.

How long will it take to get ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 certification?

This depends on the size and functions of your business, your involvement and commitment. It also depends on how many requirements of ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 are already in place. Addressing the requirements of ISO 9001 and implementing any necessary improvements is typically carried out over a period of approximately 6 months. This gives you time to develop and keep the necessary records, review manuals and processes before the final assessment by 3rd party UKAS accredited certification body.
ISO 14001 brings additional requirements and will normally take 2 to 3 months longer.

What is UKAS accredited certification body?

UKAS is the United Kingdom Accreditation Service is the sole national accreditation body recognised by government to assess against internationally agreed standards. Accreditation by UKAS demonstrates the competence, impartiality and performance capability of these certification bodies such as BSI, LRQA, SGS, ISOQAR etc
Be aware, there are some organisations that offer certification to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 but have not been accredited by UKAS. Such organisations claim to be cheap but add no real recognition for your business.

How can you tell if an assessment body is UKAS accredited certification body?

UKAS accredited certification bodies can be recognised by the use of the royal crown in their accreditation mark. An up to date list of UKAS accredited certification bodies can be found on www.ukas.com.

How many days per month will be required to implement and achieve ISO 9001?

This depends on how much of the function you decide to sub-contract. One day a week upto the final assessment is a usual arrangement.

How will my certification body react to sub-contracting my Quality or Environmental Management System function?

Sub-contracting all or part of the Quality or Environmental Management function is accepted and approved by all the major certification bodies.