ISO CERTIFICATION SERVICES

ISO 9001 is a Quality Management System Standard. It applies to all types of organizations. It doesn't matter what size they are or what they do. It can help both product and service oriented organizations achieve standards of quality that are recognized and respected throughout the world.

The ISO 9001:2008 quality certification is based on the following eight fundamental quality management principles:

• Customer focus
• Leadership
• Involvement of people
• Process approach
• System approach to management
• Continual improvement
• Factual approach to decision making
• Mutually beneficial supplier relationships

Customer Benefits :

Benefits of Implementing ISO 9001

The benefits of using the standards are as follows:

• Improved consistency of service and product performance
• Higher customer satisfaction levels
• Improved customer perception
• Improved productivity and efficiency
• Cost reductions
• Improved communications, morale and job satisfaction
• Competitive advantage and increased marketing and sales opportunities

ISO 14001:2004 specifies requirements for an Environmental Management System to enable an organization to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and information about significant environmental aspects. It applies to those environmental aspects that the organization identifies as those which it can control and those which it can influence. It does not itself state specific environmental performance criteria.

Purpose of ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is an Environmental Management System (EMS) who's purpose is:

• A management commitment to pollution prevention.
• An understanding of the environmental impacts (reducing) of an organization's activities.

A commitment (pollution prevention) to employees, neighbors and customers.

Five Key Phases

• Establishing the environmental goals (policy).
• Planning the elements of the EMS.
• Implementing the EMS.
• Checking for any problems and correcting them.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the EMS and improving it, and launching into a new cycle of improvement.

Benefits of Implementing ISO 14001

• Reduce cost of waste management
• Savings in consumption of energy and materials
• Improved compliance
• Overall Costs Reduced
• Fewer accidents
• Competitive advantage
• Improved use of resources
• Framework for continuous improvement of your environmental performance
• Improved corporate image among regulators, customers and the public

OHSAS stands for Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series. OHSAS 18001 is a consensus standard developed in 1999 by an independent group of national standards bodies and certification bodies (registrars).

OHSAS 18001 is structured the same way as ISO 14001, the environmental management system standard, and has essentially the same elements. It was specifically developed to be compatible with ISO 9001, the quality management system standard, and ISO 14001 to allow companies to develop and register integrated quality, environmental and occupational safety and health management systems.

Benefits of OHSAS Certification

Organizations that have implemented a system to improve the management of health and safety practices have reported reduced improved employee safety awareness, fewer accidents and reduced costs. In addition, OHSAS 18001 provides a structure, companies can use to integrate quality, environmental and safety and health program management for increased management efficiencies. Many companies find they need to address health and safety elements as they implement ISO 14001 management systems because of the strong interconnection between environmental and safety and health programs in areas such as emergency planning and risk assessment.

The elements of OHSAS 18001 include

• Developing an OHS Policy
• Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment
• Identifying Legal Requirements
• Setting OHS Objectives
• Establishing an OHS Management Program
• Training Employees
• Implementing OHS Control Measures
• Emergency Planning
• Document and Record Control
• Internal Audit Programs
• Corrective and Preventative Action
• Management Involvement and Management Review.
• Steps to OHSAS 18001 Certification

Steps to OHSAS 18000 Certification

The process for establishing an OHSAS 18001 management system is essentially the same as the process used of implementing an ISO 14001 system:

• Preliminary review of existing programs and systems
• Identification of hazards and applicable laws and regulations
• Developing new procedures
• Training personnel
• Implementing new programs such as internal audit and management review
• Seeking certification of the OHSAS program

ISO 22000 is an International Standard for FSMS (Food Safety Management System). This standard is generic in nature and can be applied to organizations of any type, size and nature. ISO 22000 Consultancy is the process of streamlining the system so that it ensures maximum safety in Food Products. ISO 22000 Certification adds on to the assurance of the customers in relation to food safety. This international standard ISO 22000, can be implemented by any organization within the Food Supply Chain irrespective of whether it has a direct or circumlocutory involvement.

ISO 22000 is a highly efficient combination of auditable requirements of Food Safety Management System. It is a combination of HACCP Plan, pre requisite programs and operational pre requisite programs. Hazard analysis is the first step of Food Safety Management System as it involves identification of all hazards, analysis of significance and determining treatment methods required to establish an effective combination of control measures. All hazards including the ones expected to occur in food chain due to the type of facility or processes, are identified, assessed and actions taken.

• Interactive communication
• System management
• Prerequisite programs
• HACCP principles

ISO 22000 integrates the principles of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and application steps developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. By means of auditable requirements, it combines the HACCP plan with prerequisite programmes. Hazard analysis is the key to an effective food safety management system, since conducting a hazard analysis assists in organizing the knowledge required to establish an effective combination of control measures. ISO 22000 requires that all hazards that may be reasonably expected to occur in the food chain, including hazards that may be associated with the type of process and facilities used, are identified and assessed. Thus it provides the means to determine and document why certain identified hazards need to be controlled by a particular organization and why others need not.

ISO 22000 is an international standard that integrates the principles of HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point) system and the steps of applications as developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Benefits of ISO 22000 system

• Enhanced monitoring of process criticalities
• Enhanced monitoring of process capabilities
• Defined targets of achievement and target monitoring
• Compliances and reduced deviations from statutory and regulatory requirements
• Systematic determination, provision and management of resources
• Enhances documentation effectiveness and optimization
• Synchronization planning and reduction of quality control processes, thus enhancing productivity
• Enhanced awareness of personnel on compliances and significance of processes depending on consequences
• Enhanced focus on critical processes and reduction of monitoring time on lesser critical processes, thus enhancing productivity through effective ISO 22000 consultancy
• Enhancement in compliance demonstration to interested parties through ISO 22000 certification
• Readily available evidences of conformity in the form of records
• Readily available data helping in analysis and further decision making
• Systematic & synchronized management of PRPs and Operational PRPs
• Enhanced control of hazards and total compliance to HACCP principles
• Aligning with other international standards like ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001

An Information Security Management System (ISMS) provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive information in order to protect it. It encompasses employees, processes and information systems.

ISO/IEC 27001 requires that management

• Systematically examines the organization's information security risks, taking account of the threats, vulnerabilities and impacts
• Designs and implements a coherent and comprehensive suite of information security controls and/or other forms of risk treatment (such as risk avoidance or risk transfer) to address those risks that it deems unacceptable
• Adopts an overarching management process to ensure that the information security controls continue to meet the organization's information security needs on an ongoing basis

The standard defines its 'process approach' as "The application of a system of processes within an organization, together with the identification and interactions of these processes, and their management". It employs the PDCA, Plan-Do-Check-Act model to structure the processes Objective of ISO 27001

The objective of the standard itself is to "Provide a model for Establishing, Implementing, Operating, Monitoring, Reviewing, Maintaining, and Improving an Information Security Management System".

The ISO/IEC 27001 certification, like other ISO management system certifications, usually involves a three-stage audit process: Stage 1 is a preliminary, informal review of the ISMS, for example checking the existence and completeness of key documentation such as the organization's information security policy, Statement of Applicability (SoA) and Risk Treatment Plan (RTP).

Stage 2 is a more detailed and formal compliance audit, independently testing the ISMS against the requirements specified in ISO/IEC 27001. The auditors will seek evidence to confirm that the management system has been properly designed and implemented, and is in fact in operation (for example by confirming that a security committee or similar management body meets regularly to oversee the ISMS).

management body meets regularly to oversee the ISMS). Stage 3 involves follow-up reviews or audits to confirm that the organization remains in compliance with the standard. Certification maintenance requires periodic re-assessment audits to confirm that the ISMS continues to operate as specified and intended.

Benefits of ISO/IEC 27001

• The provision of a for resolving security issues
• Independently verifies that your risks are properly identified, assessed and managed, while formalizing information security processes, procedures and documentation.
• Enhancement of client confidence and perception of your organisation
• Provides confidence that you have managed risk in your own security implementation
• Enhances security awareness within an organisation
• The regular assessment process helps you continually monitor and improve your ISMS.

ISO 10002:2004 provides guidance on the process of complaints handling related to products within an organization, including planning, design, operation, maintenance and improvement. The complaints-handling process described is suitable for use as one of the processes of an overall quality management system.

ISO 10002:2004 is not applicable to disputes referred for resolution outside the organization or for employment-related disputes. It is also intended for use by organizations of all sizes and in all sectors.

ISO 10002:2004 addresses the following aspects of complaints handling:

• Enhancing customer satisfaction by creating a customer-focused environment that is open to feedback (including complaints), resolving any complaints received, and enhancing the organization's ability to improve its product and customer service
• Top management involvement and commitment through adequate acquisition and deployment of resources, including personnel training
• Recognizing and addressing the needs and expectations of complainants
• Providing complainants with an open, effective and easy-to-use complaints process
• Analyzing and evaluating complaints in order to improve the product and customer service quality
• Auditing of the complaints-handling process

The ISO/TS16949 is an international standard aiming to the development of a quality management system that provides for continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain.

TS16949 applies to the design/development, production and, when relevant, installation and servicing of automotive-related products. It is based on ISO9001.

The requirements are intended to be applied throughout the supply chain. For the first time vehicle assembly plants will be encouraged to seek ISO/TS16949 certification.

Benefits to Your Business

• Identify opportunities for improvement
• High quality auditing will ensure that your organization is always compliant with the necessary requirements of TS 16949. 3. Each participant will receive a seminar manual and a team breakout workbook that includes case studies.

A guide on "how to" audit TS 16949 elements and the objective evidence required will be taught and provided for participants.

TS 16949 Implementation Process

• Management Commitment and Support.
• TS 16949 Audit/Assessment (Gap Analysis)
• Development of an Implementation Plan
• Provide Awareness Training to all employees
• Allocate Resources that will be necessary to develop and implement the system
• Prepare Quality System Documentation - Tier 1, 2, 3 documents (Quality Manual, Quality System Procedures, Work Instructions and Quality Records/Forms)
• Determine Training Needs of Employees - Job and Employee Skill Matrix (ie. overview of new system, internal auditing, problem solving, teamwork, etc...)
• Implement the New System
• Conduct Internal Audits
• Take Corrective Actions, if necessary
• Re-Audit/Follow-up, if necessary
• Registrar Audit Preparation/Training
• Registration Application
• Registration Audit
• Registration Certificate Issued
• Maintain, Improve and Innovate the System

SA 8000 is a standard for social accountability in the workplace. In essence, social accountability means managing business activities in a manner that respects and promotes the basic human rights of all workers.

Background

Social accountability expectations can vary from one company to another.

Fair compensation, reasonable working hours, a safe and healthy environment and prohibition of child labour and forced labour are common to all codes. Some codes add requirements for non-discrimination, freedom of association, disciplinary practices, or management system controls. A few mix in non-social issues such as drug interdiction, customs issues, or basic environmental controls. Expectations of the level of conformance to each of the above issues also vary dependent upon the code or standard selected. The absolute minimum expectation would be compliance with applicable laws, however this is often inadequate from the viewpoint of civil society and more stringent criteria are usually adopted.

Many companies choose to define their own values through a "Code of Conduct for Suppliers" or similar document. Other companies, in order to ensure that common values are adequately addressed, prefer to adopt a standard or common code and an associated, credible monitoring program, (such as the SA 8000 standard and program developed by the Council on Economic Priorities). Whatever social accountability code or standard is adopted, and no matter how stringent the criteria contained within it, little credibility or value is provided to any party without periodic monitoring to determine and demonstrate conformance in the workplaces themselves.

SA 8000: 2001

Standard authored and administered by SAI (Social Accountability International, USA).

SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• No child labour
• No forced labour
• Health and safety at the workplace
• Freedom of association and right to collective bargaining
• No discrimination on race, creed, caste and sex
• Disciplinary practices
• Working Hours
• Remuneration
• Management Systems

The goal of Social Accountability management (SA-8000) is to improve global working conditions and this standard requires compliance to key United Nations Conventions, International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

International marketers manufacture or purchase manufactured goods made in many countries. It is often difficult to assure that the working conditions and practices in these widespread locations comply with the goals and objectives of the marketers. For this reason, many of them now, or sooner will be requiring independent verification that a supplier complies with the international Social Accountability Standard SA-8000.

Successful implementation of SA-8000 will give your company a great competitive advantage to keep your current business and to obtain new business. IQMS has the expertise and experience to assist you in the cost effective implementation of SA-8000 in your company.