certifications are performed, and the certifications are issued by independent and external certification bodies called “Registrars”. The first step in getting ISO 9001 certified is to implement a Quality Management System (QMS) across your organization based on the most recent ISO 9001 standard. The QMS can be implemented by individual companies or an organization can seek support and assistance from ISO 9001 professional consultants. For a small business with limited resources and expertise to implement the system, it is convenient and cost-effective to hire a consultant like Liberty Management Group. Multiple online resources and out-of-state companies can offer ISO 9001 consultancy services, but proper implementation of ISO 9001 and Quality Management System requires multiple visits by an experienced professional consultant. Therefore, it is a logical step to hire a local consultant.
ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION AUDIT
Once the QMS is implemented across the organization, the very next step is to have a certified third-party/independent auditor from the certification body (Registrar) to audit the institution. If a specific organization’s quality management system meets all the requirements of ISO 9001, a certification can be issued. If there are areas that are non-conforming with ISO standards, corrective actions are required to be made in a timely fashion before certification. ISO 9001 Certification is valid for three years, but an annual surveillance audit is required to be conducted by the certified body in two years. A re-certification is required after three years as well.
COST OF ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION
The cost of ISO 9001 Certification is based on many factors such as the scope, size, and complexity of your business and the specific certification body. An organization may have a well-documented quality management system in place and needs only a little help with the ISO 9001 certification or they may also need to implement a complete system from scratch.
There are two kinds of fees involved in the ISO 9001 Certification process: ISO Consultation fees, ISO Certification fees.
- ISO 9001 Consultation Fees can vary based on the amount of service required to implement a quality management system that meets the requirements of ISO 9001. These are the fees for an ISO consultant to prepare all the mandatory documents, procedures, forms and guide you through the process of implementing a Quality Management System.
- ISO 9001 Certification Fees: ISO 9001 Certification fees are based on the kind of certification body you choose. This is the fee for a third-party certification body, which can vary depends on the scope of your business and the credibility of the certification body.
The ISO certification audit is performed, and the certificate is issued by independent and external certification bodies. It is recommended to reach out to multiple registrars and compare their audit fees and audit process prior to choosing one.
ISO 9001 CONSULTANTS
You may come across a long list of names when you search for ISO 9001 consultants. Some of the consultants are out of state professionals and others are online companies, providing pre-designed templates and other forms of assistance to do your own implementation of ISO standards
Individualized Implementation of ISO involves several onsite visits and it is cost-effective and convenient to choose an ISO consultant close to you.
Liberty Management Group (LMG) is a leading ISO Consultant in the United States. We have a unique, and step-by-step process that can be tailored to the individualized needs of specific companies. Our highly specialized and flexible consultants can fast-track the implementation of ISO 9001 cost-effectively and within your required time frame without disrupting the day-to-day operations of your business.
