ISO 9000 set of Certifications are a set of quality management systems (QMS) that are compliant to the QMS standards set by the International Organization of Standards (ISO), an international, non-government organization with 165 member countries. ISO certifications are important for a business as its compliance and certification ensures that the statutory and regulatory requirements are met in terms of customer and stakeholder needs.  ISO Certifications are not done directly by the ISO itself, but by accredited certification bodies (CBs) which are third-party organizations.

The ISO 9000 series standard is based on seven quality management principles (QMPs).

They are:

a. QMP 1: Customer focus

b. QMP 2: Leadership

c. QMP 3: Engagement of the people

d. QMP 4: Process Approach

e. QMP 5: Improvement

f. QMP 6: Evidence-based decision-making

g. QMP 7: Relationship management

ISO 9001 is one of the most widely used management tools in the world. The organization applying for the certification is audited based on samples from its products, services, processes, sites, and functions. Internal audits are also necessary at regular intervals for compliance.  The auditor then lists out a list of non-conformities, opportunities for improvement, and observations to the management. If major non-conformities are identified, the organization is then asked to

come up with an improvement plan that includes corrective action. If no major non-conformities are identified, the CB issues the certification. The certification has to be renewed at regular intervals at the recommendation of the CBS.

The contents of the latest ISO 9001 version adapted in 2015 (ISO 9001:2015) are:

-  Section 1: Scope

-  Section 2: Normative references

-  Section 3: Terms and definitions

-  Section 4: Context of the organization

-  Section 5: Leadership

-  Section 6: Planning

-  Section 7: Support

-  Section 8: Operation

-  Section 9: Performance evaluation

-  Section 10: Continual Improvement

It follows the previous versions’ Plan, Does, Checks, Act process cycle but also includes steps and processes that encourage risk-based thinking. Sections 1 to 3 are not directly audited, but sections 4 to 10 are audited for compliance to evaluate the organization.

The ISO 9001:2015 certification brings a lot of advantages to an organization. According to the ISO, they are as follows:

• By assessing their context, organizations can define who is affected by the work and what they expect. This enables clearly stated business objectives and the identification of new business opportunities.

• Organizations can identify and address the risks associated with their organization.

• By putting customers first, organizations can make sure they consistently meet customer needs and enhance customer satisfaction. This can lead to more repeat customers, new clients, and increased business for the organization.

• Organizations work more efficiently as all their processes are aligned and understood by everyone. This increases productivity and efficiency, bringing internal costs down.

• Organizations will meet the necessary statutory and regulatory requirements.

• Organizations can expand into new markets, as some sectors and clients require ISO 9001 before doing business.