The International Organization for Standardization or ISO is the leading developer and publisher of global standards. In Australia, ISO 9001 is the common certification associated with Quality Management Systems. More than 20 million businesses are certified worldwide.

Other certifications growing in demand are -

  • ISO 27001 Information Security
  • ISO 22000 Food Safety
  • ISO 14001 Environmental Management System

A business’s ability to achieve and maintain ISO certification clearly shows commitment to industry-related best practices. A quality management system is employed as a performance enhancement tool. Many businesses need certification, while others obtain accreditation to gain an edge in the market. For ISO Certification Australia, approach best practice consultants.

Benefits to hiring a consultant for ISO audit:

  • Experienced QMS expert audits the entire system in significantly less time than you would take [DIY]. It allows your workforce to concentrate on the core business activities.
  • The investment is needed for employee training when personnel resign or standards change.
  • External consultants evaluate high-level management documents, which ensures confidentiality.
  • System gaps are evaluated without internal politics getting in the way.
  • Consultants offer fresh input, especially when there seems to be no solution to a chronic issue.
  • Suggestions are offered for business improvement in the audit reports.

Challenges of do-it-yourself ISO audit

  • Time limitation is a huge challenge. Audits are crucial to promptly address risks or any inefficiency and to lower the ongoing operational cost. Hiring a professional for audits offsets the cost, as it frees up the time of your staff to focus on their roles and responsibilities.
  • Your staff lack the experience, training, or interest associated with audits. An external QMC consultant is capable of identifying improvement opportunities that are not obvious to your staff working closely to the process. You gain valuable perception from external help!
  • Audits are performed to enhance business processes and view suggestions as opportunities. Instead of resisting or complaining about audit reports, concentrate on the system and encourage employees to cooperatively work towards attaining a common shared goal. Employees are unable to share the audit findings with top management but a professional external expert can help the management team to accept the feedback and make changes with ease.
  • After an audit is concluded, it is crucial to make everyone in the organization aware of the necessary changes. If there is no communication channel, it is hard to make improvements. The aim of audit fails in this condition. An external consultant ensures that there is sufficient communication to help your company seamlessly roll out necessary changes.

What’s an ISO 9001 audit?

ISO 9001 certification is associated with your company’s QMS or Quality Management System. It is a certification issued for your whole business. It applies to every sector and business size. ISO 9001 offers guidelines to determine if you are fulfilling your quality objectives.

You even gain a way to review and document every process, procedure, and system associated with your products or service quality. You gain an insight into what needs to be improved. When you fulfill specific ISO standards, your business obtains the certification.

Tips to prepare for ISO 9001 audits

The ISO 9001 Certification in Australia can be obtained from JAS-ANZ accredited website the Best Practice. The review process for the quality of any business undergoes the following steps.

  • The consultant works with your in-house management team and reviews whether your company is eligible for the ISO 9001 certification. If there is a corrective action to be taken for compliance, your team can implement it accordingly.
  • Smart internal audits help consistently enhance processes as well as streamline business functions. More rigorous audits mean you can obtain and maintain the ISO 9001 certification.
  • Management review must never be overlooked. It keeps check of your whole QMS, so perform it before the audit in order to implement improvements.
  • Never hesitate to tweak objectives as per business demands. For example, it is normal to reduce sales goals to reveal the fluctuating economic situation.

An external ISO consultant is experienced and capable of offering a uniquely independent perspective associated with your business processes. It can even help to resolve an old internal project issue and prevent any future ones from arising. ISO systems need ongoing review and improvement to ensure business quality. Therefore, make sure to hire a reliable ISO auditor!