ISO 90012015 UK - What does ISO stand for?, ISO Certification and Accreditation ISO9001

What does ISO stand for?

Commonly thought to stand for International Organisation for Standardisation, ISO is actually derived from the greek word "isos" meaning equal. Due to the different acronyms that the name "International Organisation for Standardisation" would have in different languages (for example IOS in English) at its inception it was decided to give it one short all-purpose name.

ISO 9001:2015 the business standard

ISO 9001:2015 is an International Quality Management Standard which companies can use to demonstrate their ability to meet their customer's requirements. Interested parties will be potential new customers and third party assessment bodies etc.

In order to meet the requirements of the Standard, your business will need to have in place a documented Quality Management System and to be able to demonstrate its implementation and ongoing maintenance.

Achieving accredited registration to ISO 9001:2015 will not only improve the efficiency of your business, but will open up further opportunities with potential customers who recognise registration as an indicator of your company's ability to efficiently and professionally fulfil or exceed their requirements.

When you are satisfied that your Quality Management System is fully implemented and is being maintained, you can call on the services of a (UKAS) United Kingdom Accreditation Service approved registration body to carry out a third party assessment to ascertain that your business is meeting the requirements of the Standard. If this is successfully demonstrated, then a certificate will be awarded accordingly and your business will then be able to show the so called Tick & Crown symbol on your business documentation and vehicles.

Your accreditation company can offer a number of services including preparation and guidance on achieving accredited registration to ISO 9001:2015.

Other Standards

EN1090 - The harmonised standard for structural steel

In 2012 The Construction Products Regulations (CPR) was introduced, this places a requirement on construction products that have a harmonised standard to be CE Marked

ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems

Certification to ISO 14001:2015 demonstrates to customers that you take a serious commitment to protecting the environment.

ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems

ISO22000 is a relatively new standard and is based around ISO9001but has been generated specifically for the food industry.

ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems

ISO/IEC 27001 is the only auditable international standard which defines the requirements for an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

ISO 45001 Health & Safety Management

Certification to ISO 45001 demonstrates to customers that you take a serious commitment to protecting your employees, contractors and the general public.

ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems

With ever increasing legislation such as the Climate Change Levy, Carbon reduction Commitment combined with the pressure for carbon reduction through sustainability and resource efficiency the standard provides a framework to meet these requirements, having your system certified by an independent certification body demonstrates your commitment to customers and stakeholders.

ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management Systems

ISO 22301 is a rapidly emerging standard the expected take-up of certification within the supply chain will mean that companies will need to implement Business Continuity plans much quicker than expected or else face losing business to their competitors.

About getiso.co.uk ISO 9001:2015

Having worked in a company that has gone from no official system to full ISO 9001:2015 accreditation, I have experienced first hand the process; from creating a Quality Management System to receiving certification. I can say honestly that the effort of implementing a Quality Management System and attaining official certification has been very worthwhile. The company, although relatively small in relation to its competitors, is increasingly winning business from large organisations who deal primarily with accredited sources. Before the company became ISO certified, this type of business would be quoted for but rarely won.