Step 1 – Initial Consultation

Understand your organization’s business activities, objectives, selected ISO standard, certification scope, and existing management practices.

Step 2 – Gap Assessment

Review your current processes and identify gaps against the requirements of the applicable ISO standard.

Step 3 – Define Certification Scope

Determine the products, services, locations, departments, processes, and activities covered by the management system.

Step 4 – Documentation

Develop the required policies, procedures, manuals, forms, records, risk assessments, registers, and supporting documents.

Step 5 – Implementation

Implement the management system throughout the relevant areas of your organization.

Step 6 – Employee Training

Train employees on applicable ISO requirements, responsibilities, procedures, controls, and continual improvement.

Step 7 – Internal Audit

Conduct internal audits to identify nonconformities and improvement opportunities before the external assessment.

Step 8 – Management Review

Support management in reviewing management-system performance, objectives, risks, audit results, customer feedback, and corrective actions.

Step 9 – Corrective Actions

Address identified nonconformities and verify that corrective actions are effectively implemented.

Step 10 – Certification Readiness

Evaluate overall readiness and prepare the organization for the independent certification audit.

Step 11 – Certification Audit

An independent certification body assesses the management system against the applicable certification standard.

Step 12 – Certification Decision

The independent certification body reviews the audit findings and makes the certification decision.

Step 13 – Continual Improvement

Maintain the management system, monitor performance, address nonconformities, and continually improve organizational processes.