FAQ’s

The ISO story began in London 1946 where 65 delegates from 25 countries met to discuss the future of International Standardization. In 1947 ISO officially came into existence with 67 technical committees. (Group of experts focusing on a specific subject.)

Over the past 50 years ISO have developed into a family of standards that cover almost anything, from the plates we eat off to the Wi-Fi networks that connect us invisibly to each other.

By addressing these and more, International Standards mean consumers have the confidence that their products are safe, reliable and of excellent quality. ISO on the transport, Medical and cleaning are just a few that help make the world we live in a safer place.

The most popular ISO Standard is the ISO 9001:2015, which is based on the plan-do-check-act methodology and provides a process based approach to documenting and reviewing the structure, responsibilities and procedures required to achieve effective quality management in an organization.

SCP System Certification Consultant is a certification body that provides ISO and SMETA certification services to organizations.

Formally known as International Organization for Standardization. ISO is derived from the Greek word “isos” meaning equal.

The benefits to any organization of gaining accreditation in ISO standards is endless. Overall performance becomes easily measurable and areas for further improvement easily identifiable through continual review of business practice carried out through all levels or the organization.

When you achieve an ISO certification you have the ability to show customers and stakeholders your commitment to quality products and services. It is a great opportunity to celebrate your achievement, promote your business, and show that you are a trusted supplier which could open new business opportunities moving forward.

Below are just a selection of benefits / impacts that being accredited to an ISO standard can have on your organization:

• Meet regulation requirements.
• Increase your chance of success when tendering for new contracts.
• Gain you tremendous competitive advantage over those without ISO accreditation.
• Provide Senior management with an efficient management process.
• Gain Market access across the world.
• Build Customer confidence that your products are safe and reliable.
• Set out clear areas of roles and responsibility’s across the organization.
• Highlights any internal / external deficiencies.
• Identifies and encourages more efficient and time saving processes.
• Reduce costs.
• Provides continuous assessment and improvement.
• Marketing opportunities.
• Maintain a higher retention rate of your existing customers.

A few benefits to your customers may be:

• Improved quality and service.
• Delivery on time.
• Right first time attitude.

Every organization is different so implementing an ISO certification will vary depending on the size and complexity of your organization and on whether you already have some elements of a quality management system in place. It can generally take an organization anything between 3-6 months to create and implement a system in readiness for the UKAS third-party assessment. 

Some factors that may influence cost and time:

• How committed and quality aware your business owner / senior management are.
• The size and complexity of your business or organization.
• The number of sites within the scope of certification.
• The gaps between you and the requirements of the standard. for example: You already have a structured and disciplined system in place to manage your business and deliver services/products consistently however does not conform to the requirements of the standards.
• What current resources are in place, personnel, skills, equipment, infrastructure etc.
• The effectiveness of your current procedures, SOP’s, WI, flowcharts, checklists, forms, polices, job descriptions etc.
• When you aim to have certification in place?
• Culture of your organization: level of quality awareness, how much change is required and are people willing and open to change.

The certification process typically involves the following steps:

1. Application: The organization submits an application for certification.
   
   
2. Document review: SCP System Certification Consultant reviews the organization’s management system documentation to ensure it meets the requirements of the applicable standard.
   
   
3. On-site audit: SCP System Certification Consultant conducts an on-site audit of the organization’s operations to verify that the management system is being implemented effectively.
   
   
4. Certification decision: SCP System Certification Consultant makes a certification decision based on the audit findings. If the organization meets the requirements of the standard, they will be awarded certification.
   
   
5. Surveillance audits: SCP System Certification Consultant conducts periodic surveillance audits to ensure the organization is maintaining compliance with the standard.

The certification process can vary in length depending on the size and complexity of the organization, as well as the scope of the certification. Typically, the process can take several months to complete.

Certification is typically valid for three years, subject to surveillance audits.

The cost of certification can vary depending on the size and complexity of the organization, as well as the scope of the certification. SCP System Certification Consultant can provide a quote based on the specific needs of the organization.

SCP System Certification Consultant can be contacted via email or phone, which can be found on their website. They also have offices in various locations, and contact information for each office can be found on their website.

ISO certification is a process that verifies that an organization has implemented a management system that meets the requirements of a specific ISO standard. The most common ISO standards are ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management).

SMETA certification is a process that verifies that an organization’s supply chain management system meets the requirements of the Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA). SMETA is a globally-recognized ethical audit methodology used to assess responsible business practices in supply chains. 

SCP System Certification Consultant’s certification services can help an organization demonstrate their commitment to quality, environmental responsibility, occupational health and safety, and responsible business practices. Certification can also help organizations improve their operations and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.