The International Organization for Standards (ISO) is a well-known organization that creates and publishes industry and business standards. ISO accreditation is handled by organizations that are not affiliated with the ISO organization. Customers benefit from ISO accreditation because they know an independent body has confirmed that a company is adhering to ISO standards correctly.
ISO accreditation or certification is not required in most countries. Businesses can choose to become accredited or not become accredited if accreditation is not a regulatory requirement and they are confident that their customers trust their practices. Even if a company is not accredited, it can still follow ISO standards.
ISO is made up of 163 countries and has published over 18,000 standards. Information technology, engineering, medical devices, construction, transportation, agriculture, and management are all covered by these standards. When an organization notices a flaw in a process, new standards are developed.
ISO certification has both advantages and disadvantages. Some businesses choose not to undergo certification because independent accreditation bodies charge for the audit and accreditation process. Accreditation is the norm in certain markets, and businesses operating in those markets must become accredited in order to compete. To comply with regulatory requirements, a company may require accreditation.
Independent companies that provide business system audits carry out the accreditation process. The International Accreditation Forum (IAF), for example, is a group of ISO accreditation bodies that includes the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). Testing laboratories that pass A2LA’s audit can obtain ISO certification. Quality documentation, analyst interviews, records review, and demonstrations of sample handling, sample testing, and calibrations are all part of the audit. If A2LA is satisfied that the laboratory meets ISO standards, the lab is accredited.
Accreditation bodies are also eligible for accreditation. These bodies will be approved by a country’s national standards organization, though accreditation bodies do not need to be approved to operate. Non-accredited certification bodies may have a good reputation and therefore do not require accreditation to ensure that customers trust their standards.
Before paying a body to accredit a company, ISO advises that the company research the accreditation body’s history. An approved body is a safer option unless the accreditation body has a good reputation in the field. Businesses should always compare the services of various bodies and select firms that provide auditors who are knowledgeable in the field. The auditing body should also follow appropriate ISO standards, according to ISO. Accreditation bodies must comply with the ISO standard ISO/IEC 17021:2006, which outlines the requirements for those auditing and certifying management systems. The body must have implemented, or be in the process of implementing, this standard.