ISO 9001 certification: independent assurance of quality 

Starting point of optimally running business processes

In addition to testing, inspection and compliance, certification is also part of Normec Certification's range of services. The company, part of Normec, is considered the largest certification body in the Netherlands in the field of quality, environment and safety. As such, it is happy to serve clients to prove their approach and expertise through certification in practice. One of the labels used to do so is the ISO 9001 certificate, the independent guarantee of quality. Stijn van Nistelrooij, account manager within Normec Certification, tells more about it. 

Thanks to a sophisticated one-stop-shopping concept, Normec Certification can handle all certifications. So also for ISO 9001, one of the most important and best-known certification marks used in several industries and sectors. "The ISO 9001 certificate is indeed among the world's most common certificates," Stijn confirms. "In short, it is a seal of approval by which organizations demonstrate that all processes surrounding the services and products offered are well set up. At the same time, it is a starting point for continuous improvement. After all, working according to ISO is a process that never stops, but always continues toward further optimization." 

Audit

On the way to the coveted ISO 9001 certificate or its related labels ISO 14001 (focused on the environment) and 27001 (focused on information security), an audit conducted by Normec Certification forms the core of the certification process. "When a company wishes to obtain the certificate, we start with a two-phase admission," explains Stijn. "The first phase is the documentation review. Here we check whether all the documents prescribed in the standard are in order. If this is not the case, then the customer has the opportunity to still take care of it. Phase 2 is the actual audit. Here we check whether the handbook drawn up by the company or an external agency is in line with the standard. In addition, we use interviews with all employees within the company to determine whether everyone is aware of the content and is acting accordingly. When all this appears to be in order, the certificate is issued. 

Added values

With an increasingly required ISO 9001 certification, organizations not only show that they have their internal processes in place, Stijn believes. "Around achieving such a seal of approval, you also automatically gain more knowledge in-house, which gives you more insight into risks. Furthermore, you increase the awareness of your people. As a result, the quality of your product or service and the professionalism of the organization increases. And that, of course, significantly improves your company image and increases your market opportunities. In short, with ISO you make a difference in several ways."