ISO Audits Explained

What is an ISO audit?

Don’t worry, it can be complex, so we’ll break it down simply.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was founded to do just what its title implies, standardize organizations internationally. In the increasingly interconnected and diverse business world of the 1950’s, having reliable weighs and measures between cooperating partners became essential. Today, with business being done physically and digitally from one side of the globe to the other, that need for coherent standardization is greater than ever. ISO lays out the measurements and guides, and ISO audits verify that an organization matches those guides, letting the world know when they do. It is a bit like ensuring every student takes the SAT’s using a No. 2 pencil, or knowing every chef will cook meat to a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds. By getting certified through an ISO audit, partners and clients alike will know you do business by the best practices available.

Standardization of what?

Over the years ISO has laid down standardization measures for whatever the business world needs, be it safety practices and protocols, or material measures and methods. Over 22,000 separate certifications have been established to date, encompassing everything from road traffic safety to anti-bribery certifications. That being said, there are a few more popular certificates among that number, ones which even a layperson might recognize and appreciate. The three most widely adopted standards are:

ISO 9001 (Quality management)
ISO 14001 (Environmental Management)
ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety)

An auditor doesn’t check if you’re leaking toxic waste behind the plant (although they will notice something like that). Rather, an ISO audit ensures the organization in question has the tools and practices in place to meet ISO standards. Want an ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification? Your auditor will ensure you have an environmental management system in place, practices to make reporting issues easy, and methods to measure and maintain environmental performance.

What are the steps in an audit?

While every audit must follow certain routines for compliance, each auditor and certifying body adopt their own habits. OSAP has made a habit of keeping the audit as short and as noninvasive as possible, but beyond that, here’s what to expect from your walkthrough regardless of its conductor:

Step 1:

Preparation. Your auditor will review their checklist, look over your stated practices and procedures, and read up on any oddities or industry-specific guidelines to make the rest of the process smoother.

Step 2:

Familiarization. The auditor speaks to employees, reviewing facilities and introducing themselves to stakeholders who can respond to questions, and take critique during the audit.

Step 3:

Documentation. At this point the auditor digs into files, collecting evidence for or against ISO standard adherence, checking processes to see if they meet the standard set by ISO

Step 4:

Verification. The final step requires your auditor to interview managing personnel, review compliance throughout the facility, and complete any other adjustments necessary to ensure that your perfect plan on paper has been adopted on site.

There’s more than just one sort of audit, should you be maintaining your certification or renewing it, if you’re a member of a unique industry, whether you’re looking for guidance and planning or certification... However each different form follows these basic steps.

Is it worth it?

Absolutely. There isn't a moment of hesitation here, ISO certification, even failing to receive certification your first round and simply conducting the audit, has a lasting impact on your business. At OSAP we offer grace periods at no extra charge to make improvements during the audit, because we want you to succeed. Though even in failure, preparing for and going through the auditing process can identify risks and opportunities within your business, spotting patterns that would otherwise have been ignored. Becoming certified proudly announces to employees that you care about their welfare, and your business. The same announcement is made to clients; ISO certified businesses have been found to increase their sales by 15% in the years following certification, compared to non-certified competitors. Partners know you’re a company who cares about quality, and each of your systems can match to promote streamlined cooperation.

ISO standardization isn’t a cure all. But it allows for an in-depth review of your business’s practices and responses, letting you see through the eyes of an outsider your strengths and opportunities, beside weaknesses and risks. Having the guidance of successful tactics as practiced by ISO certified businesses around the world can’t hurt either; there’s a reason these certifications were established, they work. If you’re interested in hearing more about what ISO can do for you, don’t put it off another day. Hesitation is stagnation, certification is improvement. Give us a call, let’s improve together.