What is Registration?
Registration is where an independent accredited third party such as Alliance International visits an organization and conducts an audit of their management system through a process that involves comparing the organization's system against the requirements of the applicable standard. Once the audit is complete and the organization meets the requirements of the standard, Alliance International issues a registration certificate.
Once a company has been registered, Alliance International periodically visits the organization on a regular basis (Surveillance Audits) to assess whether they continue to meet the requirements of the standard. Approximately every three years, a re-assessment takes place to make sure that the management system is still in place.
Is ISO 9001:2000 Difficult to Implement?
The requirements of ISO 9001:2000 are generic in nature, and intended to apply to all organizations. The changes to the new standard were made to: reduce the number of standards; create a more logical structure; provide ease of use by service-sector organizations and small businesses, and provide requirements for achieving customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. The new edition will attract new users from less traditional fields.
How much will it Cost and how long will it take for Registration?
There is no exact answer for this question. How much your registration costs depends on a number of factors, i.e. the size of your organization and its complexity, and whether or not your specific organization has fairly up-to-date documents and procedures. On average, the entire implementation process could take anywhere from 6 to 18 months. Costs of implementation are recovered when the organization uses the standard as it was intended - a tool for continuous improvement.
Will the new Standard affect our current Registration?
Yes. If your organization is registered to the 1994 standards, then you are required to upgrade to meet the requirements of ISO 9001:2000. Organizations are encouraged to begin transition early, as the 1994 series of standards expires on December 15, 2003.
What's the Difference between ISO 9001 and ISO 14001
ISO 9001 focuses on "quality management". This means what the organization does to enhance customer satisfaction by meeting customer and applicable regulatory requirements and continually to improve its performance.
ISO 14001 focuses on "environmental management". This means what the organization does to minimize harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities, and continually to improve its environmental performance.
Do I need a consultant?
Consultants can fill a number of needs. They can conduct a thorough, unbiased evaluation and assess the current state of affairs in your organization. They can provide specialized expertise in a new procedure, technique or way of thinking that is unknown to your organization without being affected by internal company politics.
Are Assessors' Qualifications available for Review?
Alliance International will provide profiles of assessors. We will match your organization with the assessor who is the most qualified and most knowledgeable of your business. We will also assign an assessor located closest to you, thus taking care to keep costs at a minimum.
What are some of the Obstacles/Challenges that our organization may face during implementation?
The most considerable obstacle is not knowing where to begin and not knowing what step to take first. It is important to assess your current system and define your "processes" (documentation, procedures and records) and to know exactly where you are against the standard. Also, Alliance International suggests an aggressive implementation schedule in order to keep costs down and reach your goals as quickly as possible.
Another challenge to ISO-based system implementation is internal resistance - sometimes people really don't like change. The best way to overcome this obstacle is through education and information. Educate employees about your management system and your quality or environmental objectives and ask for their input on how to improve your current situation.
I have some specific questions about the ISO management system implementation. What should I do?
Ask the Experts at Alliance International any questions you may have. A qualified specialist will contact you back regarding your question. Click here to contact us.
Where can I find more Information on the Standards?
You can find information at The International Organization for Standardization on their Web site www.iso.ch or at the Registrar Accreditation Board Web site www.anab.org You may also purchase copies of the standards from either of these organizations.