How to select the best ISO certification body in Australia

When business owners decide to implement an ISO management system, they oscillate with choosing an ISO Certification Body. Let us begin by firstly congratulating you on deciding to implement an ISO management system and acquire a certificate. This is a wise decision as an ISO certificate will not only enhance the efficiency of your management system but also help you clear you improve your profits.

This is a great investment for the future of your company and the return on investment will be multifold. Now, we understand that you must be eager to hire “the best ISO certification body in Australia,” as you want the very best for your organisation. However, we want to clarify the misconception of being the “best ISO certification body” as there is no specific consultancy service or individual that is the absolute best.

In this article, we will list out some pointers that you should consider when you are selecting an ISO certification body.

Best ISO certification body

As we mentioned above, there is no such thing as the “best ISO certification body in Australia,” instead, there exists a ISO consultant or a certification body that is a perfect match for your company. Think of the certification process as a marriage. It is a relationship between two individuals, and just like there is no perfect spouse, there is no perfect ISO certification body. Rather, there will be consultants who will customize their advice in such a manner that the certification process will benefit you.

Benefits of having an ISO consultant

Now, you may be wondering how can a certification process benefit you. ISO certificate is not just a piece of paper, rather it is an award given for compliance. Achieving compliance is a tedious process as it means that you have to adhere to not only the technical but the documental requirements of your chosen ISO standard. When you work with a certification body that is a perfect fit for your company, you get customised and detailed audit report that will benefit you by:

• Improving the efficiency of your management system.
• Reducing any skill gaps in your employees.
• Having reliable documentation for future reference.
• Enhancing employee satisfaction.
• Testing the feasibility and functionality of your controls

We have already discussed the benefits of using an ISO consultant in detail in the article Why Organizations Need an ISO Certification body.

Red flags: tips for choose best ISO certification body

Before we tell you how to select an ISO certification body, we are going to list out certain criteria that should be a red flag for you.

Unethical

Any CB that is openly and without hesitation sharing the case studies of his previous clients should be seen as unethical. Not only is privacy a legal requirement, but it is a courtesy between the company and the client. Anyone that breaches the trust of their previous clients will do the same to you. You should avoid such individuals.

Over-promising

If the promises seem too good to be true, then they are actually too good to be real. Some examples of these promises include delivering the certificate in a few days, guaranteeing to conduct the audit in one day, or stating an unreasonably low price. For more information, we suggest reading the ISO certification cost article.

Bad reputation

Before you decide to work with any ISO certification body, we recommend that you ask your peers about the company. If the company has a bad reputation, it cannot be hidden and you will easily uncover the truth. Working with an ill-reputed ISO certification body is futile as there will be no value in your certificate.

Some examples of notorious habits are not conducting in-depth audits, overcharge, utilise generic templates or not conducting appropriate surveillance audits. If the company that you have shortlisted does any of these things, stay away from them.

How to select an ISO certification body in Australia

Given below are a list of few factors that you should consider when selecting an ISO consultant:

Accreditation

Accreditation is granted by international bodies and it guarantees that your certification body is appropriately equipped to conduct certification audits. In Australia, look for JAS-ANZ accreditation.

Specialisation

This is the second most important criterion for selecting an ISO consultant. Not only should the certification body specialise in your field, but he or she should have formal training in the specific ISO standard that you want to implement in your organisation.

You can simply ask the ISO certification body about their history to identify if they specialise in ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or ISO 45001, the three most popular ISO certifications in Australia. Alternatively, you can read the testimonials

Experience

If you work an ISO certification body that is newly formed, you may encounter many obstacles in your certification process and your management system may be rudimentary. Therefore, specifically read about the experience of your certification body and do not get swayed by false promises.

ISO certification body Cost

If cost is your prime criteria for selecting an ISO certification body, you will be short sold. However, you should know the general charge of ISO certification bodies. In Australia, certification bodies charge approximately $15,000 per annum for a medium-sized organisation.

THE ISO Council, one of the best ISO certification body in Australia

When selecting an ISO certification body, you must consider the accreditation, specialisation and experience. We highly recommend that you have a few conversations with your shortlisted ISO consultants before you decide to work with them so that you can gauge their personality and working style.

As an ISO certification body,The ISO Council has more than a decade of experience in consulting and assisting various businesses. You can also join the group of our satisfied customers by using ISO consulting services at The ISO Council.