Wondering whether to pursue ISO 9001 certification for your business? Getting certified takes time and effort, and many business owners are understandably reluctant to commit to this endeavour because, well, what tangible difference does ISO certification actually make?

In fact, implementing a quality management system and obtaining ISO 9001 certification can benefit your organisation in a number of different ways. Read on to find out more.

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When you're new to the world of quality management and ISO certification, it's easy to feel a little confused by some of of the associated jargon. For instance, you probably know that ISO 9001 is the globally-recognised standard for quality management systems, but perhaps you've heard people using more complicated-sounding terms like 'ISO 9001:2008' and now you're feeling a bit lost again.

If so, we hope this simple guide makes things a little bit clearer.

ISO 9001 is updated periodically.

The standards collectively known as ISO 9001 are constantly evolving, and as a result, ISO 9001 is overhauled every so often in order to reflect the latest advancements and the current state of the market. Once a new version of ISO 9001 is brought into effect, organisations who were certified under the previous version usually have a few years to transition to the new one.

ISO 9001:2008 is an outdated version of ISO 9001.

ISO 9001:2008 (itself the successor to ISO 9001:2000) was rendered obsolete in September 2015 by the newly-introduced ISO 9001:2015 standard.

• If you already hold ISO 9001:2008 certification, you have until the end of September 2018 to migrate to ISO 9001:2015.
  
  
• If you do not hold any ISO 9001 certification, there's no need to worry about ISO 9001:2008 - you should focus on getting certified according to the requirements laid out by ISO 9001:2015.

Looking to get ISO certified as soon as possible? Click here to find out how ISO Accelerator can help!

Read more on this topic: ISO 9001:2008 vs. ISO 9001:2015

The ISO 9001 standard for quality management systems is revised every few years to ensure that it remains fit for purpose and continues to reflect the requirements of the modern marketplace. The current version of the standard, which rolled out in September 2015, is known as ISO 9001:2015.

If your organisation achieved ISO 9001 certification prior to September 2015, you were probably certified under the previous version of the standard, known as ISO 9001:2008. This version is no longer in use, and the deadline to switch over (the end of September 2018) has now passed - so you might be overdue for recertification.

Differences between ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 9001:2015

ISO 9001:2015 has ten clauses, whereas ISO 9001:2008 had just eight clauses. The most recent version of ISO 9001 aims to put greater emphasis to the importance of continuous improvement.

Under ISO 9001:2008, customers were treated as the only party of interest. However, the ISO 9001:2015 standard takes others into consideration, e.g. shareholders and suppliers.

Want to get certified to the latest ISO 9001 standard? ISO Accelerator makes the certification process quick and easy - click here to get started!

How to Get Certified with ISO Accelerator >

As we announced last month, ISO Accelerator now provides a fast-track ISO 14001 certification service for organisations in the UK.

But what is ISO 14001 certification, and how does it benefit the businesses who achieve it?

What it means to be ISO 14001 certified

ISO 14001 is the internationally-recognised standard for environmental management systems. When implementing an environmental management system (EMS) within an organisation, it is usually desirable to apply for ISO 14001 certification, since this accreditation serves as evidence that you follow the correct processes and procedures in order to minimise your company's impact on the environment.

The benefits of ISO 14001 certification

As an ISO 14001 certified organisation, your company will enjoy the following benefits:

• Increased Consumer Trust - Customers and clients will be more inclined to choose you over similar suppliers, since your 'ISO 14001 certified' status marks you out as an environmentally-conscious choice.
  
  
• New Business - In addition to the above, some contracts in certain sectors are only available to suppliers with ISO 14001 status, so your environmental management system may well open some new doors that were closed to your company in the past.
  
  
• Reduced Waste - By implementing an EMS that conforms to ISO 14001 requirements, you will reduce wastage within your organisation, thus lowering costs as well as reducing your environmental impact.

If you would like to find out more about ISO 14001 certification (and how we at ISO Accelerator can help you to achieve it in the shortest possible timeframe), please contact us today.

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Are you thinking of hiring an ISO-certified company? Before you do, it may be worth checking to ensure that they really do hold ISO 9001 accreditation.

In order to verify your potential supplier's ISO certificate, you will first need to request a copy of the certificate itself. Most companies will have no qualms about providing this - after all, if they've genuinely put in the effort to get certified, what do they have to hide?

There are a number of things that will give you a clue as to the validity (or otherwise) of the certificate. These include the name and stamp of an accreditation body, date on the certificate, and specific details on which processes and premises are certified. In particular, be wary of any certificate that is out of date or was not actually issued by the certification company named on the certificate (indeed, you may wish to contact the certification company yourself to check whether the certificate in question is a fake).

However, if the certificate was issued by ISO Accelerator, you don't have to worry about any of the above.

Check ISO 9001 certificate validity now >

Here's how to check the validity of an ISO 9001 certificate using our handy ISO Certificate Checker:

1. Obtain a copy of the certificate in question.
   
   
2. Go to iso-accelerator.co.uk/learn-more/iso-certification-checker and enter the certificate number.
   
   
3. Click Check Certificate to find out whether or not the certificate is valid.

It really is as simple as that! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us for assistance.

Looking to achieve ISO certification for your own organisation? ISO Accelerator can help you to get certified fast - click here to find out how it works.