Full marks if you now have the song, ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ by the Blue Oyster Cult going through your head, and apologies if it’s stuck there for the rest of the day.
As the song says, ‘there’s nothing to fear’, and trust us, ISO Certification auditors are rarely as scary as the Grim Reaper (exceptions may apply). The key is in your system implementation, internal audits, and knowing what auditors want to see.
We get that this is complex, but as we’ve been providing our specialised ISO Services to clients for 13 years, we know how to make this system as simple as possible.
Rather than putting off ISO Certification Audits, use these hints and tips to help you prepare.
Maintaining Master Documentation
There’s no getting around it, your ISO system requires a certain amount of documents. But, with the right organisational approach, this can be simple to manage.
Your ISO Documents are your template for success, and they should be kept safe. Good document control practices can maintain the integrity of your system. Some tips for even the smallest of organisations;
• Make them visible, but as ‘read only’ documents to staff that don’t need to edit them
• Ensure only your appointed system administrator can make changes
• After making a change, update the new issue/revision status and save the new document
• Move the previous version of the document to an ‘obsolete’ folder
• Register any changes on your Document Control Log/Register
By keeping your Document Control processes straightforward and transparent, you’ll make the auditor’s job easy, which is never a bad thing.
Setting ISO Objectives
A common mistake is to try and come up with ‘ISO’ specific objectives to retain your ISO Certification. However, you’ll already have organisational objectives in mind that you want to achieve. Simply put an ISO spin on these existing objectives.
This approach often comes as a shock to clients, but we believe this should be at the heart of your ISO system. When your ISO framework supports your business needs, you’ll be able to work towards your goals each day without compromising your tried and tested business processes.
Of course, the ISO standards must be met, and incorporating these best practices will enhance your current processes, making them more efficient, safer, and effective. As your auditor will easily be able to see that you follow your ISO processes, you’ll sail through the review.
Don’t Fret If You Miss a Target
Missing a target does not mean that you’ll fail your audit. In fact, this can be an opportunity to show an auditor how you use your ISO system to best effect. Let’s look at an example;
Company X set a target of reducing Electricity consumption by 5% by Q2, 2024. During an internal audit, they found this goal had not been met. By using their root cause analysis process within their ISO framework, they identified why the target had been missed, put corrective actions in place, and set a new review date.
Now, think about how this looks to an auditor. Not only did the company have an important sustainability target, but they acknowledged that it was not met rather than ignoring the issue. They then drilled down to find the root cause, worked out effective solutions, and are due to review their approach again within a suitable timeframe.
From any reasonable perspective, this is an outstanding approach and is a core part of the ISO Standards.
That’s Probably Enough for Today (But There’s Plenty More On Our Website)
We get that ISO Certification Standards aren’t likely to get your blood pumping and your heart racing, that’s why we don’t overwhelm our clients with overcomplicated information and strategies. Instead, we take care of this on your behalf. No matter which stage of the ISO Compliance Process you’re at, we can help.
So whether you’re in need of system development, implementation and audit preparation, or certification, get in touch for a free consultation with NPC Managing Director Ryan Collins.
Thanks for reading, and come on, sing along, ‘Don’t fear the…..’