Which Are the Typical ISO Certifications for the Manufacturing Industry?

Within the manufacturing industry, there are numerous procedures you may need to follow to be compliant with international standards. When you're looking to create a product that is available for sale and purchase in multiple countries, you will need to be sure you follow all regulations. This is where ISO Certification is important for continual regulatory compliance.

However, knowing which ISO certifications are relevant to your industry is critical to success. Similarly, understanding the ISO training requirements and product certifications is essential if you want to obtain and retain your certification. 

Here, we take a closer look at the certifications that are commonly acquired within the manufacturing industry and help you to establish processes that will enable you to acquire and retain critical certifications.

ISO Certifications for the Manufacturing Industry

There are many ISO certifications that can benefit companies operating within the manufacturing industry, but the most commonly held certifications across the sector include:

ISO 9001

The Quality Management System standard isn’t designed solely for the manufacturing industry, but it certainly offers great advantages to both engineering and manufacturing organizations. Focused on continually monitoring, managing, and improving the quality of your products and services, ISO 9001 can enhance virtually every aspect of your operations. 

As you prepare for assessment, for example, you’ll find that ISO 9001 can reduce lead times, minimize errors, streamline workflows, decrease costs, and even facilitate better employee engagement. As a result, you’ll gain operational and financial benefits due to the changes you make to obtain the ISO 9001 certification. 

ISO 14001

This Environmental Management certification will help you to monitor and reduce your energy consumption, lower your carbon footprint, and increase sustainability. As the environmental impact of products and services becomes increasingly important to consumers, and the number of environmental regulations increase, businesses are under pressure to improve their environmental performance. 

The manufacturing industry, in particular, has a relatively high carbon footprint, which is why many manufacturing companies are using ISO 14001 as a way of minimizing their emissions and reducing their impact on the environment. 

From reducing waste and cutting CO2 emissions to complying with regulations and transitioning to renewables, ISO 14001 allows you to implement an environmental management strategy that helps your business grow sustainably. 

ISO 45001

ISO 45001 is an Occupational Health and Safety Management certification that highlights your commitment to creating a safe working environment. Despite rigorous health and safety laws, a high number of workplace accidents still occur each year. As well as being devastating for the people directly affected, this can damage an employer’s reputation and increase a company’s liability. 

The nature of the manufacturing industry means that workers are often exposed to a variety of risks in the workplace, particularly if industrial grade equipment is being used. By obtaining the ISO 45001 certification, however, you can implement effective occupational health and safety strategies that reduce these risks and increase workplace safety. 

With the potential to reduce the cost of insurance premiums, simplify compliance and decrease workplace accidents and subsequent absenteeism, improving occupational safety via ISO 45001 can have far-reaching and measurable effects on your operations.

Obtaining ISO Certifications

ISO certifications can be an effective way to elevate your brand and showcase your company’s commitment to excellence. However, obtaining ISO certifications isn’t always straightforward. Fortunately, accessing expert help can ensure that you have the knowledge required to implement relevant processes ahead of the auditing and assessment process. 

Understanding Certification Requirements

Before you begin implementing new workflows or procedures, it’s important to outline the requirements of your chosen ISO certification in detail. Most certifications have a variety of requirements, and you’ll need to ensure that you implement them all if you want to acquire your certification at the first available opportunity. 

Of course, ISO certification requirements can be lengthy documents packed with critical information, which means it can take time to sift through and digest the information – often with limited success!

By working with experienced certification specialists, you can identify and understand certification requirements quickly and efficiently. What’s more – you can get a head start on devising strategies and processes that will elevate your operations and help you to acquire new certifications. 

Training Your Team

Many ISO certifications span numerous operations and roles, so getting your entire team on board is essential if you want to obtain and retain certification. Additionally, you may need to conduct in-house audits on a regular basis in order to meet the requirements of certification, so additional training may be required.

With internal audit training courses, for example, employees can gain new skills and learn how to undertake in-house audits. While this will help you to comply with the requirements of an ISO certification, it can also have immediate and valuable operational benefits. From supplier audits to quality audits, there are numerous assessments that can identify inefficiency in your organization, thus allowing you to improve your processes. 

Preparing for ISO Certifications

While much of your preparation will be done in-house, external audits and assessments will also be a critical element of obtaining your ISO certifications. An independent ISO lead auditor will be required to conduct a third-party assessment of your practices before a certificate can be issued, for example. 

For many companies, teaching employees how to become an ISO internal auditor is a savvy way to improve the efficacy of in-house audits and put them on a par with external assessments. In doing so, you’ll enhance the outcomes of your in-house audits and increase the value you can gain from them. 

Is It Worth Obtaining an ISO Certification?

Recognized all over the world, ISO certifications can transform a business, both in terms of its operations and its fiscal performance. A sign of excellence and commitment to Best Practices, ISO certifications give organizations the opportunity to showcase their credentials and signify their continual and consistent improvement. 

With a variety of benefits on offer, obtaining an ISO certification can be one of the most effective ways to elevate your brand. To find out more, contact QAS International now on 020 3198 9788.