Quality management system certification

Who it is for

Exporters

Buyer onboarding and vendor audits

Government suppliers

Pre-qualification in public tenders

Manufacturers

Fewer defects and less rework

Service companies

Consistent delivery across teams

What you gain

• Tender and buyer accessMeet the pre-qualification requirement most procurement teams set.
• Fewer repeat problemsRoot cause analysis stops the same errors coming back.
• Clear ownershipEveryone knows which process they run and how it is measured.
• A yearly outside checkSurveillance audits keep the system alive after the certificate.

What the standard covers

Auditors work through clauses 4 to 10 of the standard. Clauses 1 to 3 define scope and terms and are not audited.

1. 4Context of the organizationScope of the management system, interested parties and the issues that affect you.
2. 5LeadershipTop management commitment, policy, roles and responsibilities.
3. 6PlanningRisks, opportunities and measurable objectives.
4. 7SupportPeople, competence, awareness, communication and documented information.
5. 8OperationHow you plan and control the work the standard covers.
6. 9Performance evaluationMonitoring, internal audit and management review.
7. 10ImprovementNonconformities, corrective action and continual improvement.

Audit steps and timeline

1. Week 1Application and quoteYou share scope, size and sites. We send a fixed written quote.
2. Week 2AgreementYou sign the certification agreement and we assign your audit team.
3. Week 3 to 4Stage 1 auditDocument review and a readiness check, on site or remote.
4. Week 5 to 7Stage 2 auditOn site audit of how your processes really run.
5. Week 8Corrective actionsYou close any findings and send evidence.
6. Week 9 to 10Decision and certificateAn independent reviewer decides. Your certificate goes live in the public register.

Documents to have ready

• Quality policy and objectives
• Scope of the management system
• Process map
• Risk and opportunity register
• Internal audit report
• Management review minutes
• Corrective action records
• Training and competence records

What sets the cost

Fees follow the number of audit days your organisation needs, set by international audit time rules. Every quote is written and fixed before you sign.

Related standards