ISO Frequently Asked Questions

What is ISO?

ISO certified means that a company has proven that it follows the standards developed by the International Organization of Standardization. So why isn’t it called IOS certified since it is developed by an organization with that acronym? That is due to the fact that it is an international standard, therefore in different languages it would have a different acronym, so they decided to simply name it “ISO” no matter what language it is in, because after all the standards are supposed to be the same for each country so it only makes sense that the name remains unchanged as well. It is also very close to a Greek word, isos, which means “equal”, another reason for the choice of acronym.

An ISO certified company is one that complies with various international standards such as product quality, environmental friendliness, safety, reliability, and economical. These are all things that consumers look for, and often take for granted, when buying a product, but not all companies hold themselves up to such a standard.

What is a Certified Company?

Companies that are ISO certified are focused on improving their quality and create quality initiatives to help them identify areas of improvement and plan strategic implementations. This covers all aspects of a company with a focus on quality and meeting customer needs. All companies can implement the requirements of ISO certification, no matter their size or category of product. Certification occurs whenever a third party visits a company and assesses the management of the company. If the company meets the standards, this third party will then issue a certificate.

Many entrepreneurs are interested in obtaining ISO certification for their company. This is because this certification will put them a notch above the rest and rise in the level of quality and reputation. Of course, many of these small entrepreneurs face challenges due to a lack of commitment from top management, difficulty in documentation, lack of training in ISO certification, cost of certification, lack of planning, and a resistance to change. Even with these factors, a small entrepreneurial company can obtain the certification which will help them reap many benefits in the future.

How long has ISO been in business?

ISO has been establishing standards since 1906. The ISO 9000 Series for Quality Assurance was introduced in 1993 and has become the most widely-known.

Why is an ISO 9001 certified system important to me?

The ISO 9001 certification gives you and your customers assurances that you are doing exactly what you say you are doing.