Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo – Selecting the Right Registrar Isn’t Child’s Play
So you’ve made the decision to seek certification – congratulations! You’re on your way to strengthening the core processes that translate into quality improvement, greater operational efficiency, increased profitability and a purposeful customer focus …
ISO: Most Frequently Asked Questions
Have you ever been audited by an ISO auditor? If you have, then you should know that there are a set of questions that are frequently asked during audits against various ISO standards …
The AREs vs the WANNA-BEs
In this world, there are two types of organizations: those that are ISO certified, and those that want to be. Which one is your organization? We ARE ISO 9001 certified! Mireaux’s ISO 9001 Certificate of …
What’s the Difference Series: Compliance vs Certification
Recently, one of our readers asked, “What does it mean when a company says they operate under a Quality Management System that is in compliance with ISO 9001:2000? I’m assuming they are not ISO certified. If not, isn’t this a claim that just anyone can make?” Right off the bat, the statement that company has …
ISO is Easier Said than Done Series: Why We Have No ISO Exclusions
When it comes to becoming ISO certified, many organizations try to take as many exclusions as they can from their scope of certification. I imagine they do this because it reduces the number of audit days, and because the cost of certification is determined by the number of audit days. But I think they also …
ISO is Easier Said than Done Series: Mano a Mano – Ultimate Registrar Comparison
So you’re ready to become ISO certified and have found yourself facing the first hurdle: Deciding which ISO Registrar to pick. Don’t worry; you are not alone. For years we’ve helped organizations pick an ISO registrar to match their company’s culture and needs, and for years we’ve seen the process being complex and cumbersome, to …
What’s the Difference? Series: Gap Analysis vs. Internal Audits vs. Pre-Assessment
If you have ever wondered what the difference was between an audit, an assessment or a gap analysis, then you might not be alone. When trying to figure out whether your company meets the requirement of a standard, such as ISO, API, Safety, etc.; chances are you are trying to decide which one of these …
We are Just a Service Company, Why Do They Need Us to be ISO 9001 Certified?
Are you a service provider selling project management services, engineering or IT services? Have you been asked more than once whether you are ISO 9001 certified and wonder what is all that about? Before you tell your prospective client they have an error on their forms, see why more and more organizations are demanding their …
This Certificate Smells Fishy! How to Find Out if an ISO Certificate is Forged or Valid.
I was recently at a meeting with some colleagues and the subject of forged certificates was brought up. We discussed the fact that some organizations do have the audacity of not just creating a fake certificate, but sometimes even wanting to change registrars. Seems odd? Later on, I was asked by a reader for some …
Was is Necessary to Revise ISO 9001:2000 to ISO 9001:2008?
Since the inception of the ISO 9001:2000 revision it was clear that this version of the standard was so robust and coherent that more people were able to understand its tremendous value and potential for improving a company’s overall processes rather than being a mere documentation guide. In fact the standard was so well written …
Twenty Two Years After the Standard’s Inception, Why are There Companies Still Not ISO 9001 Certified?
Even after many years of hearing the word ISO 9000 and seeing many organizations get ISO certified, there are still companies who are skeptical when it comes to registering for ISO 9001 certification. For some, a misconception on the objectives of the ISO 9001 standard or the lack of knowledge may steer them off this …
How to Pass an ISO Audit?
I’ve worked with several companies over the years and dealt with different individuals, different processes and different levels of ISO 9000 understanding. However when an organization is getting ready to apply for ISO 9000 certification, the question remains: “Are we going to pass the audit? Similar questions I have been asked are: How many of …
ISO Audit Results and Nonconformities
There are some misconceptions about what ISO audit findings are. In this article, I attempt to explain clearly what audit findings are, what types of findings may be generated in an audit and the guidelines that is widely use to categorize audit findings. What are the results of audits? Depending on the audit style adopted …
