ISO is a global organization that develops and publishes industry standards. Accreditation is not mandatory, but it confirms that a company follows ISO standards correctly. Accreditation is carried out by independent bodies, and companies should check the reputation of the accreditation body before paying for accreditation.
The International Standards Organization (ISO) is a widely recognized body that develops and publishes business and industry standards. ISO accreditation is carried out by organizations separate from the ISO body. The advantage of ISO accreditation is that customers know that an independent body has confirmed that a company follows ISO standards correctly.
In most countries, obtaining ISO accreditation or certification is not mandatory. Companies can choose to become accredited or, if accreditation is not a regulatory requirement and they are comfortable with their customers having confidence in their practices, they can choose not to receive accreditation. ISO standards can still be followed by companies that do not have accreditation.
ISO has 163 member countries and has published more than 18,000 standards. These standards cover areas as diverse as information technology, engineering, medical devices, construction, transportation, agriculture and management. New standards are created when a gap in a process is identified by the organization.
There are pros and cons to ISO accreditation. The fact that independent accreditation bodies charge for the audit and accreditation process is a factor in some companies choosing not to undergo certification. For certain markets, accreditation is accepted as the standard and companies operating in that market need to be accredited if they are to compete. Sometimes the company needs accreditation to meet regulatory requirements.
The accreditation process is carried out by independent companies that provide audits of a commercial system. For example, the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) is a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), which is a group of ISO accreditation bodies. A2LA provides ISO certification for test labs that pass the audit. The audit consists of reviewing quality documentation, interviewing analysts, reviewing records and demonstrations of sample handling, sample testing and calibration. The laboratory will be accredited if A2LA is satisfied that the laboratory adheres to ISO standards.
Accreditation bodies can also be accredited. The national standards organization of a specific country will approve these bodies, although accreditation bodies do not need to be approved to operate. Non-approved certification bodies may have an excellent reputation and may not need accreditation to ensure that customers have confidence in their standards.
Before paying a body to accredit a company, ISO recommends that the company check the pedigree of the accreditation body. Unless the accreditation body has an excellent reputation in the field, an approved body is a safer option. Companies should always compare the services of different agencies and choose companies that provide auditors who are familiar with the field. ISO also recommends that the audit body itself follow the appropriate ISO standards. The ISO standard ISO/IEC 17021:2006, which describes requirements for audit and certification management systems, applies to accreditation bodies, and the body must have implemented or be in the process of implementing this standard.
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