The organisation that would eventually become known as ISO started out in 1926 as the International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations (ISA). Its goal was to create standards in the field of mechanical engineering. It was dissolved during the Second World War. In 1946, delegates from 25 countries met in London to create a new international standards organization. In 1947 the new organization, ISO, began operations. The name ISO is derived from the Greek word “isos,” meaning equal.
Today, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is a nongovernmental organization that comprises standards bodies from more than 160 countries, with one standards body representing each member country. The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) member body for the Republic of Ireland while BSI works across many industries as the UK’s national standard body.
ISO certification is a seal of approval that a management system, manufacturing process, service, or documentation procedure has all the requirements for standardization and quality assurance. “ISO certified” means that an organization has developed, maintains and continuously improves its business processes. This is accomplished by measuring and comparing business performance to appropriate quality standards.
Each certification has separate standards and criteria and is classified numerically. For instance, the ISO certifications we currently hold at Dynamic Safety Solutions are ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018
There are many different ISO Standards and it is certainly true that it can be hard to understand which ones are the most suitable for your business.
While some are industry-specific, many of the more popular certification standards are generic and can be implemented into an organisation regardless of the sector it carries out business is in. If you are interested in becoming ISO certified, we have outlined below the standards we can help your company become certified in.
- ISO 9001 (Quality Management System – helps put your customers first)
- ISO 14001 (Environmental Management system – help reduce your environmental impact)
- ISO 45001 (Safety Management System – help you protect your people)
- ISO 27001 (ISO Cyber Security Management)
- ISO 50001 (Energy Management – provides a practical way to improve energy use)
ISO 9001 is the world’s foremost quality management standard, used by hundreds of thousands of organizations in over 170 countries around the globe. It sets out the essential requirements for a practical and effective quality management system (QMS) which is, in essence, a system for minimising risk and maximising opportunity.
It was first published in 1987, and has since been updated about every 7 years. The standard details how to put a QMS in place to better prepare your organization to produce quality products and services. It is customer focused, and places an emphasis on continuous improvement and top management processes that extended throughout the organization.
ISO 9001 is used by a diverse array of organisations, from giant multinational corporations to local community groups.
The standard is the first port of call for almost all organisations, large or small, public or private, that have decided to strengthen, streamline or review their management procedures. It can be used to focus on improving performance in a particular department, plant or site. However, it is generally most effective when implemented throughout an organisation at every level.
ISO 14000 is a family of standards related to environmental management that exists to help organisations minimise how their operations negatively affect the environment; comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements; and continually improve in each of the above areas.
As specified by the NSAI, with rising public awareness of the need to protect our environment, governments and businesses are under increasing pressure to minimize their environmental footprint and promote sustainable development. ISO 14001 establishes requirements for an Environmental Management System (EMS) and is based on the continuous improvement model PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act). The EMS developed to help the organisation identify, manage and control those activities that have an environmental impact.
Through a combination of analysis and action most organisations can transform the way they interact with the environment by, for example:
- Cutting down on waste
- Lowering energy use
- Using renewable resources
- Avoiding risk and preventing pollution
- Complying with regulatory and legal requirements
- Designing for the complete product lifecycle.
By moving towards a cleaner, greener way of working, an organisation can become a model of good citizenship, enhancing its public image in the process.
The burden of occupational injuries and diseases is significant, both for employers and the wider economy, resulting in losses from early retirements, staff absence and rising insurance premiums.
According to the International Labour Organization, more than 7,600 people die from work-related accidents or diseases every single day. That’s why an ISO committee of occupational health & safety experts set to work to develop an International Standard with the potential to save almost three million lives each year. ISO 45001, occupational health and safety management systems helps organisations by providing a framework to improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks and create better, safer working conditions, all over the world.
The benefits of ISO 45001 are endless when implemented correctly. It ensures compliance with current legislation worldwide and can establish an organisation’s reputation as a “safe place to work”, bringing a host of benefits from reducing insurance costs to improving employee morale – all while continuing to meet your strategic business plans and targets.
Energy management framework can help you achieve energy efficiency goals and manage the risks surrounding your energy supply. ISO 50001 helps you to improve your energy efficiency, stay both current and compliant with legislation, and get future ready.
ISO 50001 helps businesses improve their energy management and consumption whilst boosting their company image and advancing the environmental future.
It involves developing and implementing an energy policy, setting achievable targets for energy use, and designing action plans to reach them and measure progress. This might include implementing new energy-efficient technologies, reducing energy waste or improving current processes to cut energy costs.
Energy management framework can help you achieve energy efficiency goals and manage the risks surrounding your energy supply. ISO 50001 helps you to improve your energy efficiency, stay both current and compliant with legislation, and get future ready.
ISO 50001 helps businesses improve their energy management and consumption whilst boosting their company image and advancing the environmental future.
It involves developing and implementing an energy policy, setting achievable targets for energy use, and designing action plans to reach them and measure progress. This might include implementing new energy-efficient technologies, reducing energy waste or improving current processes to cut energy costs.
