Stage 1: Readiness assessment

The certification begins with a readiness assessment. During this, the audit team determines which requirements of ISO 9001 are already met and where improvements are required.

Stage 2: Audit

The readiness assessment is followed by the actual certification to ISO 9001:2015 audit. The audit is divided into a documentation/process check and an on-site audit. In the first step, the auditor checks the documentation (process descriptions), focusing on compliance with the requirements set out in the standard. The second step takes place on the company’s premises. Here, the effectiveness of the QMS and the implementation of the requirements of ISO 9001 are checked and assessed. Deviations discovered during the audit can be corrected. Once the auditors have checked and approved the effectiveness of the corrective measures, you receive an audit report and, once the process has been approved, the certificate.

As part of the certification procedure – consisting of a readiness assessment and document inspection in advance and a subsequent on-site company audit – the following elements, among others, are tested and assessed:

• Context of the organization with specification of application area
• Management/policy
• Planning
• Support
• Operational realization
• Assessment of performance
• Improvement