For every business, ISO certification plays an important role. The ISO or International Organization for Standardization has developed and set a wider range of management standards, which companies need to follow for performance enhancement. Of course, there are many ISO standards set by the ISO, which makes it difficult for business owners to choose the right for their businesses.
Ensure you know that there are some industry-specific ISO standards, some are generic and can be executed in a company/organization regardless of the industry. Based on the study, it is stated, the global ISO certification market is predicted to reach a valuation of USD 16.14 billion in 2024 with a CAGR of 15.2% and its market valuation will reach USD 66.25 billion by the end of 2034. Almost all businesses use different ISO certifications for their goods or items and will continue to use in the future.
5 most popular ISO standards
1. ISO 9001
ISO 9001 is the most popular family of ISO standards. ISO 9001 includes 14 quality management standards. It details how to implement a QMS or Quality Management System in an organization to produce quality services and products. There is a famous saying by Phil Crosby, “Quality is the result of a carefully constructed cultural environment. It has to be the fabric of the organization, not part of the fabric.’’ This ISO standard is designed to enhance quality in different terms. It is customer-centric and creates an impact on continuous improvement along with top management processes that spread throughout the organization. It was first established in 1987 and since then, it has been refreshed with time. Now, it was refreshed in 2015.
According to ISO 9001:2015, it is designed to put a greater emphasis on risk management. It is generic. You can use this ISO standard in any organization regardless of the sector. Based on the ISO Survey of Management System Standard Certifications, more than 1000k ISO certifications have been given out in more than 170 nations. Some standards of the family of ISO 9001 include ISO 13485:2016, ISO/TS 54001:2019, ISO 18091:2019, ISO 29001:2020, ISO 22163:2023, and many more.
2. ISO 14001
It is a group of standards that are related to the climate. This ISO standard includes multiple guidelines or standards. ISO 14001:2015 is also the most popular in the family, similar to ISO 9001. This standard is the only one in which a company or an organization can be certified. It is about how different processes interact with the environment. It involves many steps with the first step being to identify the skills, competence, and abilities of a person to perform a particular task while ignoring potential environmental impacts. After that, people with these competencies are needed to fill the positions and get proper training. Then, all employees of the organization must know how their tasks can be completed to find environmental impacts. Moreover, it also states that you should maintain records to show that the competencies of employees have been achieved via training, education, or experience.
3. ISO 22000
It is related to food safety. It aims at developing and employing a food safety management system. An organization with a food chain should use this standard. Many organizations involved with food directly or indirectly use this standard such as food manufacturers, restaurants, and food transportation services like caterers. It can be used on its own or combined with ISO 9001. Businesses must fulfill all applicable food safety-related statutory and regulatory requirements.
4. ISO 27000
This family of standards is related to Information Technology. It focuses on enhancing security and protecting company assets. ISO 27000 was started in 2015, ISO 27001:2013 and 27002:2013 are the two most popular standards belonging to ISO 27000. ISO 27001 is a management-based system whereas ISO 27002 is a technical document, aimed at the individual and placing a code of conduct in place.
It has more than 22k certifications all over the world. An organization can select either ISO 27001 or ISO 27002. Being a broad standard, it can be customized to fit the needs and expectations of the organization. It is not mandatory.
5. ISO 50001
ISO 50001 is one of the newest standards in the list of ISO certifications. However, it is becoming increasingly important. This standard was released in 2011 and designed for companies to introduce an Energy Management System or EMS that is committed to enhancing energy usage and efficiency. It involves decreasing the energy footprint of the organization by minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and also energy costs. In fact, it is not compulsory, but still, it has more than 5k certifications. Companies are using it and getting its benefits for enhancing their business processes.
Conclusion
ISO certification is important for an organization to develop strategies, maintain the overall quality, and enhance performance.