How long does ISO 9001 certification take? It depends on where your processes are today. Here are the stages and what drives the schedule.
Start with a gap analysis
A gap analysis compares your current processes with the standard. It shows what already works, what is undocumented and what is missing, and it sets the real scope of the project.
The main stages
Most projects follow the same arc. How long each stage takes depends on company size, the number of sites and how mature your existing records are.
- Gap analysis and planning
- Documenting processes and defining responsibilities
- Rolling out the system and training the team
- Internal audit and management review
- Certification audit by an accredited body, in two stages
What slows projects down
Unclear ownership, last-minute documentation and records created only for the audit are the usual culprits. Treating the system as a way of running the business, rather than a binder for the auditor, shortens the timeline and makes surveillance audits easier later.
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