With so many options to choose from, how can we make sure we choose the right registrar for certification?
So you have your ISO system management in place, a process that usually takes companies anywhere from 6-12 months. After the implementation phase comes the certifying part, and surely, choosing the right registrar can be overwhelming, but identifying your main concerns and laying out some basic factors can help you decide with more confidence.
This post explains how you can establish criteria to choose the right registrar for your ISO certification.
You are likely to become acquainted with a number of registrars through your research, the following are some important points to keep in mind:
Accredited Certification Body
Choosing an accredited registrar is the first item that must be evaluated. Accreditation means that the registrar is accredited by ISO/IEC 17021 – Conformity Assessment, requirements for certification bodies providing audit and certification of management systems. Being certified by an accredited registrar makes your certificate valid. In this link you can find out more about the structure of the IAF, the International Accreditation Forum, and all the accredited accreditation bodies, which are the ones who in turn “certify” ISO registrars just like QMS.
International Recognition
We recommend searching the registrar’s website for references and international presence. ISO certifications by definition are already a global recognition, but it is better if the registrar has an international presence and certifies companies all over the world.
Reference of other companies
Look for references from other certified companies, talk to the process managers and ask for feedback on the registrar’s customer service, audit, and quickness in their response. This whole process constitutes in a thorough evaluation of the best registrar for your company and a certification body you can trust.
Fast response
The promptness in the registrar’s response is not something to be overlooked. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for some certification bodies to take longer than expected to get back to customers’ queries, this can become a problem when you need a quick turnaround for business proposals, audit scheduling and technical questions. In our experience, if you have not received a quick response in the first few contacts, chances are you will not receive a quick response throughout the three years of your certification. Therefore, evaluating customer service since the beginning is a great tool to use for choosing the right registrar.
We hope that now you have a better idea of how to choose the right registrar for your certification needs. These are just some of the items you can add to your checklist to make an informed decision about partnering up with a registrar that is credible and reliable.
QMS is an internationally recognized registrar that continually works to improve our processes with aims of providing our clients with the best certification experience. Our goal is to add value to your company with the best customer service.
If you are interested in getting a quote for ISO certification, please write to us at contact@qms-certification.com or by phone at 1800-287-8777. Choose the right registrar, choose QMS.
