Frequenty Asked Questions

My quality is good….why should I need an ISO 9001?
More and more companies, particularly the larger ones, are now insisting
that their suppliers must formally demonstrate a commitment to delivering quality products.

What if I’ve been trading with them for years with no problems?
They may have no choice. Their customers might insist upon them dealing only with those who will make this commitment.

How will their customers know about me?
They send in auditors to check, that could be  why your customer may have sent you a questionnaire asking if your company has have a quality system in place.

How long will it take to get it all done?
This depends upon the size of the company and the complexity of your processes, but for example, a small company employing around 20 people say, we would normally expect to have all the documentation in place and the system ready to start within 4 weeks.

What do we need to start the process?
First we meet with you and discuss the requirements of ISO 9001, how they may be applied to your business and provide a brief overview of the documentation and processes required to run the system.

You explain to us in detail what it is you do and how it is done.

We take a look round the premises so that we can see what actually happens, in order for us to get a better feel and understanding of what goes on and how things happen.

Next we prepare the draft documentation. 

This documentation is discussed in detail and amendments or revisions that are considered necessary made.

Once we all are agreed and happy with the content the final version is produced. The documentation will contain that which you have told us you do. What is now left for you to do is what you have said you would do and what the standard requires.

What happens next?
We meet with top management and any staff that you wish to involve in the implementation at this stage.

At this meeting we will explain in detail what has to achieved, define the roles and responsibilities of the staff involved and determine a realistic timescale over which these things are to be achieved.

Diamond ISO will carry out regular appraisals of progress and provide further support and advice as required or as requested by the company.

How long will it take to get certification?
Before certification can be effected, a pre-certification audit is recommended. We would expect to see a 12 week history of the system being operated at which time there should be sufficient tangible activity to audit.
We will carry out this audit and assuming there are no major non-conformances a date for the certification audit could be arranged.

What is involved in the certification audit?

Now you are ready for formal certification there are two choices.

1. To obtain the internationally recognised United Kingdom Accreditation
    Service (UKAS) certification gained after a successful audit from an accredited
    body.

2. To obtain a certification from a non-accredited body.

We are able to provide either for you. But first you must be confident that the decision you make is right for you and your company.
We will be pleased to discuss with you and explain the differences between the two options.

How much will it cost?
This will depend entirely upon the details of the package that suits your requirements. We will agree a bespoke package that suits the needs and is affordable by your business before we go ahead. There will be no hidden costs or nasty surprises.