ISO 9001 Certification: Quality Management System

• Obtain the standard:

Get a licensed copy of the relevant standard and familiarise yourself with the requirements to decide whether certification or registration to this standard is appropriate for your organisation.

• Review available literature and apply digital tools

Explore available literature, guidance from the standard owners (e.g. ISO/TS 9002 for ISO 9001, ISO 14004 for ISO 14001) and digital sources and tools that can support implementation. As a DNV customer, you also get access to tailored tools that can help you.

• Assemble a team and define strategy:

Implementing a management system should be a strategic decision for the entire organisation. Senior management must be engaged in the decision, committed to it, and involved in shaping the system. They decide the business strategy the management system should support. In addition, you need a dedicated team to develop and implement your management system.

• Determine competence needs:

First, your team responsible for implementing and maintaining the management system needs a thorough understanding of the chosen standards. Later, the wider organisation needs awareness training. DNV offers a variety of public and in-house courses worldwide that meet competence development needs at all levels of your organisation.

• Review consultant options:

Independent consultants can advise on a workable, realistic and cost-effective implementation strategy if you do not already have this competence or capacity in-house.

• Develop management system documentation: 

Decide on an appropriate platform for your documented information (e.g. software, process map- or SharePoint-based). The right platform is important to ensure effective management, communication and implementation.

• Determine, manage and document processes:

First, identify key processes – what they are, how they work and how they interact. Each process should have a clear purpose, defined responsibilities and expected outputs. The level of documented information needed depends on the organisation’s size, complexity and the importance of each process, but it must include the relevant processes and other documented information needed to deliver intended outcomes and comply with the chosen standard’s requirements.

• Implement management system:

Clear communication and appropriate competence training are essential. During the implementation phase, you will work to ensure that your organisation operates in line with defined and documented processes. Once this is achieved, you can demonstrate the system’s compliance and effectiveness.

• Select a certification body/registrar:

Selecting the right certification body or registrar can make a difference throughout your certification journey. DNV offers a trusted partnership approach, a risk-based approach and a range of free digital tools to help you manage your certification journey before, during and after the audit.

• Consider a pre-audit gap analysis:

Consider a preliminary evaluation by your certification body or registrar to identify and correct non-conformities before starting the official certification process. The purpose is to identify areas of non-conformance or weakness, allowing you to address them before the official certification process begins.

ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised standard for quality management systems (QMS). It defines the requirements an organisation should follow to consistently deliver products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements, while continually improving its processes. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 9001 is applicable to organisations of any size and sector and provides a structured framework focused on customer satisfaction, process efficiency, and continual improvement.

ISO 9001 certification is a formal, independent confirmation that an organisation’s quality management system (QMS) meets the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard. It is granted by an accredited certification body following an audit and demonstrates that the organisation has effective processes in place to consistently meet customer and regulatory requirements, with a strong focus on continual improvement. Once it has been verified that the company’s management system meets the ISO 9001 requirements, a certificate is issued by the certification body. Certification is voluntary and gives customers and stakeholders confidence in the organisation’s ability to deliver quality consistently.

To get ISO 9001 certification, an organisation must implement a quality management system that meets the ISO 9001 requirements and then undergo an audit by an independent, accredited certification body like DNV. If the system complies with the standard, certification is granted and maintained through regular follow‑up audits.

To maintain ISO 9001 certification, an organisation must continue to operate and improve its quality management system, carry out regular internal audits, address any non-conformities, and undergo periodic surveillance audits by the certification body. Ongoing compliance and continual improvement are essential to keep the certification valid.