The top 7 ISO myths busted

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ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) accreditation offers various benefits, ranging from improved processes to increased customer satisfaction. However, there are still some negative myths and misconceptions associated with it. Let’s delve into some of the biggest mistruths around ISO certification.

Myth 1: ISO is only about meeting standards, not actual improvement

Some sceptics believe that ISO certification is only about meeting the requirements of a standard, rather than achieving genuine improvement. Though the initial implementation may focus on meeting the criteria of a standard, one of the key philosophies of ISO is to drive continuous improvement and continue enhancing the performance of an organisation.

Myth 2: ISO is all about paperwork

Another common misconception about ISO is that it involves excessive amounts of paperwork and documentation, leading to a huge amount of bureaucracy. Although some paperwork is unavoidable for the purposes of consistency and transparency, ISO standards also have a substantial focus on practical implementation and continuous improvement, not just dealing with documents.

Myth 3: ISO certification is too expensive for small businesses

Some people also believe that ISO is so costly that it’s beyond the budgets of smaller businesses and organisations with limited resources. Whilst it’s true that there are costs linked to implementing and maintaining ISO standards, the benefits and additional revenue generated by achieving this accreditation can greatly eclipse the money spent on it. Meeting ISO standards can actually save you money by making processes less costly.

Myth 4: Only large corporations can benefit from ISO

The above point brings us to our next myth, which is that ISO only benefits big-name companies. In reality, ISO standards are scalable and can be adapted to organisations of all sizes, including small and medium-sized enterprises from various industries.

Myth 5: ISO doesn’t require ongoing commitment

Another ISO myth is that achieving ISO certification is a one-time effort, with companies needing to do very little to retain it once they’ve been awarded it. Maintaining ISO accreditation actually requires regular audits and continuous improvement to show that a company is complying with changing regulations as well as the expectations of its customers.

Myth 6: ISO is simply a marketing gimmick

A big misconception around ISO is that companies only aim to achieve the certification for marketing purposes and don’t have to genuinely improve their processes. Achieving ISO certification can be great for a company’s reputation, but it is centred upon continuous improvement and complying with best practices that are globally recognised.

Myth 7: ISO standards are not flexible

Many people are put off from achieving ISO certification because they wrongly fear that the standards are too rigid. However, one of the biggest benefits of ISO is that standards are flexible, with organisations getting the opportunity to tailor management systems to fit their specific needs.

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At JR Consultants, we are eager to hear from you if you’re interested in achieving ISO accreditation, including ISO 14001 certification. You can reach us today by giving us a call on 01268 758000 or by sending an email to info@jrconsultants.co.uk. You can also use our live chat facility.

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