Reasons To Work With A Consultant

Though many companies understand the benefits of obtaining an ISO certification, they also know the process can be difficult. If you aren't familiar with them, the standards written by the International Organization for Standardization may seem complicated and difficult to implement.

Though many organizations do manage to obtain certification independently, a consultant could make it faster, easier and less expensive for your company to meet the standards and prepare for certification.

What Does A Certification Consultant Do?

Distinct from certification bodies, ISO certification consultants are professionals who help companies implement ISO standards to obtain certification. Generally, consultants assess a company's current processes and provide guidance as the company works to meet certain criteria. For example, they might identify problems with a company's process, recommend improvements and train employees in new systems.

Though there aren't any formal requirements to perform this work, a good consultant is an expert in their field and has many qualifications. They know ISO standards front and back, are familiar with the industries they advise and have practice implementing the standards in different organizations.

Why Should You Hire A Certification Consultant?

Working with a consultant isn't a requirement for earning an ISO certification. However, many companies find that a consultant makes the process of certification easier.

When working toward initial certification, many company executives and employees lack the knowledge necessary to implement the standards correctly. Even if you did know the relevant information at one point, you may find that some of the standards have changed, since the ISO reviews and revises every one of their 22,654 published standards once every five years or more.

With complicated and continually evolving standards, many companies benefit from a consultant's specialized knowledge. Because ISO certification consultants focus their careers on implementing these standards, they know the rules and identify problems others might overlook.

By working with a consultant, your organization could achieve an ISO certification more quickly and inexpensively than if you were to handle the process without an expert's perspective.

Benefits Of Working With A Consultant

Though hiring a consultant does require payment many companies find daunting, it comes with benefits that pay off in the long run. You might choose to work with an ISO certification consultant for the following reasons:

• Faster Certification: A consultant who is familiar with the ISO standards can help you implement changes to achieve certification more quickly. You spend less time interpreting standards and more time fulfilling them.

• Cost Savings: Handling ISO certification internally can be surprisingly expensive. The cost of paying employees to gain familiarity with the standards can easily outpace the cost of hiring a consultant.

• A Fresh Perspective: A consultant can catch small process issues that your employees might overlook or dismiss as "just the way we do things." An outsider's perspective can bring new value to how your company operates.

Find A Certification Consultant Today

A qualified consultant can help your company get on the path to receiving an ISO certification. If you need help finding an experienced consultant, fill out our "Find a Consultant" form. Within 24 hours, we'll connect you with three or more certification consultants that can help.