ISO 9001
Quality Management.
ISO 14001
Environmental Management.
ISO 27001
Information Security Management.
ISO 45001
Occupational Health & Safety.
professional ISO certification
Types of ISO Audits You'll Experience
- Internal Audits
Internal audits are a required part of all ISO standards. These checks must be done regularly to make sure your system is working properly. We at ISO Advance can provide this essential service for your business. Whether you need us to prepare and carry out a complete internal audit schedule, or just support your Quality team with occasional audits to give an independent perspective, we’re here to help.
- Certification Audits
This is the main audit that determines if you’ll receive your ISO certification. It’s conducted by independent ISO auditors who will check if your processes and procedures meet the requirements of the standard you’re pursuing, whether that’s ISO 9001 certification for quality, ISO 14001 for environmental management, ISO 45001 for health and safety or ISO 27001 for information security.
- Surveillance Audits
After you’re certified, you’ll have regular surveillance audit visits (usually yearly) to check that you’re maintaining the standards. These are shorter than the initial certification audit but still important.
- Recertification Audits
Every three years, you’ll undergo a full recertification audit to renew your certificate.
ISO Audits
Understanding ISO Audits with ISO Advance
Are you worried about facing an ISO audit? Don’t be! At ISO Advance, we’re here to make ISO audits easy to understand and prepare for. This guide explains everything you need to know about the audit process in simple, straightforward language. An ISO audit is simply a check to see if your business is following the international standards you’ve chosen to adopt. Think of it like a driving test for your business – it confirms you’re doing things properly and safely. An official Certification Body will award your certificate, but only after you pass two stages of independent audits. Don’t worry – we’ll be with you every step of the way!
We provide full support to help you and your business earn your important certification. Here’s how it works:
Stage 1: Readiness Audit
First, an auditor will check all your paperwork to make sure it meets ISO requirements. They’ll look through your documents to confirm you’ve got everything in order.
Stage 2: Implementation Audit
About 6-8 weeks after Stage 1, the auditor returns to see how well you’re putting your Management System into practice. They want to see that you’re not just talking the talk, but walking the walk too!
Certification
If the auditor is happy with what they see, they’ll recommend that the accredited Certification Body award your business the certification. We’ll make absolutely sure you’re prepared to pass both stages! With our guidance and support, you’ll be ready when audit day comes around. Our goal is your success.
iso business certification
The ISO Audit Process: Step by Step
- Documentation Preparation We’ll help you prepare all necessary documents, including your quality management system (QMS) manual, standard operating procedure documents, and records that prove you’re following your own processes.
- Staff Training Your team needs to understand the processes and procedures and be able to explain their part in them. We provide simple, clear training to make sure everyone is comfortable with what they need to know.
- Pre-audit Checklist Together, we’ll go through a comprehensive checklist to make sure you’re fully prepared, addressing any weak spots before the auditors arrive.
- Mock Audit We can run a practice audit that mimics the real experience, giving your team confidence and identifying any last-minute issues to fix.
- Opening Meeting The audit begins with a meeting where the auditors explain what they’ll be looking at. We’ll sit with you to provide support and clarification.
- Site Tour and Interviews Auditors will walk around your facilities and talk to staff about their roles and responsibilities. They want to see that what happens in practice matches what your documents say should happen.
- Document Review The auditors will check your documentation to ensure it meets the requirements of the standard and is being followed in practice.
- Finding Discussion Throughout the day, auditors may point out areas of concern or ask for additional information. Don’t worry – this is normal and doesn’t mean you’re failing.
- Closing Meeting At the end, the auditors will summarise their findings, including any non-conformities (things that need fixing) and opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Addressing Non-conformities If the auditors found any issues, we’ll help you create and implement action plans to fix them within the agreed timeframe.
- Verification of Corrective Actions Once you’ve made the necessary changes, the certification body will verify that the issues have been properly resolved.
- Certificate Issue When all requirements are met, you’ll receive your ISO certificate – congratulations!
- Implementing Improvements Based on the audit feedback, we’ll help you implement any suggested improvements to further strengthen your systems.
ISO advance certification
Real Benefits of ISO Audits
ISO audits aren’t just hoops to jump through – they bring real benefits:
- They highlight areas where you can improve efficiency and reduce costs, making your business more cost effective
- They ensure your quality management system is working properly, leading to better products and customer service
- They reduce the risk of problems by ensuring proper risk management processes are in place
- They help create a culture of continuous improvement in your organisation
- They build confidence in your business among customers, suppliers, and staff
How we help
Explore Our ISO Support Services
ISO Certificates
Find out which ISO certificates we provide support for and how they can help your business achieve recognised standards, showing your commitment to quality and improvement.
ISO Workshops
We deliver engaging and informative workshops that equip your team with the knowledge and skills to implement and maintain ISO standards effectively.
ISO Audits
Our professional ISO auditing services provide thorough assessments of your management systems against standard requirements to identify improvement opportunities.
ISO Support
Our ongoing ISO support provides expert guidance throughout your certification journey, helping you resolve challenges and continuously improve your management systems.
Employee Engagement
We work with your team to foster a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring that ISO principles become embedded in your organisation’s everyday practices.
Risk Management Reviews
We help you identify, analyse and mitigate potential risks to your business, ensuring robust management systems that satisfy ISO requirements.
quality business certification
How ISO Advance Makes Your Audit Experience Better
Our approach to supporting your ISO audits is simple:
Plain-language Preparation We explain everything in clear, jargon-free language, so you always understand what’s happening and why.
AI-powered Support We recommend using AI tools to help you prepare, which can save lots of time when used correctly. We’ll show you how to use AI properly for creating first drafts, checking documents, and gathering information.
Practical Support We don’t just tell you what to do – we help you do it, providing templates, examples, and hands-on assistance with preparing your documentation.
Audit Accompaniment Our consultants sit with you during external audits, providing moral support and helping to clarify any questions or concerns.
Post-audit Action Planning After the audit, we help you address any findings quickly and effectively, turning them into opportunities for improvement.
iso certification procedure
Preparing for a Management Review
When auditors check your business, they look for proof that your managers are involved through special meetings. These management review meetings:
- Should happen regularly (most businesses do them once a year, the standard doesn’t tell you exactly how often they must happen)
- Should include talks about audit results, what customers are saying, and how well the business is doing
- Should end with written decisions and actions
- Should show that the leadership team cares about following the ISO system
Happy clients
Case Studies
Case Study
ISO 9001 & ISO 14001
Your guidance, vast knowledge and hard work has been vital and very much appreciated. With a new staff member and a BMS in need of an overhaul, your patience and professionalism have been an outstanding. The audits themselves were passed, and we could not have done it without you.
In addition to this, your warmth and unfailing positivity has made it a pleasure to work with you. I would not hesitate to recommend your skills and exemplary work ethic and wish you every success going forward.
Jan Britton - Pulsar Measurement Manufacturing
Case Study
ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & ISO 45001
ISO Advance have been instrumental in helping us to understand our compliance needs. They thoroughly went through the non-essentials to help us build a far more sustainable and efficient business in line with our vision. As a result, our processes are now aligned with ISO9001, and we are progressing towards ISO14001 and ISO45001. We can’t thank Tori enough for her exceptional skill, knowledge, practical insights into our business, and business-wide support. The outcome has been above and beyond what we expected of our interaction, and the value brought to our business has far exceeded our investment.
Paul - OBE Ltd
professional certification
Creating an Audit-friendly Culture
The most successful organisations don’t just prepare for audits – they create a culture where following good processes becomes second nature:
- Make your procedures clear and simple to follow
- Explain the “why” behind processes so staff understand their importance
- Celebrate improvements and give recognition when audits go well
- Use audit findings as learning opportunities, not reasons for blame
- Encourage staff to suggest improvements to processes
Common Audit Questions Answered
For small to medium businesses, expect:
- Internal audits: 1-2 days
- Certification audits: 2-3 days
- Surveillance audits: 1 day
Auditors check three main things:
- Do you have appropriate documented processes and procedures?
- Are your staff following these procedures in their daily work?
- Is your system effective and showing continuous improvement?
The key to success is preparation and honesty. It's better to admit you're working on an area than to try to hide issues. Auditors appreciate transparency and seeing evidence of risk management and continuous improvement.
Don't worry! We at ISO Advance will thoroughly prepare your business before any audit, making failure highly unlikely. But if small issues are found, you'll have time to make corrections before final certification. Our team will support you every step of the way to ensure your business meets all the necessary requirements.
Contact us
Get a free quote!
- 07965 242 634
- tori@isoadvance.co.uk
- Mildenhall, Suffolk, IP28 7DE United Kingdom
We pride ourselves on delivering a comprehensive range of high quality services tailored to meet the unique needs of your business with a commitment to excellence and innovation.
