ISO 9001 Certification: How to Obtain It for EA Sectors

Organizations can obtain ISO 9001 Quality Certification, an international voluntary standard that certifies an organization’s ability to manage resources, structure operations, and adopt production processes that meet specific quality requirements.

In some cases, certification may be necessary or mandatory, such as when client company policies require suppliers to hold this certification or to participate in public tenders.

To achieve ISO 9001 certification, it is necessary to implement a specific organizational model, which includes a set of rules, responsibilities, procedures, documents, and resources aimed at meeting customer expectations and the interests of all stakeholders in the company’s business.

Certification is specific to each sector, so understanding how ISO 9001 applies to EA sectors is crucial. Depending on the nature of your organization’s activities, a specific quality certification will be required.

Scope of ISO 9001 in EA-IAF Sectors

The ISO 9001 certification refers to an internationally recognized standard issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), allowing companies to validate their certificate in all European Union countries and non-EU countries.

The certification’s scope is broad, covering various production areas, from consulting firms to organizations operating in social services and companies engaged in plant maintenance.

The ISO 9001 quality management system standard also includes a continuous improvement approach, requiring certified entities to maintain compliance with the standard and any updates over time.

Specific ISO 9001 certifications are available for each industry. These sectors are identified by the EA code, a European industrial sector coding system that specifies verification groups and their related competencies. This code is included on the evaluated company’s certificate.

ISO 9001 Certification Requirements

ISO 9001 certification attests to an organization’s compliance with the requirements outlined in the standard’s articles. These requirements relate to how business processes are managed to establish a highly effective quality management system that ensures customer satisfaction.

The ISO 9001 standard is customer-focused and aims to meet requirements that the organization commits to fulfilling in its dealings with clients.

Other international standards include ISO 14001, which addresses environmental management, and ISO 45001, focusing on health and safety aspects in an organization. For instance, ISO 13485 is related to medical devices, while ISO 27001 focuses on information security management.

All these standards are structured according to a high-level framework (High-Level Structure) and pertain to managerial requirements. Specific legislative references are considered prerequisites for initiating the certification process.

Key ISO 9001 requirements include:

• Ability to consistently provide products and services.
• High levels of customer satisfaction.
• Products and services that comply with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Effective application of a quality management system to enhance customer satisfaction.
• Implementation of processes for continuous quality management improvement.
• Adherence to customer requirements.
• Policies fostering a work environment that motivates employees to meet customer needs.
• Competent management aiming for sustainable growth while respecting workers and clients.
• Adequate technologies to ensure product and service quality.
• Monitoring the quality and effectiveness of the adopted management system.

Accreditation for ISO 9001

The conformity certificate is issued by a certification body accredited by European (EA) or international (IAF) accreditation systems. These bodies oversee compliance with quality requirements, monitor their adherence, and ensure the system’s continuous improvement.

The certification body’s activities involve consultancy and verifying the certified companies’ results. In Italy, the accreditation body for various certification bodies is ACCREDIA.

Each certification body can request accreditation, which validates its operations against an international ISO standard. Without accreditation, the certification is not recognized internationally.

The accreditation process mirrors the certification procedure for companies. The accreditation body ensures that the certification body operates a compliant management system aligned with international standards and regulatory requirements, including staff competency checks.

Certification from an accredited body provides additional assurance for the requesting company, regardless of its business sector. It also offers advantages, such as participation in private and public tenders and potential financial benefits, such as reduced guarantees when applicable.

Certification Process for ISO 9001 in EA-IAF Sectors

In Italy, ACCREDIA is the legal entity authorized to accredit certification bodies. According to Regulation EC 765/2008, each EU member state must have a single accreditation body operating in compliance with ISO 17011.

European accreditation bodies adhere to international mutual recognition agreements with similar entities to promote free trade and the movement of goods and services. Through these agreements, a valid certificate issued in one country is recognized internationally.

ACCREDIA is a signatory of agreements with:

• European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA): Operating at the European level.
• International Accreditation Forum (IAF): Operating globally.
• International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC): Operating globally.

EA and IAF have developed a unified coding system for sectors eligible for accreditation or certification. These sectors cover a wide range of activities, including:

• Installation of systems.
• Designing and delivering training programs.
• Metalworking production.
• Craft production.
• Technical support for printing.
• Website content management.
• IT services support.
• Retail.
• Event management.

Each certification body can obtain accreditation for its expertise area and is restricted to issuing certificates within its accredited sectors. Similarly, companies can be certified within their respective sectors.

For example, Frareg is certified for ISO 9001 in EA/IAF sectors 35 and 37, covering “other services” and “education.” This certification allows Frareg to guarantee that its consultants adhere to an international quality standard and are reliable for consulting, training, and certification activities.

What is EA 37 Certification?

EA 37 certification is an ISO 9001 standard related to the education sector, identifying companies that provide training programs for technological and digital transformation processes in organizations. These activities aim to enhance or acquire essential skills and knowledge for implementing such processes.

EA/IAF Codes and Related Sectors

Below is a table listing EA/IAF codes and their respective sectors, sourced from ACCREDIA.