ISO9000 Registration Process
The ISO9000 Registration Process is fairly straightforward. Normally, the Registrar is selected while the system is still being developed and implemented. The Registrar will communicate any specific requirements that they may have or that the Accreditation Body may have imposed. Typically, the Registrar's requirements clarify their expectations regarding implementation. For instance, a complete round of internal audits and a management review meeting must be held before the registration assessment.
When the Registrar is selected, target dates for the registration assessment are usually set. As the date approaches, usually one or two months in advance, the Registrar should be contacted to commit to firm dates. Obviously, the state of implementation of the system must be considered in setting the dates. The availability of key personnel in your company and the availability of auditors on the Registrar's side both influence the final dates selected.
The number of auditors and the number of days of the registration audit depend on the size and complexity of your organization. The Registrar usually communicates the total time in the quotation. This is reaffirmed and the number of auditors to be used is defined when the firm audit dates are set. When more auditors are used, the duration of the audit is shorter, for example, one auditor for four days or two auditors for two days. Keep in mind however, that each auditor will require an escort.
