At Swift Certification, we’re committed to a modern, friendly approach to auditing and ISO certification. A huge element of our vision focuses on making sure our clients feel they understand what is happening at each stage of their audit so that they can feel confident in their compliance. Today we’re bringing you our jargon-busting ISO dictionary. Below are all the terms you’ll need for your audit.
Accordance: If you are in accordance with an ISO Standard it means you have adequately met the standards/requirements.
Annex SL: The structure for all modern ISO Standards. It is made up of 10 different clauses to ensure consistency across all management systems globally.
Aspects & Impacts Register: This register identifies your environmental efficiencies relating to a company’s activities.
Asset Inventory: A comprehensive list of a company’s assets such as property, equipment, intellectual property and more.
Certification: The seal of approval from an independent certification body that shows you have met all the requirements of the standard and are completely compliant.
Competence: being of sufficient quality to meet the requirements.
Compliance: Conforming to and meeting the necessary standard.
Continual Improvement: How a company can keep changing and bettering its processes to achieve optimal results over time. Continual improvement is key for all ISO Standards.
Corrective Action: The action that is needed to be taken to eliminate a nonconformity from occurring or reoccurring.
Document Control: Keeps track of the documents used both internally and externally to ensure they are up to date and that any old documents are archived.
Implementation: Refers to the work done before the audit takes place. Implementation of management systems typically happens with the help of a consultant.
ISO: Is the international organisation for standardisation. It is not an acronym but rather the term ‘iso’ was taken from the Greek term ‘ISO’ meaning ‘equal’.
Leadership: Referring to those at the higher levels of the company. They are required to take responsibility for the management systems and ensure effective implementation through guiding and training lower-level employees.
Major Non-Conformance: An issue that could result in the significant failure of the company’s objectives and operations.
Management Systems: This is the system that is put in place (typically with the help of a consultant) to organise the business to achieve the objects of the ISO Standard.
Measurement Traceability: validating the equipment that will be used to measure products and resources.
Minor Non-Conformance: An auditor will highlight these as an issue during the audit process but they will not be deemed enough of a problem to cause the failure of the management system.
Observations: a statement made during the audit that highlights information and is then backed up by evidence.
Organisational Chart: A visual diagram showing the company’s hierarchical structure and the professional relationships between individuals
Policy: the documentation that includes information about the ISO Standards and how the company intends to meet them.
Internal Audit: A requirement of ISO Standards, they are conducted before an audit to identify any potential issues and allow time for the issues to be resolved and ensure that the company is still compliant.
External Audit: This is done by someone outside of the company. The offer complete impartial assessment of your management system(s) to gauge compliance and highlight any major or minor nonconformances.
Certification Audit: This is the audit done before you achieve certification. It is conducted after you initially implement your management system and then a recertification audit is done every 3 years to ensure you are still meeting the requirements. This audit checks that you are completely compliant and there are zero major nonconformances.
EMS: Environmental Management System
QMS: Quality Management System
ISMS: Information Management Security System
OHSAS: Occupational Health and Safety System – typically referring to OHSAS 18001 which is an earlier version of the current health and safety management system (ISO 45001)
BS: British Standards
So, did we miss anything? If you have any questions about Auditing or the ISO certification process, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experienced team, we’re here and happy to help you with your compliance projects!
