ISO and NEN certification for your business

What is ISO?

A business with ISO certification works according to an ISO standard. This standard, or norm, is a guideline for a certain way of working. For example, the way to make a product. Or how to deliver a service. The standard lays down which steps must be followed, and who in your organisation is responsible for which step. By complying with the standard, you prove that the end product is safe and of good quality.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) sets the standards. ISO is a globally recognised non-profit organisation.

What is NEN?

The Netherlands has the Royal Dutch Standardisation Institute Foundation (NEN). It keeps track of which standards exist and which businesses have which certification. NEN also develops standards and translates ISO standards to Dutch.

Read more about the development of standards.

International, European, and Dutch standards

There are some 34,000 different standards in total. These are global, European (EU), and Dutch standards. The European standards specifically describe what is needed to meet the technical requirements of EU legislation.

Standards for different purposes

Your business can get certifications for different purposes and in different areas. Some are general and useful for any business, for example management systems. Other standards address specific industries, products, or business processes such as IT or transport.

These are the 3 most widely used standards worldwide:

Better business operations by applying the standard

You can improve your business operations by comparing your processes and practices with a standard. And then adjust to the standard. This allows you to work more efficiently and save costs. If you adapt your practices to the standard and receive certification for this, you can also show that you work efficiently.

Why apply for certification?

A business may apply for ISO or NEN certification for several reasons. Certification:

• shows that a business is doing its best to follow best practice
• shows your business works efficiently, ensuring reduced costs
• can set you apart from competitors
• can attract new customers
• may be required to participate in international tenders

Sometimes certification is mandatory

ISO or NEN certification is sometimes mandatory to provide certain services or products. In government tenders, certification is often a prerequisite. In addition, the Dutch central government also sees standards as a tool to meet legal requirements.

There are 2 options in the Netherlands:

• The government has made some ISO and NEN certifications mandatory (in Dutch). This is the case if there is only 1 way for a product or service to comply with the law. For example, in the production of electrical sockets, playground equipment, or medical devices.
• Some laws refer to a standard. In that case, certification is not mandatory, but the standard applies as a guideline. For this, a business must be able to view the standard. A business can compare its way of working with the requirements in the standard and adjust where necessary.

The texts of standards that apply as guidelines, so called imperatively referred standards, are available free of charge from NEN. Other standards you can buy on the NEN (in Dutch) or ISO website.

How to get a certificate?

How do you obtain the desired ISO or NEN certification? To do so, follow these steps:

1. Determine which standard you need for your business processes and buy it from NEN or ISO.
2. Compare your current way of working with the standard.
3. Adjust your working method, for example, your production process, to comply with the standard. Record the new working method on paper.
4. Inform your staff about the new working methods and train them.
5. By organising an internal audit, you can check if the new processes are applied. And therefore if the standard is met.
6. Then request an external audit. An independent certification organisation (in Dutch) checks whether your business meets the standard. This organisation looks at which processes have been defined and whether work is being done accordingly.
7. If your business passes the audit, you will receive an ISO certificate.

Entrepreneurs can do the preparation themselves. But this can be time-consuming. You can also get help from a consultant or certification company. This does come at a cost.

A certification company performs the audit. The certificate is issued if the requirements are met.

Costs for certification

The certification process and its preparation costs time and money. The costs largely depend on the size of your business. How many business processes are there? What needs to be adapted to meet the standard? How many employees are involved and need to be trained in the new way of working?

A standard with the NEN costs between €20 and €400. The external audit and certification cost between €2000 and €4000. Ask for multiple price quotations for this. You can hire external guidance from a consultant or consulting firm. These often charge by the hour. Request and compare several price quotations for this.

How long is a certificate valid?

An ISO or NEN certificate is usually valid for 3 years. During this period, your business conducts interim audits. You can perform these yourself or under the guidance of an advisor. The audits check whether the work processes still meet the standards. After 3 years, your business has to go through the certification process again to renew the certificate.