ISO 9001 in Aarau: certified online, without an on-site audit

ISO 9001:2015 is the world's leading standard for quality management systems. It sets out the requirements for a system that helps an organisation deliver products and services that meet customer requirements and regulatory obligations, consistently and not only on good days.

The standard rests on seven principles: customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making and relationship management. None of them is tied to a sector or a place. A workshop in Aarau and a software firm in Zurich work with the same framework.

Zertify is an online service. We have no office in Aarau and we do not work with local auditors. That is the point: your location does not matter, because the whole process runs in your browser.

• ISO 9001 at a glance

Aarau is the capital of the canton of Aargau, a region with a broad mix of industry, trades and services. Without naming any company, the following types of business are the ones that most often meet ISO 9001 in tenders, supplier questionnaires and customer audits.

Manufacturing and suppliers

Producers and component suppliers are often asked by larger customers to show a documented quality system.

Trades and craft businesses

Building trades, installers and workshops use the certificate to show structured work and clear responsibilities when bidding for projects.

IT and software companies

Service quality, change handling and customer support are easier to prove with a recognised standard behind them.

Consulting and service firms

Where the product is advice or a service, a certificate makes consistent delivery visible to new clients.

Public institutions

Organisations with formal procurement or service obligations use ISO 9001 to structure processes and evidence.

• ISO for small and medium businesses

There are two ways to reach an ISO 9001 certificate. The classic route means an on-site audit by a certification body. The online route means a self-assessment that is reviewed before the certificate is issued. Both have a place. The table shows the practical differences for a company in Aarau.

• Compare the certification routes
• Certification without an on-site audit

ISO 9001 follows the common structure of modern management standards, with clauses 4 to 10. In practice, six requirements carry most of the weight. The self-assessment checks whether you have them in place.

1. 01

   Understand your context

   Document who your interested parties are and which internal and external factors affect your quality (clause 4).

2. 02

   Set a quality policy and objectives

   Management defines a policy and measurable objectives, and takes visible responsibility for them (clauses 5 and 6).

3. 03

   Assess risks and opportunities

   Identify what could go wrong or help you, and plan actions in a systematic way (clause 6).

4. 04

   Define and control processes

   Describe how work is done, from enquiry to delivery, and keep it under control (clause 8).

5. 05

   Ensure resources and competence

   People, equipment and know-how must match the work (clause 7).

6. 06

   Monitor and improve

   Measure performance, review results and act on what you learn (clauses 9 and 10).

The Zertify certificate is based on an online self-assessment. It is issued by G6 Agency AG under licence from SICE (Swiss Institute of Certification and Education), and SICE reviews every assessment before the certificate is issued. There is no on-site audit.

Every certificate can be checked publicly by its number and QR code, so your customers and tendering bodies can confirm it in seconds. Each year a short online re-audit confirms that your system is still in place.

The price is CHF 599 (€599) in the first year, then CHF 399 (€399) per year including the yearly online re-audit. The certificate is valid for 3 years. Billing is an automatic yearly subscription that you can cancel at any time to the end of the current year in your customer account. If you cancel, the certificate ends with the paid year. Prices include 8.1% Swiss VAT for customers in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. You do not need an account to buy.

If you also plan another standard, a multi-standard discount applies: 20% for 2 standards and 30% for 3 or more, also on the yearly fee.

• ISO 9001 certificate details
• See prices
• Start the free self-assessment

The process is the same wherever your company is based. Plan about one sitting for the questions, and have your management documents at hand.

1. 01

   Take the self-assessment

   Answer 30 yes/no questions about your quality management. It is free and needs no registration.

2. 02

   Reach the pass threshold

   You pass with 20 of 30. If you fall short, you see where to improve before you try again.

3. 03

   Pay and confirm

   Choose your plan and pay online. No account is needed.

4. 04

   Receive your certificate

   Within 4 hours after passing and payment, your certificate is issued and publicly verifiable.

• How it works in detail
• Guide to certification cost