ISO 9001 checklist: are you ready to certify?

ISO 9001:2015 follows a common structure of ten clauses. Clauses 1 to 3 cover scope, references and terms. Clauses 4 to 10 contain the requirements, and they form the backbone of this checklist.

Go through each point and answer honestly: yes, partly or no. For every yes, write down the evidence you hold. Evidence is a document, a record or a result that a third person could look at. A practice that exists only in people's heads counts as a gap.

Small businesses do not need long manuals. A one page policy, a short process list and a simple log are often enough to show that a point is covered.

• ISO for small and medium businesses

These two clauses ask whether you understand your business and whether management stands behind quality. Most companies already have more evidence here than they expect.

1. 01

   Context of the organisation

   You can name the internal and external factors that affect your results. Typical evidence: a short context note, a SWOT analysis or a strategy paper.

2. 02

   Interested parties

   You know who has requirements towards you: customers, authorities, staff, suppliers. Typical evidence: a list of parties with their needs and expectations.

3. 03

   Scope of the system

   You have defined which products, services and sites are covered. Typical evidence: a written scope statement of a few lines.

4. 04

   Quality policy

   Management has set a short policy that fits your business and supports your objectives. Typical evidence: a signed policy that staff can read.

5. 05

   Roles and responsibilities

   Someone is named for each quality task. Typical evidence: an organisation chart or role descriptions.

Planning turns intentions into targets. Support makes sure you have the people, equipment and information to reach them.

1. 01

   Risks and opportunities

   You assess what could go wrong and what could help, and you act on it. Typical evidence: a risk list with owners and measures.

2. 02

   Measurable quality objectives

   Each objective has a target, an owner and a date. Typical evidence: an objectives sheet with current results.

3. 03

   Resources and infrastructure

   Equipment, software and work environment are suitable and maintained. Typical evidence: equipment lists and maintenance records.

4. 04

   Competence

   People can do the work they are assigned. Typical evidence: job profiles, training records, diplomas.

5. 05

   Awareness and communication

   Staff know the policy and how they contribute. Typical evidence: onboarding notes, meeting minutes, notice boards.

6. 06

   Documented information

   Documents are current, approved and easy to find. Typical evidence: a document list with versions and retention rules.

This is the part auditors and customers care about most. It shows that you deliver as planned, measure the result and learn from mistakes.

1. 01

   Operational planning and control

   Core processes are defined and followed. Typical evidence: process descriptions, work instructions, checklists.

2. 02

   Customer requirements

   You confirm what the customer wants before you deliver. Typical evidence: quotations, order confirmations, contract reviews.

3. 03

   External providers

   You select and monitor suppliers that affect quality. Typical evidence: an approved supplier list and evaluations.

4. 04

   Release of products and services

   You check results before handover. Typical evidence: inspection records, delivery notes, acceptance protocols.

5. 05

   Monitoring and customer satisfaction

   You measure performance and collect feedback. Typical evidence: a complaint log, survey results, a KPI report.

6. 06

   Internal audit and management review

   You check your own system and management reviews it. Typical evidence: an audit plan, an audit report, review minutes.

7. 07

   Nonconformity and improvement

   When something fails, you correct it and remove the cause. Typical evidence: a corrective action log with follow up.

The table condenses the checklist into one page. Share it with your team and mark what is missing.

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

Once your checklist looks solid, Zertify turns it into a certificate. You take an online self-assessment with 30 yes/no questions. You pass with 20 of 30. There is no on-site audit.

After you pass and pay, G6 Agency AG issues your certificate under licence from SICE within 4 hours, and SICE reviews every assessment before issue. The price is CHF 599 (€599) in the first year, then CHF 399 (€399) per year including the online re-audit. The certificate is valid for 3 years and confirmed every year with a short online re-audit. You can cancel at any time for the end of the year. Every certificate can be verified publicly by number and QR code.

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