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

ISO 9001:2015 is the world's leading standard for quality management systems (QMS). It sets out the requirements for a system that helps an organisation consistently deliver products and services that meet customer requirements and regulatory obligations.

The standard does not depend on location, industry or size. A workshop in Schaffhausen and a software firm in Zurich work with the same text. What changes is how each company applies it to its own processes.

For many small and medium businesses, a valid ISO 9001 certificate is a simple way to show customers, suppliers and tenders that quality is managed in a structured way.

• ISO 9001 standard page
• ISO for small and medium businesses

Schaffhausen is a canton in northern Switzerland, on the Rhine and on the border with Germany. Zertify has no office there and no local auditors. The following is a general description of who typically looks at ISO 9001, not a statement about specific companies.

Customers, procurement departments and tenders often ask for proof of a quality management system. This applies to many kinds of business.

Manufacturing companies

Producers and suppliers of components are often asked by their customers to document processes, inspections and corrective actions.

Trades and craft businesses

Firms that work for larger contractors or public clients may need to show structured quality control.

IT and software companies

Service providers use ISO 9001 to show that development, support and delivery follow defined processes.

Consulting and service firms

A certificate gives prospects a neutral reference for how the firm plans, delivers and reviews its work.

Public institutions

Organisations with a public mandate use the standard to structure processes and improve continually.

• Guide for small and medium businesses

The standard follows the high level structure, with clauses 4 to 10. For a business owner, the six key requirements can be read as a practical checklist.

1. 01

   Understand and document your context

   Clause 4 asks you to describe your organisation, its interested parties and the scope of your quality management system.

2. 02

   Define a quality policy and measurable objectives

   Clause 5 covers leadership. Management sets the policy and the objectives, and takes responsibility for them.

3. 03

   Assess risks and opportunities

   Clause 6 asks you to plan systematically instead of reacting only when something goes wrong.

4. 04

   Ensure resources and competence

   Clause 7 covers people, infrastructure, knowledge and documented information.

5. 05

   Define and control processes

   Clause 8 covers operation: how you plan, deliver and check your products and services.

6. 06

   Monitor performance and improve continually

   Clauses 9 and 10 ask you to measure results, review them and act on what you find.

The classic route with an on-site audit by a certification body is well established. A certification body sends auditors to your site, interviews staff and inspects processes. For a company in Schaffhausen this means scheduling days, releasing employees and covering travel.

The online route works differently. Your company completes a self-assessment, and the result is reviewed before a certificate is issued. The table shows the main differences.

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

Zertify is an online platform. The certificate is issued by G6 Agency AG under licence from SICE (Swiss Institute of Certification and Education). SICE reviews every assessment before the certificate is issued. The certificate is based on the online self-assessment, without an on-site audit.

Pricing is transparent. ISO 9001 costs CHF 599 in the first year, then CHF 399 per year including the yearly online re-audit. The certificate is valid for 3 years and is confirmed every year by a short online re-audit. Prices include 8.1% Swiss VAT for customers in Switzerland. You do not need an account to buy.

Billing is an automatic yearly subscription. You can cancel at any time in your customer account, effective at the end of the current year. If you cancel, the certificate ends with the paid year. If you certify for several standards, a multi-standard discount applies: 20% for 2 standards and 30% for 3 or more, also on the yearly fee.

• ISO 9001 at Zertify
• See prices
• Start the free self-assessment

The process is the same for every company, wherever it is based. For a business in Schaffhausen, every step happens at your desk.

1. 01

   Start the self-assessment

   Open the free self-assessment. It does not require registration.

2. 02

   Answer 30 yes/no questions

   The questions cover the key requirements of ISO 9001:2015. Answer them based on how your company actually works.

3. 03

   Reach 20 of 30

   This is the pass threshold. If you do not reach it, the results show which areas need work.

4. 04

   Pay online

   After passing, you choose the plan and pay online. No account is needed.

5. 05

   Review and issue

   SICE reviews the assessment. G6 Agency AG issues the certificate within 4 hours after passing and payment.

6. 06

   Use and verify the certificate

   Every certificate can be checked publicly by number and QR code. Your customers can verify it themselves.

• How it works
• Guide on certification cost