Few things can be as confusing and challenging and ISO regulations. Your clients demand that your facilities be ISO-certified, so not going ISO is not an option. As if getting ISO-certified wasn’t a big enough headache, you need to make sure that your equipment is also ISO certified. How would you like to spend twenty grand on a new piece of equipment and find out during your next ISO audit that it put your facility’s certification in jeopardy?
Is there a one-stop guide to figuring it out?
Yes, there is. It only makes sense to choose equipment from a guide that lists every type of equipment for every type of job and function-and which is compliant under applicable ISO regulations for your facility. You can only do this if you design material handling procedures that are ISO compliant.
ISO’s website www.iso.org, includes a standard catalog that list material handling activities provides direct links to ISO standards for choosing the right equipment. For example, choosing an approved tractor for agricultural and forestry standards, you can go to the tractors link that is part of the list Standards Catalog for tractors and equipment for agriculture and forestry.
Learning the regulatory language
Navigating the ISO standards, and choosing the right equipment, doesn’t have to be such a daunting task. The ISO site also provides guides on the vocabulary that is sued to draft the ISO regulations your facility must comply with. Different vocabulary lists apply to different industries-such as wine-making and vine cultivation, as one example of vocab lists and language tips that exist in the site.
The site provides you with an overview of the scope of standards you are researching-so you can see just what you are getting into and not get in too deep too quickly. You’ll be able to determine quickly if you will need the help of your compliance expert or if you can tackle the task on your own.
Just to give you some perspective, there are 484 published standards related to the handling of fishing nets. Regulators from 31 different countries participated in the creation of these globally-accepted standards. So don’t assume you are behind the curve if you find ISO compliance complicated-chances are that you do think so-and that’s because it is-that’s that.
The ISO website standards catalogue will provide you with an opportunity to educate yourself, your employees and your internal auditors. Revisions of standards will be fully accessible. The site catalogue will serve as a tool that is continuously updated-and at no cost to you.
Direct access to business plans
So what about a business plan? You need to model your business plan so that it supports the ISO certification you must have to do business with your clients. The ISO standard catalogue includes live links to published business plans for many different businesses and industries. Bear in mind that these plans are for public view as ISO’s website is also public. So the plans can’t be kept secret. On the plus side, you won’t have to pay for them.
Source:
ISO (www.iso.org)