An overview of ISO 9001 Certification in Lebanon
ISO 9001 is the most recent quality management standard introduced by the International Organization for Standardization. It serves as a framework to develop products and services with reliability, safety, and quality. All certified organizations have to comply with a strict series of guidelines to qualify for certification. These guidelines create an environment conducive to quality management. In essence, they promote quality assurance, continual improvement, and good corporate governance.
The first ISO 9001 certification in Lebanon took place in 1963 under the name of ‘Standards for Quality Control.’ In 1974, the name ‘ISO 9001’ became popular after it was used by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in their publication titled ‘Draft American National Standard for Quality Management.’ In 1986, the first Lebanese version of ISO 9001 went through a revision process and became version 2. The first version is still being used by some organizations in Lebanon. Many companies in Lebanon have obtained ISO 9001 certification since it certifies companies against quality problems and helps them improve their performance and products.
ISO 9001 sets strict requirements for achieving excellence in a particular sector. For instance, certified organizations need to follow best practices to manage their activities effectively. They also need to provide their employees with working conditions and tools conducive to work productivity and efficiency. Certified organizations must also manage People, Organization, and Processes effectively to produce high-quality outputs with minimal variation. At the end of this process, they should have an effective quality management system that can be applied across all sectors.
To assess an organization’s readiness for ISO certification, an external team – composed of subject-matter experts (SMEs) – conducts a thorough investigation. During this process, the team interviews employees from different departments and reviews production records, product specifications, and manufacturing processes for accuracy and effectiveness. The team also audits financial records to ensure that finances are in order before issuing the certificate. If everything goes according to plan, the team will issue a ‘confirmation of registration’ stating that the organization meets all required criteria for qualification as an SME-approved ISO facility. After this happens, the organization can submit its draft quality management system to ANSI for review and implementation as part of its application process.
The application process can take several months or years depending on how efficiently the organization complies with the requirements set by ANSI. Once approved, certified organizations must undergo a detailed audit every five years to maintain their certification status. For this purpose, ANSI assigns a specialist from its National Committee on Quality Control (NCQC) who travels to Lebanon with an audit team composed of internal subject-matter experts from ANSI and other organizations such as the World Bank or USAID. The NCQC audit team oversees how well companies are implementing ISO 9001 as well as ensures that registered SMEs are receiving necessary certificates from ANSI annually. If anyone fails any of these requirements during an audit, they face serious consequences such as fines or suspension from carrying out business with ANSI member companies.
ISO 9001 is one of many quality management standards adopted by Lebanese companies looking to increase customer satisfaction and company profits. To obtain this certification, an organization must comply with stringent guidelines established by ANSI to qualify for ISO 9000 certification one of the most well-known versions of ISO certification worldwide. Organizations seeking ISO certification must meet strict requirements and prove their worth through rigorous application processes that demonstrate their ability to manufacture high-quality products reliably according to customer specifications.
