Certification is the process of earning an official document, or the act of providing an official document as proof that something has happened or been done. It is also the process of giving official or legal approval to a person, company, product etc. that has reached a particular standard.
Certification can be a useful tool to add credibility, by demonstrating that your product or service meets the expectation of your customers. For some industries, certification is a legal or contractual requirement.
Types of Certification
- International Organization for standardization (ISO)
- Quality Management System (QMS)
- Information Security Management System (ISMS)
- Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS)
- Occupational Health And Safety Management (OHSAS)
International Organization for standardization (ISO) certification
ISO certification means that an organization has developed, maintains and continuously improves its business processes. This is accomplished by measuring and comparing business performance to appropriate quality standards. These ISO quality standards focus on meeting customer expectations and delivering customer satisfaction.
ISO certification identifies companies committed both to quality standards and the quality management systems needed to meet these standards. There are also many ISO standards covering suppliers, products document control and training, along with management processes. All of this comes together to provide assurance to customers that ISO certified companies provide products and services in a quality manner.
Quality Management System(QMS) certification
QMS is a formalized system that documents processes, procedures and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives. With the QMS certification, you will have access to the International market and be recognized in the foreign market. QMS also gives your company added value. It also meets the organization’s requirements, which ensures compliance with regulations and provision of products and services in the most cost- and resource-efficient manner, creating room for expansion, growth and profit.
Information Security Management System (ISMS)
An ISMS is a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information so that it can remain secure. It includes people, processes and IT systems by applying a risk management process. The standard covers all types of organizations (e.g. commercial enterprises, government agencies, non-profits), all sizes (from micro-businesses to huge multinationals), and all industries or markets (e.g. retail, banking, defense, healthcare, education and government). This is clearly a very wide brief. It helps any small, medium and large businesses in any sector keep information assets secure.
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard(PCI-DSS)
PCI-DSS is an information security standard for organizations. It handles branded credit cards from the major and schemes. PCI-DSS is suitable for clients who are in the merchant and service industry. Merchants would include wholesale companies and service providers include several companies who are involved in intangible business mostly banks.
Occupational Health And Safety Management(OHSAS)
OHSAS is one of the International Standards for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. It provides a framework for the effective management of OH&S including all aspects of risk management and legal compliance, and it addresses occupational health and safety rather than any specific product safety matters.
In the Context of Nepal
Nepal Bureau of Standards & Metrology (NBSM) is the National Standards Body of Nepal. It is one of the departments under Government of Nepal, Ministry of Industry. Under the “Nepal Standard (Certification Mark) Act 2037” was formed as the governing body for Quality, Standards, Testing and Metrology (QSTM) activities in Nepal.
This Act is expedient to make arrangements for determining the standard of any goods for the welfare of the public and for the use of the marks certifying the standard on such goods. Under Section 7B of this Act it mentions about the certification.
Section 7(B): Certification of standards of any goods of any specific quantity
- Any person who is desirous of having the standard of any goods of any specific quantity shall submit an application to the office.
- After submitting the application, the office shall conduct necessary investigations and may certify whether or not the goods with such specific quantity is of standard quality.
Section 8: Prohibition to make improper use of certification Mark
This Act has prohibited mainly two uses of certification mark which are as follows:
- No one shall use certification marks in relation to any goods or process without obtaining a license.
- No one shall use symbols which may create confusion regarding the design of the certification mark.
Regarding the process of certification, different types of certification are done accordingly and it can be registered through different certification companies in Nepal.
Getting ISO certification in Nepal could be the most important aspect for any organization looking for better product and service delivery among their customers as it provides a specific framework for any process to make it much better. Some major benefit of ISO certification are:
- Increase hospitality culture
- Increase profit and market potential
- Help to develop company and product quality.
- Increase stakeholder trust
- Help to increase revenue and business from new customers.
- Enhance internal management.
- Increase efficiency and productivity.
- Improve customer retention and acquisition.
- Get regular outcomes
- Develop a professional culture and better employee moral
