Questions & answers

Not necessarily. Many firms go for it because a big customer requires it. Others do it because it makes the business run more consistently. If neither applies, start with the free Starter Checklist and see how far you already are.

For a small manufacturer with reasonable existing controls, six to twelve months is typical. Most of that is running the system long enough to have records, an internal audit and a management review before the certification audit.

Read what changed, do a gap check against your current system, update the affected parts, and plan the transition with your certification body. Book the transition audit early. Video 2 (Thursday 22 Oct) and the free Transition Checklist cover this.

Because to your customer, your supplier is part of your system. Your root cause is why the problem got past you. We've written this one up in full on the blog.

Talk in their language: fewer rejects, fewer late deliveries, winning contracts that require certification. Show the cost of poor quality in pounds, not clauses.