Trying to obtain the ISO 9001 certification without an ISO consultant, including an ISO 9001 internal audit, is also a possibility and one that had been considered by many organizations. The certifying bodies have not made it mandatory for organizations to use the services of ISO 9001 certification consultants, including internal auditors, and organizations that do not intend to invest extra money can certainly consider taking the challenge on themselves. However, they must understand it could be quite a while before they finally get the coveted certificate they are looking for.
This is the point when skepticism can take hold, and organizations can begin to believe there must be a nexus between the certifying bodies and the vast number of consultants who are in the business. Here again, it will be best to dismiss the skepticism because no such nexus exists, and it is just a matter of choice for the organization. If they are confident about completing the requirements without help from any external body, they can certainly go ahead because they will not be restricted in any way. However, it is advised that organizations consider the requirements of ISO 9001 and ask themselves whether they have all the information needed to move ahead without being held back at any point. It is also as essential for them to understand the requirement also applies to any changes within the regulations and mistakes, which they could commit when making the application. These factors will definitely delay the process of getting certified, and therefore, it could be better for them to use the services of an ISO 9001 consultant who will be in a better position to help them.
There is a need for organizations to understand the requirements of the ISO family are constantly changing and while making an attempt to keep ISO certification consultants away organizations will be at a disadvantage just because they could be working on information, which would have been published some time ago. An ISO consultant is the best option for such jobs simply because he or she is in constant touch with the regulatory bodies and has the most recent information. Organizations working on outdated information could make an application that would not be considered as relevant and will be required to make changes in line with the latest developments in place. This will result in wastage of time and resources and will also make the process of getting certified for ISO 9001 more difficult.
A better option for organizations will be to have an in-house employee trained in such matters and have him or her to remain in constant touch with the requirements of the ISO family. By utilizing this method, they will constantly be in touch with the latest developments and also have the ability to become certified at the earliest. However, even at this stage, organizations must understand they would be required to use the services of an ISO consultant even to overcome the obstacle of getting the training they intend to get for their staff. Therefore, the requirement of consultants in this process cannot be discounted at any stage because it can mean the difference between an organization being certified or left behind waiting endlessly for the recognition.