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Linford & Company LLP is not currently accredited to perform third-party certification audits against ISO 9001. Services available today are limited to gap evaluations and certifications against this standard. This page describes the certification policies and processes Linford & Company follows and will continue to follow when accredited certification audits for this standard become available; until then, no certificate issued under this scheme is an accredited certificate.
Linford & Company LLP is an ANAB-accredited certification body for ISO/IEC 27001:2022; that accredited service is delivered separately and is described on our ISO 27001 services page.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a non-governmental, independent global body. One of ISO’s main objectives is to bring together experts to develop relevant international standards that drive process innovation and address shared challenges across industries worldwide.
ISO 9001, “Quality management systems — Requirements,” specifies the requirements for a quality management system (QMS) when an organization needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for improvement and the assurance of conformity.
ISO 9001 is the world’s most widely adopted management system standard, with more than one million certificates in force globally. It applies to organizations of any size, in any sector, and is the foundation on which many sector-specific schemes (AS9100 aerospace, IATF 16949 automotive, ISO 13485 medical devices) are built.
The current published edition is ISO 9001:2015. It is the version against which certifications are issued today and the version against which Linford & Company will perform accredited certification audits when those services become available.
ISO/TC 176/SC 2 is developing the next revision of ISO 9001. The revision is in Draft International Standard (DIS) stage and is expected to be published within the next 12 – 18 months following completion of voting and final drafting. ISO’s typical practice is to provide a three-year transition period after publication, during which both the existing 2015 certificates and certificates against the new revision are valid.
Based on publicly available committee communications and the February 2024 ISO/IEC amendments that have already been applied across management system standards, the upcoming revision is expected to emphasize: explicit climate-change considerations in clauses 4.1 (context) and 4.2 (interested parties); stronger linkage of QMS outcomes to sustainability and ESG factors; recognition of artificial intelligence, automation, and digital tools as part of organizational knowledge and operational planning; reduced product-centric language in favor of clearer service applicability; and greater emphasis on organizational culture, ethical behavior, and risk-based thinking. The Harmonized Structure (Annex SL) will be preserved.
Practical impact: organizations certifying to ISO 9001:2015 today will not need to wait for the new revision. The current standard remains valid, and a transition path will be available once the new edition is published.
ISO 9001 certification is independent assurance that an organization’s QMS conforms to ISO 9001 requirements. Certification is issued by an accredited QMS certification body following a two-stage audit and is maintained through annual surveillance over a three-year cycle. Audit competence is governed by ISO/IEC TS 17021-3.
Customers, public-sector procurement bodies, and supply chains routinely require ISO 9001 certification as a baseline for quality assurance. The certificate is not a product approval; it is evidence that the organization’s management system delivers predictable, customer-focused outcomes.
The cost of an ISO 9001 certification audit varies based on the scope of the QMS, the products and services delivered, the number of physical and virtual locations to be audited, the organization’s size, the number of employees performing in-scope work, and whether the engagement is performed standalone or integrated with other management system audits. Linford & Company is committed to providing an accurate, detailed, and dependable quote before any audit engagement begins.
The ISO 9001 certification process is well defined and consistently repeatable. The activities include the following steps:
The following steps describe the typical certification activities Linford & Company performs, based on the requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC TS 17021-3.
The application and pre-certification processes at Linford & Company are streamlined and efficient. Interested applicants enter their organization details into the “Request a Certification Assessment” form at the top of this services page. Applicants are then contacted and provided with an application to gather additional scope information used to determine technology expertise, staffing requirements, level of effort including auditor hours, and other scoping details. The applicant returns the completed application to is***********@*******co.com or to their primary contact at Linford & Company. Client acceptance and impartiality review activities will be performed; based on the results, the applicant will enter into an executed certification agreement with Linford & Company.
Linford & Company will request the necessary artifacts and confirm with the client that the initial audit is ready to commence. The audit plan will be communicated to the client and audit dates agreed upon in advance. The audit program for the initial certification includes a two-stage initial audit.
Stage 1 Audit
An evaluation of the design of the QMS is performed in Stage 1. Linford & Company will audit the QMS documentation supporting the design of the system. Inquiries are made and documents supporting the QMS scope, including personnel, products/services, processes, and sites within scope, are reviewed and evaluated. During the scope evaluation, Linford & Company will confirm that the organization has completed an internal audit, performed regular management reviews, and conducted risk-based planning of QMS processes consistent with the standard. With this information evaluated, Linford & Company will determine whether the client is ready to move to Stage 2.
Stage 2 Audit
The objective of Stage 2 is to assess implementation and operating effectiveness of the client’s QMS. Stage 2 is conducted at the client’s site(s) and, where appropriate, through virtual meetings that provide evidence of operating environments. Testing covers process performance, customer focus, nonconformity handling, corrective action, and continual improvement. At the conclusion of Stage 2, Linford & Company will determine whether to issue certification.
When all certification steps are completed satisfactorily, Linford & Company will grant certification in the form of a certificate to the client. The initial three-year certification cycle starting date will be on, or reasonably timed after, the date of the certification decision.
If it is determined that the client does not meet the requirements necessary for certification, a certification refusal will be communicated to the client with sufficient detail regarding the rationale for the decision and the available next steps.
Surveillance Audits
In order to maintain certification, continuing certification activity is required. This is carried out through surveillance audits. Linford & Company conducts surveillance audits at least once annually, except during recertification years. The first surveillance audit after initial certification must occur within 12 months of the documented certification cycle starting date.
Process to Maintain Certification
Along with the continuing surveillance audits, the client is expected to operate its controls and processes in the manner understood during the initial examination procedures. Linford & Company will enable the client to retain certification by demonstrating ongoing compliance with the requirements of the management system standard.
Linford & Company makes additional details publicly available, in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021-1 §8.1, in the companion “ISO 9001 Certification — Detailed Public Information” PDF. The PDF covers:
Download the full ISO 9001 Certification — Detailed Public Information PDF.
Our seasoned auditors translate ISO 9001 requirements into a clear, evidence-based assessment of your quality management system; ready for certification today and prepared for the upcoming revision.
We audit against the current published standard today and have built our methodology to flex when the upcoming revision is published, so your QMS investment carries forward without rework.
We anchor every engagement in your real processes, not generic checklists, so findings are actionable and improvement opportunities are tangible.
Our QMS engagements are led by senior auditors with manufacturing, services, and regulated-industry experience. You will not be handed off to a junior reviewer mid-engagement.
Looking to get ISO 9001 certified? Complete the form above, and we will connect you with one of our expert auditors. We keep your contact information private and use it solely to communicate with you regarding your ISO 9001 audit. We do not sell or share your details with third parties.
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