Six Questions to Ask When Choosing an ISO Consultant

For a business that has decided to get an ISO certificate, the second most important decision is choosing the right consultant. The market has a very wide range, from firms promising "a certificate in three weeks" with ready-made templates to consultants who know your sector and make you own the system. Here are six questions you should ask before deciding.

1. Do you have a relationship with a certification body?

An impartial consultant takes no commission from a certification body and does not insist on a particular one. They should help you compare several accredited bodies. If they steer you to a single body, ask why.

2. Have you done projects in my sector?

A food plant and a software company expect different things from ISO. If the consultant has two or three references in the same sector and you can call them, you are on the right track.

3. A ready-made template or my own system?

Ready-made templates are quick but do not work; if employees do not use them the system stays on paper and the auditor notices in ten minutes. Expect the consultant to draw your process in the first weeks and involve employees in it.

4. How many days, how many weeks and how much?

The quote must state in writing the number of man-days, the weekly visit plan, the list of deliverables and the total price. Avoid vague wording such as "until the certificate is obtained". Ask in advance about work that falls out of scope (for example penetration tests or measurement reports).

5. Who will run the system?

If there is no internal auditor training and handover meeting at the end of the project, the system may not work after the consultant leaves. The best consulting is the kind that does not leave you dependent on the consultant.

6. Will they be with me during the certification audit?

On audit day the consultant should be reachable by phone or should have prepared you with a pre-audit. Ask clearly whether they support you in the closing of nonconformities if a major one arises.

A short scorecard

If you get clear written answers to at least five of the six questions you can proceed with confidence. If the answers are vague, a second quote is always better. At Ahenk we give written answers to these six questions in the free initial call; you can decide without any pressure.

Cost and price comparison

When comparing quotes, look not only at the total price but at the fee per man-day and the list of deliverables. An apparently low quote may have been achieved by reducing weekly visits or leaving training out of scope. Ask all bidders for the same scope in writing; the differences then become clear.

A tip for checking references

Do not ask a reference client merely "are you satisfied?". Ask "who ran the system after the consultant left?", "how many nonconformities arose at the first audit?" and "was the system still working at the next surveillance audit?". These answers are the clearest signs of a consultant's quality.