What is ISO Certification & Why is It Important for Precision Machining & Manufacturing Companies?

Take a moment to consider the precision required in manufacturing components for tight-tolerance applications, such as aerospace, medical, and industrial technology. In equipment made up of thousands of individual components, even a single minor defect can result in catastrophic failures. Now consider the number of contractors and manufacturers involved in the production of these components. Needless to say, it can be extremely challenging to maintain quality and consistency.

In a global marketplace, international standards must be put into place to ensure components are manufactured in accordance with a precise set of criteria. What’s more, because manufacturing and machining technology evolves rapidly, these standards need to be continuously maintained and updated. But who is responsible for this critical work? Numerous organizations across the globe make it their business to ensure consistency with precision manufacturing, but one organization stands out as the gold standard—ISO (International Organization for Standardization).

What is ISO?

Consistently producing defect-free components requires robust management systems, manufacturing processes, and documentation. ISO sets the standards for manufacturing companies in these important areas and more. As an independent, non-governmental organization, ISO is not beholden to political or economic influences, and the standards they set are always designed to ensure quality, efficiency, and safety.

ISO certifications are obtained by companies across a variety of industries. However, they are frequently used by precision machining and manufacturing companies to convey the quality and consistency of processes in parts production for industries including aerospace, defense, industrial automation, and many others.

What is ISO Certification?

ISO certification is a designation provided to verify that a company’s processes meet a specific set of standards. ISO simply sets the standards but does not itself provide certification. Rather, this process is handled by qualified third-party certification entities. While ISO certification is often obtained to increase creditability, in many industries, it is a legal requirement, and it is also often part of the contract between a client and a manufacturer. Additionally, to ensure a company is maintaining ISO standards, they are tested and recertified annually.

ISO provides a range of certifications based on a wide array of criteria, and its certification types are categorized numerically. This classification method allows purchasers to easily identify appropriate vendors for parts procurement.

Take, for example, the following designation: ISO 9001:2015. The number 9001 indicates the specific standard, which belongs to a broader set of 9000 standards, all of which relate to quality assurance systems. The number 2015 indicates the version of the standard. In this case, 2015 indicates a year that the 9001 standard was updated.

Why is ISO Certification Important?

As noted above, ISO standards are critical to ensuring quality and consistency in a highly segmented global marketplace. ISO certifications can be used as reliable indicators of a company’s processes as they relate to quality assurance, waste management, information security, health and safety, and much more. ISO also continuously updates its standards, as indicated by the different versions attached to certifications. This is essential, as technology, regulations, and other market conditions are evolving at an ever-increasing pace.

Demmer Manufacturing’s Affiliates Are Highly Credentialed

As a family-owned manufacturing portfolio company, Demmer Manufacturing is committed to long-term investment in our affiliates, ensuring they are well positioned to provide exceptional service and quality long into the future. Our portfolio companies maintain the highest levels of precision and quality assurance, as indicated by numerous advanced designations including ISO certifications and ITAR compliance. To learn more about our affiliates, visit our portfolio page.