If you are new to ISO standards you may be looking for help to get started. There are many ISO Document Template packs available on the internet, however, they vary in quality and price.
So, when is it a good idea to use templates and how do you choose the right ones?
Advantages of ISO Document Templates
Document templates can help you quickly establish the documentation requirements of a standard, and create the framework you need to operate to a standard.
If you have the time to understand and adapt them, it can be cheaper to use template documents rather than using an ISO Consultant to build a bespoke management system for you.
Disadvantages of ISO Document Templates
Template documents can often be very long and wordy because they are designed to cover every eventuality. This can make your management system vulnerable to audit findings, as you might not be aware of everything you’ve committed to in policies and procedures.
Without fully understanding the requirements of the standard and how it applies to your organisation, you may find it challenging to remove sections from template documents and retain the necessary compliance.
Choosing Template Documents
There are many template documents on the Internet and there is no guarantee that the documents you choose will be suitable for your organisation. If available, read reviews from previous customers, just like any other purchase you might make.
You should also consider some training if you are planning to build and operate your ISO Management System yourself.
Engage an ISO Consultant!
There are many benefits to engaging an ISO Consultant, such as Assent, to help you implement a bespoke management system to your organisation’s requirements and achieve ISO Certification.
Our ISO consultants will work with you to understand your organisation, interpret the requirements of ISO standards and build a lean management system that meets your needs.
ISO Consultancy might not be as expensive as you think! Especially when you consider the value a consultant can bring.
Contact us for a free quotation.
How we use Document Templates at Assent
Consultants, like Assent, have a library of templates built over many years, however, the difference is that these are used to speed up the implementation process, rather than blindly committing to policies and procedures that you might not need. A consultant will guide you through the process.
However, we do publish some of our templates free of charge on our platform resilify.io, to support those who need a nudge in the right direction.
Conclusion
While ISO Document Templates can be helpful, they should be used together with training and consultancy to build a bespoke system that passes a certification audit the first time!
