Manufacturing facilities seeking certification from professional associations or independent standard development organizations must undergo documentation reviews, assessments and audits carried out by recognized certification bodies and auditors. The often-lengthy process involves everyone from national standards bodies and auditor authentication entities.

The codes and requirements vary by the standard, but most major certifications have stringent requirements. Even navigating one at a time can be challenging, which is why managers should familiarize themselves with the process before undertaking it. The better they prepare, the more resilient they can be against project delays.

The Complexities of Common Manufacturing Certifications

Acquiring a major certification entails a meticulous, multistep process. The specifics vary, but most involve lengthy applications, multistage assessments and ongoing audits.

ISO Certifications

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has multiple globally recognized certifications. ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, and 13485 cover quality management systems, environmental management, occupational health and safety, and medical devices, respectively. Their details differ, but most have rigorous design, fabrication and inspection requirements.

For instance, ISO 13485:2016 — which applies to those who design, fabricate, install, or service sterile, surgical or medical devices — has strict monitoring, measuring and product realization standards. Certification is not a requirement of the standard, but it is highly advisable. Entities must apply for certification via a body that is accredited by a recognized accreditation body.

IATF Certification

The International Automotive Task Force (IATF) released the IATF 16949 for automotive manufacturers. As a supplement to ISO 9001:2015, it encompasses design, production and customer satisfaction. Facilities must have an accredited certification body conduct an official two-part audit to receive their three-year certification.

ASME Certification

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was founded in 1880, which was when the second Industrial Revolution swept the United States. Today, it has hundreds of thousands of members worldwide.

Naturally, its standards are complex and strict. For instance, its Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code spans almost 30 volumes containing more than 16,000 pages. These code books can add thousands of dollars to the certification cost. However, entities must adhere to them to gain certification. Then, they must fill out an application and undergo an assessment.

IAQG Certification 

AS9100 is an international management system standard developed by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) as a supplement to ISO 9001:2000. It was designed for aerospace and aviation manufacturers, mandating that parts meet particular and technical safety and quality standards from aviation authorities and government agencies.

CE Certification

The European Conformity (CE) certification indicates a manufacturer has deemed its products meet European Union safety, health and environmental protection requirements after a thorough assessment. It is mandatory for entities placing products on the E.U. market, regardless of where they are manufactured.

The manufacturer is solely responsible for declaring compliance with all requirements. It must also determine whether an independent assessment is necessary, assemble a technical dossier and sign an E.U. declaration of conformity before adding the CE marking to any product.

Strategies for Preventing Common Certification Delays

Incorporating product reviews, independent assessments, documentation, ongoing audits and mandatory recertification processes into the facility’s typical workflow can be challenging. However, coordinating certifications to avoid derailing project timelines is nonnegotiable.

According to Deloitte, the producer price index for materials has been atypically high, and total compensation — manufacturing workers’ wages and benefits — is trending upward. Preventing delays is essential for meeting clients’ expectations, keeping production costs down and increasing production resilience.

Managers must proactively manage timelines to integrate these processes into modern project management frameworks. Rather than viewing certification as a separate, parallel task, they must consider it a core component of the project plan.

Develop Comprehensive Risk Mitigation Strategies

Certification may introduce risks during or after the initial process. Organizations may face a loss of market access, reputation damage, product recalls, legal penalties or fines, depending on the standards they fail to meet. For instance, what if they fail the second stage of a two-stage assessment or are forced to switch suppliers to accommodate material changes?

Risk mitigation involves systematically identifying, assessing and alleviating risks to minimize their impact on operations. Professionals should categorize them based on whether they can be avoided, reduced, transferred or shared, which entails developing prioritization, monitoring and reporting frameworks.

Build Certification Milestones into Project Plans

Leaders should build milestones like document submission, preliminary audits, final inspections and scheduling into their project plan. That way, they can identify dependencies early on, preventing missed compliance deadlines from adversely affecting the overall project timeline.

Assign a Dedicated Compliance Lead Professional

The value of having a single point of contact responsible for the certification workflow is invaluable. This individual can be the liaison between the project team, manufacturing partners and certification bodies. Their position prevents surprises and allows for fast problem-solving by establishing a clear communication hierarchy with internal and external teams.

Leveraging Smart Technology for Seamless Coordination

Modern technology can streamline compliance management, making the process more efficient and less prone to human error. For instance, the use of industrial Internet of Things sensors facilitates real-time monitoring and data analytics, ensuring processes stay within the predefined parameters required for certification.

Software solutions and digital quality management systems are at the core of standards like ISO 9001, IATF 16949 and AS9100. By automating data collection, they can provide a transparent, verifiable audit trail. Accountability is essential in the certification workflow.

Automation is another promising solution. Industry 4.0 technologies like artificial intelligence tools can increase throughput by 10% to 30%, compensating for certification-induced delays. They allow facilities some breathing room, which is essential in the time-sensitive aerospace, consumer goods and defense sectors.

In essence, smart manufacturing technologies create data-driven systems that inherently support compliance, accountability and efficiency. Implementation has its own challenges, but handling the sensor or software installation process tends to be easier than navigating the complexities of coordinating manufacturing certifications.

Navigating the Complexities of the Certification Process

For managers and industrial safety personnel running modern manufacturing facilities, major certifications are nonnegotiable, but they are not a hurdle to be overcome. They are frameworks that can improve quality, reduce risk and enhance project value.

By integrating the certification workflow into the core project plan, professionals can treat it with the strategic importance it deserves without derailing the original time estimate. Leveraging modern technology can help teams ensure compliance and efficiency. With proper planning, they can prevent delays and accelerate timelines.