Targeted Certification for Your Industry
While generic management system standards like ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 apply across all sectors, many industries have developed specialised standards that address their unique challenges, requirements, and regulatory considerations. One example is ISO 55001, which is a standard for asset management systems.
Alliance Certifications provides expert certification services for these industry-specific standards, helping organisations demonstrate compliance with sector-specific requirements while building on the foundation of core management system principles.
Our team of specialised auditors has extensive experience in key industries, bringing relevant expertise to evaluate your systems against these focused standards and helping you achieve certification that truly addresses your sector's specific needs.
Explore Industry Sectors
Industry Sectors & Certification Standards
Alliance Certifications provides specialised certification services across these key sectors:
Aerospace Industry Certification
The aerospace industry demands exceptionally high standards of quality, safety, and reliability. Industry-specific certification demonstrates your ability to meet these stringent requirements.
AS9100 - Aerospace Quality Management
The internationally recognised standard for aerospace quality management systems, building on ISO 9001 with additional aerospace-specific requirements for quality and safety.
Key elements include:
- Product safety and prevention of counterfeit parts
- Configuration management and design verification
- Enhanced risk management requirements
- Special process validation and critical item control
- Strict supplier control and monitoring
Applicable to: Manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers in the aviation, space, and defence industries
Automotive Industry Certification
The automotive industry requires robust quality management systems to ensure consistent product quality, reliability, and safety across global supply chains.
IATF 16949 (formerly ISO/TS 16949) - Automotive Quality Management
The globally recognised standard for quality management systems in the automotive industry, focusing on continuous improvement, defect prevention, and reduction of variation and waste.
Key elements include:
- Advanced product quality planning and control plans
- Manufacturing process development and validation
- Enhanced customer-specific requirements
- Warranty management and analysis
- Error-proofing and mistake prevention
Applicable to: Automotive manufacturers and organisations in the automotive supply chain
Food & Beverage Industry Certification
Food safety is critical for public health and consumer confidence. Industry-specific certification demonstrates your commitment to safe food production, processing, and handling practices.
ISO 22000 - Food Safety Management
An international standard that defines the requirements for a food safety management system, incorporating the principles of HACCP and focusing on food safety throughout the supply chain.
Key elements include:
- Interactive communication across the food chain
- HACCP principles implementation
- Prerequisite programs (PRPs)
- System management and continuous improvement
- Food safety hazard control measures
HACCP - Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
A systematic preventive approach to food safety that identifies, evaluates, and controls hazards that are significant for food safety.
Key elements include:
- Hazard analysis and critical control point identification
- Critical limits establishment
- Monitoring procedures development
- Corrective action planning
- Verification and documentation systems
Request Food Safety Certification Information
Healthcare & Medical Industry Certification
The healthcare and medical sectors require specialised standards to ensure patient safety, accurate diagnostics, and effective treatments across various healthcare settings.
ISO 15189 - Medical Laboratory Quality
The international standard for quality management in medical laboratories, focusing on technical competence and reliable laboratory services.
Key elements include:
- Laboratory management requirements
- Technical competence requirements
- Pre-examination, examination, and post-examination processes
- Personnel qualification and training
- Equipment calibration and maintenance
ISO 14971 - Medical Device Risk Management
A standard for the application of risk management to medical devices, ensuring they are safe for their intended use.
Key elements include:
- Risk analysis and evaluation processes
- Risk control measures
- Benefit-risk analysis
- Post-production monitoring
- Risk management documentation
Request Healthcare Certification Information
Energy & Utilities Industry Certification
The energy sector requires specialised standards to ensure operational efficiency, asset management, and environmental responsibility in energy production and distribution.
ISO 50001 - Energy Management
The international standard for energy management systems, helping organisations improve energy performance and efficiency.
Key elements include:
- Energy policy development
- Energy baseline and performance indicators
- Energy objectives and targets
- Energy review and monitoring
- Operational controls for energy efficiency
ISO 55001 - Asset Management
A standard for asset management systems, particularly relevant for energy and utility companies with extensive physical infrastructure.
Key elements include:
- Asset management strategy
- Asset lifecycle management
- Risk-based decision making
- Asset information management
- Performance evaluation and improvement
Benefits of Industry-Specific Certification
Industry-specific certification offers distinct advantages beyond generic management system standards:
Targeted Requirements
Standards tailored to address the unique challenges, risks, and regulatory requirements of your specific industry.
Industry Credibility
Demonstrate your expertise and commitment to sector-specific best practices to customers and stakeholders.
Regulatory Alignment
Many industry-specific standards incorporate or align with sector regulatory requirements, simplifying compliance management.
Supply Chain Integration
Meet the specific certification requirements often demanded by major customers or supply chain partners in your industry.
Competitive Advantage
Differentiate your organisation in specialised markets where generic certification is common but industry-specific certification is distinctive.
Risk Management
Address sector-specific risks with tailored controls and processes designed for your industry's particular hazards and challenges.
Industry-Specific Certification Process
Our certification process for industry-specific standards follows these key steps:
Industry Assessment
We discuss your specific industry requirements, regulatory landscape, and customer expectations to identify the most appropriate standards for your organisation.
Gap Analysis
Our industry specialists conduct a thorough review of your current systems against the selected industry standard, identifying areas requiring development or improvement.
Implementation Support
We provide guidance on developing industry-specific processes, documentation, and controls to meet the standard's requirements while aligning with your business operations.
Pre-Assessment Audit
A preliminary evaluation to ensure your management system adequately addresses the industry-specific requirements before proceeding to formal certification.
Certification Audit
Our industry-experienced auditors conduct a comprehensive assessment of your management system against the specific industry standard.
Certification Decision
Based on audit findings, our certification committee makes a decision on issuing your industry-specific certification.
Ongoing Surveillance
Regular industry-focused audits to maintain certification and ensure continued compliance with evolving sector requirements and best practices.
Additional Industry-Specific Standards
Beyond our core industry offerings, Alliance Certifications also provides certification services for these specialised standards:
Contact us to discuss certification options for any industry-specific standard not listed here. Our partnerships with accredited certification bodies allow us to provide services for a comprehensive range of specialist standards.
Integrated Management Systems
Many organisations benefit from integrating industry-specific standards with core management system standards:
Streamlined Certification Through Integration
Industry-specific standards are often designed to be compatible with core ISO management system standards like ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001. This compatibility enables efficient integration that reduces duplication and streamlines your management system.
Integration Benefits:
- Reduced documentation: Consolidate common requirements across standards into unified procedures
- Simplified auditing: Coordinate audit schedules to cover multiple standards simultaneously
- Consistent approach: Apply uniform management principles across all aspects of your business
- Resource efficiency: Share management resources across systems rather than managing separate silos
- Holistic improvement: Address interrelated aspects of quality, safety, environment, and industry-specific requirements together
Alliance Certifications specialises in integrated management system certification, helping organisations efficiently achieve and maintain multiple certifications, including industry-specific standards, through a unified system approach.
Discuss Integrated Certification OptionsFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about industry-specific certification:
Most industry-specific standards build upon ISO 9001 as a foundation, adding requirements tailored to address industry-specific needs, risks, and regulatory requirements. For example:
- AS9100 includes all ISO 9001 requirements plus additional aerospace-specific requirements
- IATF 16949 incorporates ISO 9001 and adds automotive industry-specific requirements
- ISO 22000 aligns with ISO 9001 principles but focuses specifically on food safety
This means organisations that already have ISO 9001 certification have a head start on implementing industry-specific standards, as they can build upon their existing quality management system rather than starting from scratch.
Many organisations maintain both ISO 9001 certification (for general quality management credibility) and industry-specific certification (for sector-specific recognition).
Yes, industry-specific certification audits require auditors with:
- Specific standard qualifications: Auditors must be trained and qualified in the specific industry standard (e.g., AS9100, IATF 16949, ISO 22000)
- Industry experience: Most accreditation bodies require auditors to have relevant work experience in the industry they are auditing
- Technical knowledge: Understanding of industry-specific processes, terminology, and regulatory requirements
Alliance Certifications ensures that our audit teams include qualified professionals with appropriate industry background for each sector-specific standard. This industry expertise allows our auditors to provide valuable insights and meaningful assessments that generic auditors cannot offer.
The timeline for achieving industry-specific certification varies based on several factors:
- Existing management systems: Organisations with existing ISO 9001 certification typically achieve industry-specific certification more quickly, often within 3-6 months
- Industry complexity: Some industries have more complex requirements (e.g., aerospace, medical) and may require more implementation time
- Organisation size and scope: Larger organisations or those with multiple sites may need more time
- Resources dedicated: Organisations with dedicated project teams and resources can accelerate the process
A typical timeline for an organisation starting from an established quality management system:
- Gap assessment and planning: 1 month
- Implementation of industry-specific requirements: 2-3 months
- Internal audits and management review: 1 month
- Certification audit and corrective actions: 1-2 months
Alliance Certifications works with each client to establish a realistic certification timeline based on their specific circumstances and needs.
Yes, most industry-specific standards are internationally recognised, though the level of recognition varies by standard and region:
- Global standards: Standards like AS9100, IATF 16949, and ISO 22000 are recognised worldwide in their respective industries
- Supply chain recognition: Major international companies often require their suppliers to hold relevant industry-specific certification regardless of location
- Accreditation considerations: For maximum international recognition, certification should be provided by bodies accredited by members of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF)
Alliance Certifications partners with accredited certification bodies that are IAF members, ensuring our clients receive internationally recognised certification. This is particularly important for organisations operating in global supply chains or seeking to export their products or services.
Industry-specific standards often incorporate or align with regulatory requirements relevant to that sector:
- Complementary relationship: The standards typically include requirements to identify and comply with applicable regulations
- Framework for compliance: Many standards provide a structured approach to achieving and maintaining regulatory compliance
- Regulatory recognition: In some sectors, certification to industry standards is recognised by regulators as evidence of good practice
However, it's important to note that certification to an industry standard does not automatically guarantee compliance with all regulatory requirements. Organisations must still identify and meet specific regulatory obligations applicable to their products, services, and operations.
Alliance Certifications' industry specialists can help organisations understand the relationship between certification standards and regulatory requirements in their specific sector.
Request Your Industry-Specific Certification Quote
Contact us today to discuss your industry certification needs:
Elevate Your Industry Standing with Specialised Certification
Join leading organisations that have achieved excellence through industry-specific certification. Contact Alliance Certifications today to discuss how we can help you meet your sector's unique requirements.
Call Us Today