ISO standards

11 września 2014

The topic for today is ‘’ISO standards’’

Lekcje angielskiego przygotowuje firma

Task 1.
Read the text below to get the general idea:

It has become common practice for a lot of companies to obtain ISO certificates of various kinds. For some businesses, certification is a must-have but for others it is optional. Nowadays, however, ISO certificates may also constitute a legal or contractual requirement for at least some industries. In other words, to survive on a very competitive and demanding market in times of economic crisis, having or not having the ISO certificates may make a considerable difference for a company. But what are they really about?

ISO certificates are issued by external and independent agencies or certifying authorities. Surprisingly, they are not given out by the International Organization for Standarization, known as ISO, itself. The ISO only sets generic international standards related to the certification process, which are to be met by organizations wanting to receive them. Therefore, a company cannot be actually certified by ISO, it can only display its certificate by saying ‘’ISO 9001:2008 certification’’, for instance. To get such a document, first the company has to undergo a thorough and meticulous certification audit, which is usually followed by a detailed report of rectifications required to meet, and finally by a company manual to carry out. Only then can it be presented with a genuine certificate, which, unfortunately, is not available free of charge. It has to be purchased for a certain fee, and thus may be unaffordable for small businesses in particular.

On the other hand, certification can be viewed by prospective business partners as a useful tool to add trust and credibility to the company. It can also boost sales and significantly reduce costs. What is more, it can help keep customers, and keep them satisfied.

Task 2.
Read the sentences below and tick only those which relate to the above text:

1. The ISO is an international standard-setting body. ……
2. The ISO certification might be considered a costly project for some companies. ……
3. The ISO was founded on the 23rd of February, 1947. ……
4. The organization is headquartered in Switzerland, in Geneva. ……
5. The ISO organization does not issue any certificates. ……
6. ISO certificates may enhance a public image of a trustworthy enterprise. ……
7. ISO certificates may help companies to satisfy their customers. ……
8. ISO standards are easily attainable for the majority of customers. ……
9. ISO certificates are only given out by accredited organizations. ……
10. ISO certificates are applicable to all organizations, regardless of type, size or products. ……

Task 3.

Watch the video ‘’ The QMS process‘’ and write H (for Henry) or A (for Allen) next to the sentences below:

1. He decided to keep a simple approach to certification. …..
2. He chose a more traditional route with another consultant. …..
3. His consultant was working around his busy schedule. …..
4. His consultant took twice the amount of his time than expected. …..
5. He received a detailed report within 7 days. …..
6. His manual was ready within a month. …..
7. He finished his manual within 6 months. …..
8. He was presented with a certificate within 6 months. …..
9. He moved to a bigger office and cut costs significantly. …..
10. He increased staff morale . …..

KEY TO EXERCISES

Task 2.

1. The ISO is an international standard-setting body. ..X…
2. The ISO certification might be considered a costly project for some companies. ..X..
3. The ISO was founded on the 23rd of February, 1947. ……
4. The organization is headquartered in Switzerland, in Geneva. ……
5. The ISO organization does not issue any certificates. X…
6. ISO certificates may enhance a public image of a trustworthy enterprise. ..X…
7. ISO certificates may help companies to satisfy their customers. ..X…
8. ISO standards are easily attainable for the majority of customers. ……
9. ISO certificates are only given out by accredited organizations. ……
10. ISO certificates are applicable to all organizations, regardless of type, size or products. ……

Task 3.

1. He decided to keep a simple approach to certification. ..H..
2. He chose a more traditional route with another consultant. ..A..
3. His consultant was working around his busy schedule. H..
4. His consultant took twice the amount of his time than expected. ..A..
5. He received a detailed report within 7 days. ..H..
6. His manual was ready within a month. ..H..
7. He finished his manual within 6 months. ..A..
8. He was presented with a certificate within 6 months. ..H..
9. He moved to a bigger office and cut costs significantly. ..H..
10. He increased staff morale.

LEKCJA DO POBRANIA:

The topic for today is ‘’ISO standards’’

The topic for today is ‘’ISO standards’’ KEY

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