The development of small scale industries has led to the growth of the country’s economy. As and when the MSME grow and develop, the trade’s geographical boundaries diminish, the organization’s lookout for international trade and international collaborations. When the MSME expands to the International market, the scale of the revenue and production increases.
It is a big challenge to grow an MSME business, for they have to face intense competition in the market. The MSMEs in order to survive the tough competition, they must make sure the products meet the international standard and quality. This is their only option to survive the intense competition. This is one of the prime reasons for the small scale industries to opt for the ISOcertification.
What is meant by ISO Certification?
It is an international certification that ensures the organization and its services and products follow the quality of international standards. The ISO – International Organization of Standardization carries out various tests for quality before they issue the ISO certificate to the organization.
The ISO standards comprise of five documents and they are
1. ISO 9000
2. ISO 9001
3. ISO 9002
4. ISO 9003 and
5. Quality guidelines management and quality system elements.
The ISO 9000 takes care of the quality assurance and management. If an organization is certified with it, it means that the quality and service meets and follows the requirement of international standard. When the MSME is certified with the ISO certification, the sector can take on the market of the national and international markets.
But it is not an easy task to get the certificate. One must follow the great amount of precaution and also it comes with a heavy price. So to ease up the sector, the DC-MSME presents a funding scheme known as the ISO 9000/ISO 14002 Certification Reimbursement Scheme.
What is ISO Reimbursement Scheme?
It is a scheme that aids the MSME to get the ISO certificate by helping them with financial aid. The following are the features of the scheme.
· The scheme compensates for the ISO certification charges.
· The compensation limitation goes up to 75%
· The compensation is done only a single time and that is done when the entrepreneurship memorandum number is received to the organization.
Who Runs the Scheme?
The Development Commissioner of MSME runs the scheme. It is administered by the SSI – Small Scale Industries, Government of India and Ministry of SSI.
The organizations and the industries that meet the requirements and eligibility standard of the scheme can proceed to apply for the scheme. The organizations that are eligible are as follows.
· The organizations that are registered permanently which include the ancillary, small scale or SSSBE – Small Scale Service Business Enterprises.
· Ancillary, SSIs or SSSBE or tiny units which have obtained the ISO -9000/ISO-14001/HACCP certification.
Applying for the Scheme
The eligible and interested enterprises can benefit from the scheme by registering and submitting the application form along with the required documents to a particular address. The application format includes a document list that is present at the scheme’s checklist and can be gotten in the www.dcmdmr.gov.in. The SSI units which are registered permanently must submit an application form with the necessary documents to the MSME commissioner of development.
The ISO certification is like a highway to success. It is very important for all the products to stay ahead in the competitive market. It is not just about the survival issue, but the certification fulfills all the requirements of the customer. A customer will come back, only if they are satisfied with the products. The certification thus helps create more revenue and business and also opens its doors to new customers.
The certification makes sure that the quality and standards of the company are improved, making the company market ready for the international market. It makes sure you get new customers by increasing customer satisfaction. The consistency of the company is also improved and helps in reducing waste. It not only saves money at the end but also improves efficiency. In the end, the ISO certification is not about the government benefit, but the benefit of the MSME sectors to help them in improving their progress and prepare them for the competitive world.
