Famous Certification for Businesses in Malaysia

The Famous Certification for Businesses in Malaysia

Best practices and standardization have been acknowledged as a critical component of a successful business. Management Systems Standards were initially introduced in Malaysia in 1987 with the introduction of ISO 9000, followed by ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001, and most recently MS 1900 (Quality Management System from Islamic Perspectives) in early 2006. Today, the Malaysian Government has empowered the Department of Standards Malaysia (DSM) to act as the National Standards Body (NSB) and the National Accreditation Body (NAB) under the Standards of Malaysia Act 1996 (Act 549). As a National Standard Body (NSB), its role is to develop and publish industry specific standards for the nation. 

The Department of Standards Malaysia (DSM) acknowledges that ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, OHSAS 18001:2007, ISO 22000:2012, ISO/IEC 27001, and ISO 50001:2011 are among the country’s most popular and extensively used. According to a survey of Accredited Certification from DSM 2020, the first most famous certification in Malaysia is ISO 9001 Quality Management System, of which there are more than 9000 certified companies that have adopted this International Standard. Most of the sectors are from construction, metals production, engineering services, public administration, wholesale and retail trade, education,  and chemical products and fibres (refer to Appendix 1). In fact, this international standard is well-known and applicable to all types of businesses and is found on various quality management principles, including a strong customer focus, senior management motivation and involvement, the process method, and continuous improvement.

Another well-known certification in Malaysia is ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, which has a total of 1586 certified companies. There are certified companies from electrical and optical equipment, metals production, rubber and plastics products, recycle, construction and so on. Therefore, ISO 14001 is widely adopted in Malaysia and internationally. As per analysis from ISO, there are more than 300,000 ISO 14001 certificates issued in 171 countries worldwide. In fact, the standard aids organizations in managing environmental risks effectively and improving the overall environmental performance. 

On the other hand, ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001 older version) played the third-highest certificates in Malaysia, of which there are a total of 1160 certified organizations. The main applied industries come from food products, beverages, and tobacco, oil and gas, metal, construction, engineering services, etc (refer to Appendix 1). Without a doubt, most of the critical successful companies in Malaysia have gained an ISO 45001 Standard to stabilize their business process. The ISO 45001 enables an organization to integrate health and safety aspects and improve companies by defining repeatable steps that could be implemented consciously.

Next, food related certification also another well-known certificate in Malaysia. There are ISO 22000, GMP & HACCP. In total there are 926 certified companies applied for these Standards. Based on the Department of Standards Malaysia (2020), most of the food sectors are from the processing of products with long shelves at ambient temperature, processing of perishable animal products, and processing of perishable vegetal products (refer to Appendix 2 & 3). Among these 3 certification, so far HACCP is the most famous which have total 545 being certified. While ISO 22000 have total of 238. In fact, the ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System helped to better control food safety issues and robust traceability system of food safety with its support standard, HACCP and GMP (the part of the requirement in ISO 22000).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Malaysia had worked to constantly improve the economy as well as the standard product and services to worldwide through the application of ISO Certificates. Instead, Malaysia Government also gives recognition as the National Standards Body (NSB) and the National Accreditation Body (NAB) under the Standards of Malaysia Act 1996 (Act 549), which can participate in the creation of international standards regulations that influence commerce and protect Malaysia’s interests in the field of standard. As the National Accreditation Body, they did not certify the end customer for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 22000, etc. To get ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000 Certification, you are required to look for an Accredited Certification Body.