To obtain a QMS certificate, a company must undergo an assessment by an accredited third-party auditor. The auditor evaluates the company's QMS against a set of established standards, such as ISO 9001. If the auditor finds that the company's QMS meets the standards, a certificate is issued. Obtaining a QMS certificate is not a one-time achievement. Companies must continually improve and maintain their QMS to retain their certification. This ongoing commitment to quality is what sets certified companies apart from their competitors and enables them to continue to deliver exceptional products and services.