Label Systems Inc. holds WBE certification through WBENC's Southwest council and ISO 9001:2015 certification. WBE verifies that a company is independently owned and controlled by a woman or women and counts toward supplier diversity spend. ISO 9001:2015 verifies a documented, audited quality management system. Both are renewed every year through recertification or surveillance audits.
Certifications are only useful if you know what they actually certify.
A supplier who lists WBE and ISO 9001:2015 on their website might be checking boxes, or might be maintaining two third-party standards that shape how they manage your orders, document their quality processes, and qualify for your preferred vendor program.
Label Systems Inc. holds both. This post explains what each certification requires, what it means for buyers, and how a certified supplier should look different on your production floor than one that isn’t.
WBE: woman-owned business enterprise certification
A WBE certification means the company is at least 51% owned, controlled, and operated by a woman or women. It’s issued by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) through its regional partner organizations, and it requires annual recertification, including an on-site verification interview and financial documentation review. Label Systems Inc. is certified through WBENC’s Southwest council.
WBE status requires independent verification, so a supplier can’t simply declare itself woman-owned. WBENC certification is recognized nationally by Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and supplier diversity programs.
What it means for procurement teams:
If your organization has a supplier diversity mandate, whether as a formal program requirement or part of an ESG commitment, sourcing from a WBE-certified supplier counts toward those goals. For companies with annual diversity spend targets, a WBE-certified label supplier generates reportable spend.
It also tells you the company is independently owned. WBE certification is structurally incompatible with private equity ownership: a company controlled by a PE firm does not qualify.
What it means for operations:
The certification itself doesn’t change much operationally. It does tell you who you’re dealing with: an independent business, which typically means direct access to decision-makers, stable account management, and room to make exceptions when the situation requires it.
Label Systems Inc. was founded by family and remains 100% owned by a woman, and that ownership is documented every year to keep the certification.
ISO 9001:2015: what quality management certification actually requires
ISO 9001:2015 is the international standard for quality management systems. It certifies how a company runs its processes, rather than any single product.
A third-party accredited registrar audits the company’s quality management system and confirms it meets the ISO 9001:2015 standard. The audit covers documented procedures, quality objectives, risk management processes, customer feedback mechanisms, internal audit programs, and management review processes.
Certification requires a full initial audit and annual surveillance audits. If the system drifts, the certificate lapses.
What it means for label buyers:
For buyers in regulated industries, ISO 9001:2015 is often a baseline supplier qualification requirement, particularly in food and beverage (FDA/USDA compliance documentation), aerospace and aviation (traceability requirements), nutraceuticals (supplement label compliance), and industrial manufacturing (specification adherence records).
The specific benefits for label buyers:
- Documented specifications: Every label spec, substrate choice, and adhesive selection is documented and retrievable. If there’s a quality issue, there’s a traceable record.
- Defined change management: Changes to materials, suppliers, or processes go through a documented change control process. You get notified before something that affects your labels changes.
- Measurable reject rates: ISO 9001:2015 requires tracking of nonconforming product. Label Systems Inc.’s reject rate over 50+ years is 1-2%, measured through that system.
- Audit-ready documentation: For buyers who need to audit their supply chain, ISO 9001:2015 certified suppliers arrive with the documentation already organized.
What it doesn’t mean:
ISO 9001:2015 certification doesn’t guarantee every label is perfect. It means the process for catching and correcting imperfect labels is documented, consistent, and continuously improved.
How certifications change the supplier qualification process
For procurement teams at companies with formal supplier qualification programs, certifications cut down the work of vetting a supplier.
A non-certified supplier requires the buyer to conduct more due diligence: facility audits, quality system reviews, reference checks, and ongoing monitoring. A certified supplier has already passed an independent audit, the documentation already exists, and the annual review happens on the certifying body’s schedule.
For a supplier diversity officer or procurement manager building a qualified vendor list, a supplier holding current WBE and ISO 9001:2015 certifications arrives pre-qualified for both diversity spend reporting and quality system documentation. That saves hours of procurement work.
Military-spec qualification: what it covers and who needs it
Beyond WBE and ISO 9001:2015, Label Systems Inc. is an approved source of military-spec aviation tape for a globally recognized aerospace manufacturer.
This approval is narrower than the certifications above and matters most to buyers in aerospace, defense, and government contractor and sub-contractor supply chains. Military-spec tape and label products must meet specific material, adhesive, and performance standards defined by the Department of Defense and overseen by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Not all label manufacturers are qualified to supply them.
For aerospace and defense buyers, this approval means Label Systems Inc. has already been vetted against certain military specifications. For procurement teams building supplier lists for government contractors and sub-contractors, it’s a direct qualifying credential. On most of the government jobs it handles, Label Systems Inc. works as the sub-contractor.
For buyers outside aerospace and defense, it shows the plant can meet military-grade material and documentation requirements.
Supplier diversity programs: how certifications connect to your requirements
If your company has a supplier diversity program, the path from certification to reportable spend is direct, but the details vary by program.
Most Fortune 500 supplier diversity programs track spend by certification type: Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), Small Business Enterprise (SBE), and others. Some require a specific certifying body (WBENC for WBE).
Label Systems Inc. holds WBENC certification through the Southwest council. When you report diversity spend, purchases from Label Systems Inc. count toward WBE spend totals. We can provide the documentation your supplier diversity team needs for annual reporting.
For companies evaluating their supply chain against ESG commitments, a WBE-certified label supplier is a concrete, documentable contribution.
What to ask when verifying supplier certifications
If you’re evaluating a label supplier’s certifications, these questions confirm the certifications are current and relevant to your program:
- Which certifying body issued the WBE certification? (WBENC is the national standard; some regional certificates may not qualify for all Fortune 500 programs.)
- What is the certification expiration date? (WBE requires annual recertification; a lapsed certificate doesn’t qualify.)
- Is the ISO 9001:2015 certificate current, and who is the registrar? (The registrar should be an accredited certification body, not self-issued.)
We provide current certification documentation on request. All certificates are maintained and current.
The bottom line
Certifications are only valuable if they’re maintained, verified, and matched to your program’s requirements.
Label Systems Inc. holds current WBE (WBENC Southwest) and ISO 9001:2015 certifications. They’re maintained through annual audits, not self-reported. They qualify our clients for supplier diversity spend reporting at Fortune 500 companies and government contractors. And they’re backed by a quality management system that has produced a 1-2% reject rate over 50+ years.
If you need documentation for a supplier qualification review, call 800.220.9552 or request a consult at labelsystemsinc.com/contact. We'll get you what you need.
FAQ: supplier certifications for label buyers
Does WBE certification affect pricing or lead times?
No. Certification reflects ownership structure and quality management processes. Our pricing is based on volume, materials, and complexity, same as any qualified supplier, and the certification only shows up in your diversity spend reporting.
Does ISO 9001:2015 certification mean a supplier is also FDA or USDA compliant?
Not automatically. ISO 9001:2015 is a quality management standard; FDA and USDA compliance are regulatory requirements specific to food and beverage applications. Label Systems Inc. produces labels that comply with FDA and USDA requirements, but that compliance comes from specific material choices and testing, not from ISO 9001:2015 certification alone. Ask specifically about compliance for your application.
Can a company with PE ownership hold WBE certification?
No. WBE certification requires that the company be at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women. PE ownership, or majority ownership by any non-qualifying entity, disqualifies the company. If your current supplier claims WBE status but is PE-owned, that's worth verifying directly with WBENC.
What documentation does Label Systems Inc. provide for supplier diversity reporting?
We provide our current WBENC certification letter, our CAGE code for government procurement, and diversity spend data in whatever format your program requires.
How often does Label Systems Inc. recertify?
WBE certification requires annual recertification with WBENC, including financial documentation and an attestation of ownership and control. ISO 9001:2015 requires annual surveillance audits from our accredited registrar. Both are current.