Most manufacturers want to know the same thing early in the process: how long certification will really take. The honest answer depends on how disciplined the current operation already is and how quickly documentation and evidence can be built.
For many small and mid-size companies, a realistic timeline is roughly three to six months. Stronger operations sometimes move faster. More reactive environments usually need more time to formalize records, internal auditing, and leadership review.
The biggest timeline drivers are clarity of scope, responsiveness from leadership, how quickly records can be generated, and whether the QMS is built around real workflows instead of generic templates.