About the Standard
ISO 9000, otherwise known as the International Standard for Quality Management is a group of standards that relate to the employment of a Quality Management System. It is the ISO 9001 Standard that most of businesses owners are familiar with and in fact, ISO 9001 is the most widely used standard across the globe; by more than one million businesses in one hundred and seventy countries. This is largely owing to the fact that it is adaptable to any type of business, from a small family business to large corporations regardless of the industry concerned. Furthermore it offers a way to manage the general operations of the business including procedures associated with product creation; the services offered as well as making sure that the customer’s needs and expectations are met.
Unlike other, more specific standards, ISO 9001 has been made to cover all business practices and consequently can be implemented on a company wide scale. This then helps to ensure that clients get a reliable level of good quality merchandise and services, which in turn bring further benefits to the company. The 9001 Standard therefore serves to show to its clients that a business is committed to Quality Assurance and that it is of the utmost importance to them.
It is also important to note that ISO 9001 is not a standard for products themselves but for procedures; a standard for managing quality! As such, it provides a business with a set of eight core principles that supply the framework to enable the company to establish an effective quality management system, which not only results in an increased profitability but also promotes expansion and long-term development.
Benefits of ISO 9001
Amid the numerous advantages that the ISO 9001 Standard has to offer is its primary focus upon “continual improvement”, particularly in the area of performance. This, in turn is driven by a structured framework with a client-focused quality management system, thereby guaranteeing that a common-sense methodology is used to improve the whole management of the business. Additional advantages include greater customer satisfaction, an overall reduction in costs and an improved competitiveness. For some industries an ISO 9001 Certification has resulted in more opportunities to trade as the marketplace has expanded.
The implementation of a quality management system may help with staff enthusiasm as staff members will be able to clearly define their key roles and responsibilities within the business, thus leading to an increase in productivity and therefore improving efficiency. Many organizations discover that there is less waste and fewer grievances, while clients notice that orders are met consistently, promptly and accurately.
Here is a list of the advantages that ISO 9001 Certification can bring:
• Senior Staff Members are given an effective management process
• Areas of responsibility across the company are clearly defined
• Aids in developing assurance with employees, clients and suppliers
• Consistency in meeting customer expectations and requirements
• Increase efficiency and thereby cut costs
• Open up the market sector both at home and internationally
• Improve risk management
In many business sectors ISO 9001 Certification is a necessary requirement when tendering for some public work contracts and when trading with international clients. The benefits of being ISO 9001 certified clearly outweigh non-certification especially when you consider increased productivity, not to mention growing the market potential of any business.
Achieving ISO 9001 Certification
The ISO 9001 Certification process can often appear complex but our team of specialists can make light work of certification, implementing only what is required. The first step is to perform a Gap Analysis. Our consultants will assist you in identifying the areas of your organization that require further policies or procedures to be in place to meet the 9001 Standard.
It is crucial that the Senior Management Team are committed to the ISO Certification Process as their involvement is necessary for its success. They will have to determine a business strategy which will support the quality management system and see it implemented. The process also requires that all of your company’s business policies for managing its activities are fully documented. In addition to, making sure that performance is monitored and any weaknesses in the system identified in order that appropriate measures can be taken to enhance performance, allowing you to focus on customer and business needs.
On-going training and efficient lines of communication are key during the process as these ensure that the whole organization is working towards the same aim. The important thing to bear in mind is that the goal of ISO 9001 Certification is not just to acquire the ISO 9001 Certificate but also to acknowledge the need for “continual improvement” within the business in order to cultivate an environment of best practice and striving for client satisfaction, therefore decreasing wastage and loss whilst increasing productivity and recognition within your marketplace.
ISO-IMS.com Consultants provide support and assistance to organizations that are looking to maintain or establish a competitive edge in their marketplace through ISO Certification. For more information visit our website at http://iso-ims.com/
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