ISO 9001 - What’s It All About

If you are familiar with quality standardization, you should have an idea about the International Organization for standardization or ISO. It is composed of a series of numbers which is a code; 9001 being the code that specifies the procedural and documentation requirements for quality management system or QMS. Organizations accredited under ISO 9001 use this standard as their yardstick of quality in manufacturing products or in performing services in order to meet customer demands and comply with regulatory requirements.  The ISO 9001 is adopted by more than one million organizations from over 160 countries all over the world. Companies use its standards which they find helpful in:

·         Structuring processes

·         Improving the efficiency of existing procedures

·         Continuous improvement

The ISO 9001 has ha broad scope. It is applicable to all companies regardless of size and industry. Its benefits to business organizations include:

1. It enables a business to meet customer requirements.

ISO is a benchmark of quality. A company that it certifies has passed a periodic quality audit that checks its compliance to the organization’s procedural and documentation requirements. Many companies seek ISO certification not only to improve the quality of its products but because it is a customer requirement.

2. It works to increase revenues and attract business from new customers.

An ISO certification is a very good marketing angle that you can use to promote your business. It can also expose your business to markets of non-certified companies are cannot penetrate.

3. ISO 9001 improves the quality of your product and improves company reputation.

As a promoter and authority of quality, ISO can certainly raise the level of quality in your organization. This gives your company a good reputation which becomes an advantage to your marketing programs.

4. It increases the number of satisfied customers.

Quality is producing products customers expect. It means fewer complaints and lesser product returns. It all boils down to customer satisfaction which can mean more business for your company

5. ISO Works to Make People in the Organization How Your Business Works

ISO is a system that documents the procedures and processes of each department in an organization. It makes everyone involved in all stages of the production process aware of how things are done, making it easy for them to spot a discrepancy especially when they conduct an internal audit. An ISO 9001 certification is solid evidence that your company is compliant to the international standards of quality.

6. It develops a culture of professionalism and boosts employee morale

An ISO certification is an end result of employee efforts, discipline and sacrifices. It will not happen unless there is change in certain practices and work habits. It is an outcome of collective efforts to comply with ideal standards. The interaction, training and discipline relative to standardization foster professionalism.

7. It promotes consistency

Quality is achieved only by following specific procedures and work instructions. Any deviation can mean non-conformance which can result in a major discrepancy. If you want your company to consistently produce quality products, you must follow procedures consistently – and you must be strict about this on your workers. Remember, when quality diminishes, your customers and revenues will surely diminish.

8. ISO helps to Improve Efficiency, Reduce Waste, and Boost Productivity

A structured system identifies unnecessary steps that can only lead to delays and waste of time and resources. With the introduction of a standard, procedures are optimized, every process is documented and results are easy to check. Documentation makes people accountable. This makes people efficient as it reduces errors and back-jobs. All of these translate to better productivity.

ISO 9001 is a standard of quality that is recognized by the whole world. It does involve an investment but it works to keep your business on top of its game which means more customers and additional revenues. If you want your business to excel, you should consider getting an ISO 9001 certification. To ensure that your employees are able to comply with the qualification and skill set requirement, you may send them for training in their respective fields. A Blackfox certification can help your workers get on the right track.