ISO9001 Importance
It can sometimes feel as though one is navigating an impossible road of regulations and standards when it comes to health and safety. Compliance can be overwhelming. It is important to remember that these standards are in fact, valuable and useful tools in the arsenal of any organisation. In this blog we outline a few basic facts regarding ISO900. Simply put, it is a quality management system that ensures a company operates and delivers at a certain and maintained standard.
The first version of ISO 9000, published in 1987, was based on the BS5750 standard and influenced by Defense Military standards. The second version of ISO 9000:1994 was published in 1994. This version stressed quality assurance through preventative action. The third version, published in 2000 as ISO 9001:2000, radically changed thinking. It is believed that process management should be the core of the standard. ISO 9001:2000 allowed a clearer view of the standard by outlining that it should be a documented system, not just a system of documents.
The fourth version is the ISO 9001:2008 standard. This edition better explains the 2000 edition requirements and aimed to increase compatibility with other management systems, such as ISO 14001. The fifth major revision, ISO 9001:2015, is the revision we follow today.
This system is suitable for companies who want to prove that they can deliver high-quality products and services, which will then fulfill client requirements and regulatory needs as well as enhance customer satisfaction. ISO9001 can also be integrated with other essential and widespread management system standards such as ISO14001 (environmental management systems)
The ISO9001 model lends itself strongly to risk based thinking and the PDAC model. Risk-based thinking is an important part of the process approach itself because before one begins the process, one must identify any hazards and opportunities so that one may decide which process best meets the objectives in a given context.
So how does the certification process work? There are a few simple steps; The starting point which outlines the scope of the certification program, the pre audit, which is a gap analysis audit against the standard, a certification readiness audit, implementation audit and finally monitoring and re certification audits.
The benefits to implementing this system are numerous namely, improved customer retention, satisfaction, and acquisition, exhibition of management commitment towards quality of services and products, improving cost control through conserving input materials, reducing defects that result in complaints, therefore reducing compensation costs, increase in efficiency, productivity, and profit, creation of a knowledge database for effective management of company knowledge, consistent outcomes are measured and monitored.
It is well worth the time and effort for any organisation to invest in the implementation of the ISO9001 system and those adjacent. Contact us today for any compliance assistance or further information.
