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ISO 9001

ISO 9001 Certification Simplified with Sysatek

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

What is Quality Management

It’s about making sure that the products and services we produce are what the customer wants and that we end up with a happy customer who comes back for more. But it’s also about protecting our business from risks and capitalising on our opportunities, wherever they come from. We also have to meet our obligations to interested parties, including complying with the law and regulators. If we maintain a reputation for quality this will benefit our business and provide a long-term future. Lastly, one of the drivers for better quality is the need to satisfy tenders where ISO9001 certification is increasingly required.

  • Provide products and services that meet customer requirements
  • Maximise customer satisfaction
  • Address risks and opportunities
  • Meet obligations to stakeholders
  • Preserve our reputation
  • Meet tender requirements

Stakeholders – e.g. customers, regulators, shareholders and suppliers

A part of the broader ISO 9000 family of standards, the ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). The certification framework outlines different criteria to define quality management principles, such as optimizing leadership and management within an organization, focusing on the customer, improving internal processes, and fine-tuning general methods for continuous improvement.

Based on Geneva, Switzerland, ISO, or the International Organization for Standardization applies to organizations of all sizes in different industry verticals. As per the 2015 revision, more than one million organizations from over 160 countries have applied for the ISO 9001 standard requirements and the ISO 9001 provides a process-oriented approach to document and review the structure, procedures, and responsibilities to achieve effective quality management based on the plan-do-check-act methodology.

The Origin Story of ISO 9001

ISO 9001 was introduced to provide a universally recognized framework for consistent quality management across borders. The first version of ISO 9001 was published in 1987, and it has undergone several revisions to adapt to changing business environments and technological advancements, with significant updates in 1994, 2000, 2008, and most recently in 2015.

What is ISO 9001

  • The ISO9001 standard is a 29-page document that describes what an organization must have in place to ensure that quality is managed effectively.
    • It is what is termed a “requirements standard”. It is supported by other documents, such as ISO9000 and ISO9004, which provide more expansive guidance about how to meet the requirements.
  • ISO9001 is one of the more established standards created by the ISO and has been adopted by more than one million organizations worldwide. It was updated in 2015 and generally has a seven-year lifespan before the next version will be published. The ISO9001 standard sets out what must be done to put a QMS in place and, if we do this, we have the option to become certified to the standard as evidence that our QMS is fully in place.
  • There are many companies that can act as certification bodies and these are accredited by an international accreditation body. This ensures that their certification of our QMS carries weight, and is trusted in the marketplace.
    • We will choose a single company to certify our organization, and they will do so in a two-stage audit process.
    • If successful, we will then have annual surveillance visits, followed by a re-certification every three years.

What does a QMS look like?

  • At the highest level, there is a policy which defines our approach to the achievement of quality in everything we do, and is fully supported by top management.
  • The QMS then relies upon a set of people who understand their roles in creating quality products and services which, in essence, is everyone within the organization.
  • The quality policy is supported by a set of processes which ensure that objectives are set and monitored, activities are planned, resources are allocated and risks are managed effectively.
  • The QMS encompasses every aspect of the organization’s activities, with particular focus on customer satisfaction, a process approach and continual improvement over time.
  • As part of the QMS there is a requirement for internal auditing and regular management reviews to ensure that everything stays on track.

What Does ISO 9001 Cover?

Primarily, the ISO 9001:2015 is structured around seven quality management principles. These include the following:

  • Customer focus for understanding and meeting customer needs.
  • Leadership for establishing unity of purpose and direction.
  • Engagement of People involves competent, empowered, and engaged people at all levels to enhance the organization’s ability to create value.
  • Process Approach for getting consistent and predictable results more effectively and efficiently when activities are understood and managed as an interrelated process
  • Continuous improvement for keeping processes and controls streamlined

Evidence-based decision-making relies on the analysis and evaluation of data to get desired results.

Why Do Brands Need ISO 9001 Certification?

Brands need ISO 9001 certification for a wide range of reasons. Some of them are listed as follows:

  • Customer Satisfaction: For one, the ISO 9001 quality management systems focus on meeting customer requirements and improving customer satisfaction. So, certified organizations can assure customers that they are committed to quality and continuous improvement without any pitfalls.
  • Market Access: In many industries, ISO 9001 certification is also a prerequisite for bidding on contracts or entering new markets, especially in international trade.
  • Efficiency and Cost Savings: With ISO 9001, organizations can reap overall profitability by making processes efficient, reducing waste, and lowering costs.
  • Risk Management: The ISO 9001 standard encourages a more systematic approach to risk management, so organizations can identify and solve potential issues before they become critical.
  • Employee Engagement and Better Morale: With a clear and well-implemented QMS, organizations can have better-defined roles and responsibilities, hence improving employee morale and engagement.

Example of a business carrying the ISO9001 logo – proof that the business is certified to the standard.

Ready to Get Certified?

Well, achieving the ISO 9001 certification can be daunting. However, with professionals at Sysatek, you can make the process easy. Our team of auditors and consultants can conduct a thorough assessment of your current QMS to identify gaps between existing practices and ISO 9001 requirements. In addition, they can also help with designing and documenting processes and procedures that comply with ISO 9001 standards and offer support during the implementation phase to establish new processes, update existing ones, and integrate the QMS into the daily operations of the organization.

Need more information, or want an estimate? Contact us today and schedule a security consultation!

QMS BENEFITS

  • A structured framework for setting high-quality objectives
  • Ensures that a repeatable process is followed to meet customer demands
  • Encourages continual improvement
  • Ensures that everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities
  • Embeds quality into the organization
  • Get clear management commitment
  • Form a project team
  • Agree the scope of the QMS
  • Perform a gap assessment against the ISO9001 standard
  • Define our quality policy
  • Start to engage fully with the business