ISO 9001 is the quality management standard from the globally prevalent International Organisation for Standardisation. The certification is an internally recognised Quality Management compliance standard that unites all business functions to improve efficiency and productivity.
Thanks to its global status, more than one million companies have achieved ISO 9001. This is a critical business element for many reasons, which we will cover in this blog. With 87% of companies struggling with quality assurance, it is clear that ISO 9001 is not just a nice to have but a necessity.
Continue reading to learn about the opportunities that ISO compliance implementation offers and how ISO 9001 can impact an entire organisation.
What Does the ISO 9001 Accreditation Include?
If you are interested in improving security compliance within your business, ISO certifications are something you have likely come across.
ISO 9001 was first published in 1987 and has since been adopted in more than 160 countries. The latest update was released in 2015 to represent the latest external influences that modern companies deal with daily.
ISO 9001 is a far-reaching compliance award that covers the following quality management topics:
- Management responsibilities and processes regarding the entire operational network. The company in question must demonstrate its ability to ensure consistency with its products and services, which are a direct result of each department’s system.
- Resource management includes both people and processes. This includes everything from designing a strategy to the systems people follow when implementing their part of the supply chain.
- Operational management and data processing include everything from documents stored on the cloud to access that teams must carry out daily tasks.
- The monitoring and carrying out of internal audits and process improvements. Furthermore, ISO 9001 also provides resolution procedures relevant to all companies regardless of industry, size, or age.
All the above factors are important as they consider both customer and regulatory requirements. ISO 9001 also makes it simple for companies to highlight areas of improvement. Within both security compliance and customer experience, identifying these factors are vital.
What are the Benefits of ISO 9001?
Quality management systems boast many benefits which companies of all sizes can use to their advantage. The purpose is to ensure that everyone within a company is accountable for their part of the wider process. Just like cogs turning in a machine, if one becomes fragmented, there will be knock-on effects to the entire procedure.
One of the many reasons that ISO 9001 has grown by 4% in recent years is its benefits. These include the following:
Great Efficiency for all Departments
Business operational efficiency is one of the most critical factors for organisations.
ISO 9001 provides the processes needed to ensure that systems run smoothly. This could be a physical operation, such as a production or manufacturing line, or a virtual one that relies on cloud-based software. No matter the product at hand, this standard is ideal for giving each department a compliant way to operate.
This ensures less wastage, faster deliveries, and improved employee participation. Efficiency does just relate to time, but also money. Companies that work more wisely have a greater chance of witnessing stronger profits and less need for new system investment.
Due to the ongoing need for audits and compliance checks, ISO 9001 is constantly looking at how a business works and providing solutions for making improvements.
Strong Risk Management Strategy
Risk management is more critical than ever before.
With influencing factors such as the global supply chain price hikes and ripples still being felt from the pandemic, businesses cannot afford to lose any money.
ISO 9001 is hinged on highlighting and implementing the top risk management procedures. As the word strategy would indicate, this is so that organisations are prepared for what might be thrown their way. This could be as simple as a part change or a significant impact such as a mass production error.
The ongoing compliant attention ensures that this strategy is constantly being updated, making it resilient to modern threats.
Improved Competitiveness
Consistency is a huge selling point when it comes to being competitive.
Suppliers and customers look at companies that confidently demonstrate their professional approach to their products or service. Companies can launch new products and services backed by data and assurance by having a handle on the major business processes.
Other factors, such as improved communication channels and variation from competitors, are achieved through the bespoke application of ISO 9001 to a business. ISO 9001 is versatile, allowing it to be seamlessly adopted by companies of all sizes and from varying sectors. The aim is to let companies use compliance in their own way, elevating performance directly into competitive capabilities.
Structure for Scaling is Ensured
Scaling within a business is essential as it makes milestones achievable. Increasing and decreasing operations also helps protect a company when its demand is different to usual.
ISO 9001 ensures that the same quality management processes are implemented no matter what happens within the business. Whether operations are larger than normal or are being scaled back, they ensure that consistent approaches are made which deliver the same product. As with other business activities, ISO 9001 also allows issues to be highlighted and corrected as soon as they arise.
Who is ISO 9001 Ideal For?
- Companies that rely on high levels of customer satisfaction and positive experiences. This includes sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, engineering, manufacturing, and community services, to name just a few.
- Businesses that are providing a product or service.
- Organisations looking to break into new markets and territories with complete confidence.
- Established brands that want to elevate their market position and take their operations to the next level.
How Does ISO 9001 Improve Customer Satisfaction Levels?
As we have covered, one of the main reasons that organisations choose to align with ISO 9001 is to improve customer happiness. With customers likely to spend 140% more after a positive experience, companies cannot afford to provide defective products or services to the market.
ISO 9001 implements processes that help in a few different ways.
Firstly, it facilitates systems that treat customers as a priority. Whether it’s processing a direct customer comment or making an essential change to a process that will result in a better product or service, ISO 9001 makes it possible.
The standard also requires organisations to monitor customer perceptions. This includes various methods such as surveys, comments online, or event market-share information. The information that is obtained forms the decisions made by management within organisations. As quality management relates directly to the perception of a product or process, satisfaction must be high. Otherwise, the processes are not achieving what they are outlined to do. All data should be filed and used to justify the reason for changes in line with compliance measures.
To summarise, ISO 9001 gives you the tools needed to provide excellent service in a way that makes the most operational sense.
How Do I Achieve ISO 9001?
Becoming ISO 9001 is easy when you have a professional IT agency by your side.
You will need to implement a quality management system that aligns with all this accreditation’s requirements. To do this, a strategic approach must be made, which takes factors such as wider company compliance (such as ISO 27001 and ISO 22301) into account, budget, employee knowledge, and customer expectations.
When ready, you can start the certification process, which will involve various audits and questionnaires to be completed. Once you achieve the accreditation, you then need to consider how you will ensure long-term compliance. ISO is so highly regarded as it maintains a strong performance, it doesn’t just create one. With the right quality tools in place, you can grow a business with less worries.
Please do contact us today if we can help you get ISO 9001 ready.
