What is ISO 9001?
It is an internationally agreed standard written by ISO (The International Organization for Standardization) which has been adopted by over one million organisations worldwide. The standard describes the key features in any organisation necessary to consistently deliver a quality service and product to its clients' in a changing World.
The 9001 Standard has been updated (September 2015) from the 2008 to 2015 version and we are now supporting our clients with the significant changes that make the standard even more robust and appropriate for organisations of all sizes.
There are about twenty features of a correctly implemented ISO 9001 management system which all well-run organisations should adopt and include:
- The organisation has clear understanding of its clients developing needs
- Documentary evidence that all staff are competent and trained to deliver a quality service in area where they work.
- A complaints system that helps the organisation learn from its mistakes and support continual improvement
Without these and the other basic features the organisation will be less able to produce the consistent and reliable service that its clients require.
The ISO 9001 standard is upgraded approximately every eight years to reflect the changing expectations and requirements that all organisations have in delivering a quality service to their clients' and we are anticipating a significant revision to the ISO 9001 standard in 2015.
Why Implement ISO 9001?
Organisations implement an ISO 9001 certified management system for three main reasons.
1-Tender Requirements
ISO 9001 certification is often a pre-condition to be able to tender for work from larger clients who need to protect their own reputation through having a more robust supply chain.
Many larger clients also insist that the certification is JAS ANZ accredited. This means that the effectiveness of the ISO 9001 system is independently assessed by an experienced auditor on an annual basis.
2-Improving Business Performance
Having an effectively implemented and audited ISO 9001 management system also helps organisations improve their performance through both supporting clear strategic focus and ensuring that the basic features of any well run organisation are maintained.
This is particularly useful in helping business owners delegate key responsibilities to their colleagues and to take on a more strategic role.
3- Preparing the business to be sold
Potential purchasers will have greater confidence in buying the business if they know that it has a properly implemented and independently checked JAS ANZ accredited ISO 9001 management system.