Why quality is important
Any organisation, large or small, can benefit from a Quality Management System (QMS). They’ve been in place within the aerospace, defence and health sectors for many years as they simply cannot afford to make mistakes. Solving similar issues over and over is costly and counter-productive. Having a QMS helps to methodically identify and eliminate problems as well as clarify procedures. Therefore, an efficient QMS cuts re-work and costs.
As well as setting out to continually improving business operations, a QMS is also essential in improving product and customer service quality, helping to set expectations and improves communication.
Introducing ISO 9001
Arguably the best known way of implementing a QMS is by achieving compliance to the ISO 9001 standard. It is the internationally recognised quality standard for quality management and assurance. Now, in the latest revision of ISO 9001:2008, it provides a sound framework for achieving quality at every level in an organisation. The standard can be implemented without certification, but in order to gain credibility with stakeholders, third-party certification is considered essential by many.
In the past there were critics of the ISO 9001 standard, but since a major overhaul in 2000, the uptake has been on a grand scale. The standard is so well revered, it is often a mandatory stipulation for public tenders and major supply chains.
The reason ISO 9001:2000 became so successful is because it had a greater focus on how companies meet customer needs, how they integrate those needs into the operation and how they evaluate customer feedback. It was the most extensive overhaul of the standard in its history.
Implementing ISO 9001 improves communication and feedback both inside and outside the organisation, improving relationships with clients and staff alike. The standard helps to create a reliable system for documenting procedures, which helps set performance expectations, promote consistency and can reduce new employee training time.
Going for certification
Implementing a QMS is a positive step, but for your clients and stakeholders, simply stating you conform to ISO 9001 is not enough. Demonstrating that you have been formally assessed by a third-party Certification Body ensures you have fulfilled all required aspects of the standard. It clearly demonstrates your professionalism to clients and your serious attitude to quality.
Below are just a handful of comments from our clients who explained their reasons for going for ISO 9001 certification:
“Company has recently expanded - wanted to be seen as more professional by customers”
Standard One Property Developments
“To gain recognition from clients and other businesses”
Highbridge Trading UK
“To prove to clients that we had a proven quality system in place”
Parasol
“Have always tried to work at the highest quality standard, and wanted to prove that to the wider world.”
Reiver Business Services
“Credibility for customers, to demonstrate that we’re not ‘cowboys’ but that we adhere to required standards.“
Screenfix
Of course, simply improving credibility isn’t the only benefit of achieving formal certification to the ISO 9001 standard. For the majority of public tenders, such as contracts for local councils, having ISO 9001 is mandatory. Supply chains managed by large multi-nationals also often insist on potential suppliers having ISO 9001 certification in order to be considered. This is so the supply chain has consistency and meets at least a minimum standard. This was the biggest incentive for many of clients:
“A tick box for many tenders”
Comms Express
“Because we had to in order to reach the client group we were aiming for – not short listed otherwise”
Panthera Group
“Requirement of public sector tenders”
Thomson Environmental Services
“Required by majority of our suppliers/traders”
ASB (UK)
“To further our business opportunities, was being requested more and more by potential clients”
FPH Rail
Getting Started
Previous experience working with management systems is of course a bonus, but not essential to get ISO 9001 implemented in your organisation. It is key to have a project champion, someone who can effectively co-ordinate the work needed in order to keep things moving forward.
A consultant is often a presumption, but not a necessity. A major part of implementation is writing a Quality Manual, and by doing this internally, greater ownership and value is often gained.
What is important is top-level support, as this is how a successful QMS will work it's way through the whole organisation.
For further explanation on how to get started with ISO 9001 certification, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Further Reading
The British Assessment Bureau's reputation was established in 1969 and we achieved pre-eminent status in 1997.
As well as providing certification to internationally recognised standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, we provide bespoke assessment services for people, services and organisations of all sizes.
For more information visit www.british-assessment.co.uk.
