What Is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for Quality Management. It focuses on regulating and improving the processes you have in place to ensure high-quality products and services.
ISO 9001 sets out the criteria for Quality Management Systems and is the only standard that can be certified to (although this is not a requirement) Quality Management. It can be used by any organisation, large or small, regardless of its field of activity. 9001 ensures high-quality products and/or services through a number of principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement strategies.
There are over one million companies and organizations in over 170 countries certified to ISO 9001.
What Are The Benefits?
- Increased Profits
- Improved Customer Satisfaction
- Address Business Risks and Opportunities
- Win More Tenders
- Issues Are Identified and Resolved Promptly
- Better Productivity and Efficiency
- Consistent Documentation of Processes
Why Choose Candy?
Expert Consultants
Our team have a minimum of 10 years of experience each within the ISO and health and safety industries. We're here to guide you through the processes and answer any questions you may have.
Guaranteed Certification
When you follow our guidance, you are guaranteed to achieve your ISO Certification. We are proud to say we have a 100% sucess rate to date!
Timely Service
We make sure all of our services are provided promptly and within the specified timeframe given. We have a set day rate and will never charge you for the days you don't use.
Friendly Team
Our team are here to help, we want to ensure that you full understand your new management system and the importance of maintaining it in the future. No question is too silly, ask away!
Our Flexible 3 Step Process
Gap Analysis
We will complete a thorough gap analysis and review of your business processes to understand how best to implement an ISO compliant management system.
Build The System
Working with your management team we will build your new management system and where possible align to your existing processes to avoid disruptive change.
Implementation
We will train your workers on the new system and how to maintain it so that you remain compliant. We will also assist you in your preparation for third-party certification audits.
FAQ
How Does ISO 9001 Work?
9001 works by creating structured, consistent procedures to ensure quality throughout the business. It is implemented with the help of an expert consultant who will advise you on each individual clause. Once the quality management system has been implemented, it is time to be reviewed by a separate, third-party auditor. They will examine the procedures you have in place and gauge your compliance, if they are happy that you have met all of the requirements of the standard, they will award you with certification and then visit each year to conduct a surveillance audit and every three years to re-certify you.
The Requirements Explained
Before developing processes or procedures we need to understand the business in regards to how it is run and what factors can hinder or contribute to the running of it, in other words, what does the business do? In determining the context we will identify internal and external issues, interested parties and the scope of the Quality Management System
The leadership clause requires the company’s top management to actively lead the Quality Management System and be able to demonstrate this through policies and responsibilities. Leadership has an emphasis on customer focus with specific applications ranging from support for customer regulatory requirements, risks to enhancing customer satisfaction.
The top management’s responsibilities include establishing and communicating a quality policy, the importance of the QMS and assigning responsibilities to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of the Quality Management System.
Planning addresses the process of determining the activities required to achieve the desired goal. It requires critical thinking about the risks that may occur in future and addressing these through adequate control measures. Companies are required to take a risk-based approach and plan for the uncertainties proactively to prevent undesired effects.
Another aspect of planning is to identify objectives that can be used to monitor and track the progress made.
The company is required to determine and provide the resources needed for the establishment, implementation, maintenance, and continual improvement of the Quality Management System. In doing so the organisation should consider the capabilities of, and constraints on, existing internal resources and what needs to be obtained from external providers. This will include people, infrastructure, the working environment, monitoring and measuring resources, organisational knowledge, competence & awareness, communication, documented information.
Plan, implement and control the processes needed to meet the requirements for the provision of products and services and to meet the requirements of the Quality Management System. These include aspects of design, control of externally provided processes, production and service provision, the release of products and services and control of nonconforming outputs.
Assessment of the company’s own performance in meeting customer and regularity requirements as well as its performance in meeting the requirements of its own Quality Management System and the ISO 9001 standard. These will include activities such as, establishing what needs to be monitored and measured, customer satisfaction, analysis and evaluation of data, completing internal audits and top management carrying out a formal review on the performance of the QMS.
Determine and select opportunities for improvement and implement any necessary actions to meet customer requirements to enhance customer satisfaction. These activities may also include improving products and services to meet requirements and address future needs and expectations, correcting, preventing, or reducing undesired effects, improving the performance and effectiveness of the quality management system and investigating and correcting non-conformance.