Meeting the requirements of ISO 9001 can be hugely beneficial for a company. It is an exacting but achievable process that delivers real benefits for businesses looking to better meet the needs of their customers. By meeting the requirements, they can grow and develop, gaining a reputation for providing a quality service from beginning to end.
As well as improved customer satisfaction, following the requirements of ISO 9001 can lead to increased efficiency, greater competitiveness, improved communication and collaboration, and ultimately to an enhanced reputation. Companies that are ISO 9001 compliant are perceived as more reliable and trustworthy, both by customers and other stakeholders.
Many organisations fear that obtaining ISO 9001 certification will be too involved and complex and are unsure about what might be required.
So how does it work, why is it important and what are the requirements of ISO 9001?
Continuous improvement
The requirements set out in ISO 9001 are based on the principle of continuous improvement. They are designed to help organisations work consistently to meet the needs of their customers and other stakeholders.
As an internationally recognised standard for quality management, it details the various set requirements of a quality management system (QMS). Regardless of whether you manufacture products or provide a particular service, ISO 9001 focuses on regulating and improving the processes you currently have in place in order to maintain a high standard throughout the business.
What are the main requirements of ISO 9001?
There are five key requirements for obtaining ISO 9001 certification. These are:
Quality Management Systems (QMS)
Organisations looking to gain ISO 9001 certification will need to develop a QMS. This is a formalised system that documents processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving policies and objectives. It should help an organisation recognise any particular needs and areas to improve.
To help the organisation achieve these improvement goals a QMS will set out procedures, instructions and records, internal systems and processes, data management protocols and quality audits and analysis. It will focus on improving customer satisfaction through improved product quality and service delivery.
Management Responsibility
Senior management within the organisation will need to demonstrate leadership and commitment to the development and implementation of the QMS. They need to establish the quality objectives for the organisation and ensure that these are communicated effectively to all employees.
They will need to establish a process for identifying and managing risks that could affect the organisation’s ability to meet customer requirements. Their processes will need to be documented and employees should receive satisfactory training in the processes that they need to follow.
Management will need to monitor the performance of the QMS and then take any corrective or preventive action and continue to identify any opportunities for improvement. Finally, they will need to ensure that the necessary resources are allocated to support the QMS.
Resource Management
Organisations must have a process in place for the planning and acquisition of resources needed to achieve their quality objectives. This includes both physical resources and human resources. The organisation must also have a process for determining the necessary competencies and training for its personnel. Management will be required to provide resources to their employees across multiple departments to understand, implement, and maintain ISO requirements.
Organisations will need to establish processes for identifying, documenting, and providing access to the resources needed to support their activities. It should also include processes for monitoring and controlling the use of these resources to ensure that they are being used effectively and efficiently.
The overall goal of the resource management requirement in ISO 9001 is to ensure that the necessary resources are in place to consistently deliver products and services to better meet the needs and expectations of their customers.
Product Realisation
The product realisation requirement for ISO 9001 is designed to ensure that the organisation is able to consistently deliver products and services that meet the needs and expectations of its customers. It has a number of different elements, including planning, design and development, production and delivery.
If applicable, the organisation must have a process in place for planning, coordinating and verifying correctly the installation of those products and services. The product realisation requirement sets out to maintain a high level of product and service quality and delivery.
Measurement, Analysis and Improvement
The final requirement for ISO 9001 certification ensures that an organisation has the tools in place to fully understand the overall effectiveness of the QMS and whether it provides an adequate foundation for continued improvement. This will include monitoring and measurement metrics as well as customer satisfaction reports.
Provision for internal audits will need to be established. Organisation leaders will be required to provide documentation and analysis reports about how non-conforming products and services will be controlled. Any corrective and preventive actions that may be required will need to be set out.
How does an organisation become compliant with ISO 9001?
To be certified as compliant with ISO 9001 an organisation will need to go through an audit process to demonstrate that it is meeting the requirements of the standard. The certification process can take anywhere from three to six months, with the length of time taken being determined by the size and complexity of the required Quality Management System (QMS).
Achieving ISO 9001 with Candy Management
At Candy Management, we have an outstanding reputation for helping organisations reach ISO certification. In fact, we have a 100% success rate to date. Our team have a minimum of 10 years of experience within the ISO and health and safety industries. We’re here to guide you through the processes and answer any questions you may have.
If you’d like to discuss your ISO 9001 requirements or your quality management system in more detail, then please feel free to get in touch with our knowledgeable team. You can either give us a call on 0161 470 7929 or submit your enquiry by emailing us at info@candymc.co.uk.
To contact us outside of opening hours, you can also use our handy online contact form. Simply fill in this contact form with your basic contact details as well as your enquiry and once we’ve received your enquiry, we’ll ensure a member of our staff gets in touch shortly.