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<p>Certification of ISO standards by the&nbsp;<a href="file:///C:\Users\nhooks-100\Desktop\Blog%20and%20Infographic%20Photos\PeriodicTable.gif">International Organization of Standardization</a>&nbsp;(ISO)&nbsp;have become a major expectation in modern manufacturing and&nbsp;allow contract manufacturers to provide proof of adherence for their quality management systems (QMS).&nbsp;<strong></strong></p>
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<p><strong>ISO 9001: General</strong></p>
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<p>First Published in 1987, the&nbsp;ISO 9001&nbsp;requirements are the basics of an effective QMS. This approval covers essential quality management, and is seen as the standard requirement for manufacturing and service oriented organizations. The ISO 9001 consists of a series of basic standards that must be implemented in your particular organization based on how the company runs its business. Certification involves a two phase auditing process and a reevaluation process every three years in which the manufacturer must display ‘continual improvement’ in their QMS.</p>
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<p><strong>ISO 9001:&nbsp; Quality Management System</strong></p>
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<p>ISO 9001 sets out the criteria for a quality management system and is the only standard in the family that can be certified to (although this is not a requirement). It can be used by any organization, large or small, regardless of its field of activity.</p>
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<p>This standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement. Using ISO 9001 helps ensure that customers get consistent, good quality products and services, which in turn brings many business benefits.</p>
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<p><strong>How is ISO 9001 Implemented?</strong></p>
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<p>Starting with management support and identifying the customer requirements for the QMS, you will need to start with defining your quality policy and quality objectives, which together define the overall scope and implementation of the Quality Management System. Along with these, you will need to create the mandatory and additional processes and procedures necessary for your organization to properly create and deliver your product or service.</p>
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<p><strong>Is ISO 9001 worth it?</strong></p>
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<p>The benefits of ISO 9001 cannot be overstated; companies large and small have used this standard to great effect, securing cost savings and additional revenue. Here are just a few of these benefits:</p>
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<p><strong>Improve your image and credibility</strong> – When customers see that you are certified by a recognized certification body, they will understand that you have implemented a system that is focused on meeting customer requirements and improvement. This improves their trust that you will deliver what you have promised, and it will get you new clients.</p>
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<p><strong>Improve customer satisfaction </strong>– One of the key principles of the ISO 9001 QMS is the focus on improving customer satisfaction by identifying and meeting customer requirements and needs. By improving satisfaction, you improve repeat customer business.</p>
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<p><strong>Fully integrated processes</strong> – By using the process approach of ISO 9001, you not only look at the individual processes in your organization, but also at the interactions of those processes. By doing this, you can more easily find areas for improvement and resource savings within your organization.</p>
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<p><strong>Use evidence-based decision making</strong> – Ensuring that you are making decisions based on good evidence is a key to the success of an ISO 9001 QMS. By ensuring that your decisions are based on good evidence, you can better target resources to the best effect to correct problems and improve your organizational efficiency and effectiveness.</p>
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<p><strong>Create a culture of continual improvement</strong> – With continual improvement as the main output of the QMS, you can attain ever-increasing gains in savings of time, money, and other resources. By making this the culture of your company, you can focus your workforce on improving the processes they are directly responsible for.</p>
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<p>Thus, ISO certification of the QMS standard is very often a customer requirement for its supplier, but the standard itself does not require a certification. When the customer requires the certification, it is not acceptable only to implement the ISO 9001 requirements and claim conformance to them; you need also to undergo the certification process and have certification body auditors confirm that your processes meet all requirements. Companies also go for the certification because they find a benefit in being able to demonstrate to interested parties that an independent party has confirmed their QMS.</p>
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