ISO 9001 - quality management systems
Increase your efficiency, fuel your growth
- Provide A High-Quality Service Thanks to Better Structured Management Systems
- Drive Efficiency Across your Organisation With a More Holistic Set-up
- Ensure your Trustworthiness by Adhering to Globally Recognised Standards
ISO 9001 overview
ISO 9001 is a Quality Management System (QMS) that was developed for businesses looking to systemise their processes and operate efficiently. No matter how big or small your business is, this certification offers excellent value in driving efficiency and enabling you to upscale whilst retaining a threshold of quality. Essentially, ISO 9001 certified businesses hold a mark that represents a certain standard of quality, providing stakeholders – such as partners, clients and suppliers – with reassurance as to the quality of their business.
ISO 9001 OVERVIEW
ISO 9001 is a Quality Management System (QMS) that was developed for businesses looking to systemise their processes and operate efficiently. No matter how big or small your business is, this certification offers excellent value in driving efficiency and enabling you to upscale whilst retaining a threshold of quality. Essentially, ISO 9001 certified businesses hold a mark that represents a certain standard of quality, providing stakeholders – such as partners, clients and suppliers – with reassurance as to the quality of their business.
What are the benefits of achieving ISO 9001?
Being the most trusted and well-known quality management standard, achieving and maintaining ISO 9001 certification can positively impact your business in a variety of ways.
Quality & Consistency
ISO 9001 is the certification that reflects an organization’s commitment to creating products and services that meet customer expectations. These are met consistently through standardized processes and continuous improvement.
Customer Satisfaction
Achieving this ISO certification increases the chances of gaining customer loyalty and earning their trust – the quality your brand resonates will be the wow factor that charms your target audience.
Business Growth and Competitive Advantage
It’s simple: ISO 9001 will enhance your credibility, which leads to new market opportunities and ultimately, increased efficiency and profitability.
What Topics Does ISO 9001 cover?
First published in 1987 by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the ISO 9001 implements the ‘plan-do-check-act’ methodology and provides a systems-based approach to record-keeping and analysing the responsibilities, framework and systems required to have an effective level of management within a company. The original standard included:
- The General Requirements for a QMS, including documented data, strategic planning and establishing process interactions
- Management Duties
- Management of resources, including human resources and a company’s work environment
- Product realisation, from the design process to product delivery
- Quantification, analysis, and advancement of the QMS by means of internal audits, and preventive and disciplinary actions.
The most recent version of this standard, the ISO 9001:2015, was released in 2015 with a few key revisions, including:
- A new focus on risk-based thinking to improve the applied approach
- Introducing new terminology
- Restructuring information listed in the original standard
- Improved service applications
- More leadership requirements
Reap Results by Achieving Certification
ISO 9001 is the only standard in the ISO 9000 series which offers organisations the opportunity for certification. Achieving ISO 9001 certification provides that your organisation is a prominent player within its industry because it has a system to:
- Meet customer requirements
- Take all mistakes as opportunities to learn
- Achieve daily continual improvement on all its key objectives
Work with An Expert
For some companies, it might be tempting to read the standard and attempt to implement these processes without receiving any expert guidance. However, this is typically not enough to implement an efficient, long-term management system. A literal interpretation of this standard may easily create an overly bureaucratic management system, yielding the opposite results of what could otherwise be achieved. Instead of a structured system based on the smart analysis of data, you could easily end up with an overly complicated and inefficient system.
Instead, hiring an expert consultancy with years of experience is the best way to effectively meet your ISO standards. Make sure to choose an expert you trust, to provide you with a grounded approach that will simplify your life, rather than over-complicate it.
Certification Bodies
When looking to get ISO certification, choosing to work with the right certification body is a crucial part of the process. It is important to make sure that your certification body is fully accredited, as only these entities are truly qualified to provide ISO certification. In Malta, we have a number of accredited certification bodies, all of whom are able to provide a thorough assessment of the ISO 9001 standard requirements.
Luke’s vast amount of experience has allowed him to work with a full range of ISO certification bodies, and he has never failed to help his clients gain ISO accreditation.
GET YOUR JOURNEY TO ISO CERTIFICATION FUNDED
As a Malta Enterprise approved advisor, Luke can help his clients reap the full benefits of currently available funding. Applicable to any business based in Malta, the Government of Malta’s current funding schemes have never been better. The precise amount depending on your company’s size and ownership structure.
For more information, simply get in touch for a free consultation session! Luke will help you to make the most of the best available funding incentives applicable to your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is ISO 9001 important?
ISO 9001 forms a crucial foundation for other management systems. Besides helping businesses and organizations to gain efficiency efficient and improve customer satisfaction, getting ISO 9001 certification marks a proactive approach that fosters international trust.
HOW LONG WILL MY ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION LAST?
Your ISO 9001 certification will need to be renewed after a period of three years. To maintain your certification, an assessment must be conducted once a year and re-certification is issued every three years to ensure that your management systems continue to operate within the ISO 9001 required standards.
Does ISO 9001 use a high level structure?
Yes, like other ISO standards that are concerned with different types of management systems, the ISO 9001 uses a high-level structure. This indicates that the ISO 9001 may be effortlessly integrated within any existing ISO management system.
How long does it take to implement ISO 9001?
The amount of time it takes your company to earn your certification all depends on the size and complexity of your business. Luke will help you to make this process as swift and efficient as possible for your convenience.
Does my organisation need to get ISO 9001 certified to improve our quality management?
Whilst organisations can attempt to optimise their risk management without certification, ISO 9001 provides a structured approach which is sustainable and internationally trusted.
Therefore, although it is not necessary, it is a recommended tried-and-tested means of achieving risk management.
How Does ISO 9001 Documentation Work?
Approaching ISO 9001 risk and result documentation may be done in different ways such as, using a risk register and mitigation actions, identifying the risk points on a process diagram, or acknowledging that your systems and procedures are achieved in a specific way that reduces risk.
In what way Do Changes To ISO 9001 Updates Affect Integrated Systems?
In many ways, updates are designed to aid processes already integrated. To ensure this, we’ll help you carefully plan any transition dates and transition plans, so that your processes will continue to work smoothly.