ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management Systems
Published in September 2015, the ISO 9001:2015 Standard supersedes ISO 9001:2008.
Why was the Standard updated and what were the changes?
The business world is continually changing and the Quality Management Standard has been updated to better fit today’s needs.
There’s been a shift towards more service-based businesses worldwide in recent years, and the terminology of the ISO 9001:2015 Standard has been adjusted to make it easier for these service-based organisations to interpret the true intent of the Standard.
A “risk-based thinking” approach has been introduced, to determine the requirements of the business and its management systems. This new approach has enabled a considerable reduction in the prescriptive requirements of the old Standard, which have been replaced by performance-based requirements, providing greater flexibility for the management systems to suit the needs of the individual organisation. There is now no mandatory requirement for documented procedures! The organisation determines its own requirements to effectively manage its own processes!
There’s more focus on continually identifying opportunities for improvement for future needs and expectations in meeting customer requirements.
There’s a greater focus on management demonstrating leadership and commitment.
A common framework for all Management System Standards has been introduced to provide greater consistency across all the ISO Management Standards.
The Standard
This International Standard provides the framework for world-class business growth via a risk and opportunity based process approach to managing your business. It is part of the ISO 9000 Family of Standards.
It enables businesses to achieve, as well as benchmark, consistent performance and service, and not only meet, but exceed, customer, statutory and regulatory requirements. The focus on continually enhancing customer satisfaction means very happy customers, who then buy more, refer more and cost less to retain.
It’s now based around seven quality management principles
(there were previously eight):
1. Customer focus
2. Leadership
3. Engagement of people
4. Process approach
5. Improvement
6. Evidence-based decision making
7. Relationship management
What are the benefits of
this Standard for your business?
HIGHER PROFIT MARGINS
Via improved operational efficiency and waste reduction
MORE NEW CUSTOMERS
Referred by existing happier customers
IMPROVED ACCOUNTABILITY
& TRACEABILITY
With more effective internal processes
GREATER COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Quality Certification could be the point of difference that wins your next contract
WIDER MARKET POTENTIAL
Quality Certification could open up new markets that you didn’t previously quality to tender for
PROMOTES INTERNATIONAL TRADE
When Certification is achieved
REDUCED BUSINESS RISK
With processes in place to identify, control and continually re-assess the effectiveness of risk controls in place
REDUCED STAFF TURNOVER
Staff morale and motivation improves with greater clarity of their role in relation to overall business objectives
What types of businesses will benefit from Certification to the ISO 9001:2015 Standard?
All businesses can benefit from implementation of the Standard. Many businesses will also benefit from Certification to the ISO 9001:2015 Standard.
Certification:
- Proves to the outside world that your organisation is serious about customer satisfaction;
- Is sometimes the only point of difference against your closest competition when bidding for work; an
- Can be a contractual requirement imposed by your client/s.
How the Certification Process Works
Firstly, we’ll work with you to determine exactly which Standards and Certifications are right for your business, what you want to achieve out of the process for your business, and identify any deadlines you need to achieve Certifications by. This is your chance to get all your questions answered!
Then we’ll go through with you what you already have in place and how effective you think it is, and what you’d like to see change. Depending on what you already have, the next step might be a Gap Analysis against the requirements of the Standard – this will give us a to-do list of what needs to be done before commencing the formal Certification process.
When it’s time for your Certification Audit, it’s conducted in two stages:
Stage 1 (Readiness Review) is a full review of your business processes and documented information to ensure all requirements of the Standard (relevant to your business) have been addressed.
Stage 2 (Certification Audit) is an assessment conducted at your office (and project sites, if applicable) to ensure that you actually do what your processes and documented information say you do.
All Certifications run on a three-year cycle, usually with audits 12 months apart, so, this initial audit process is then followed by:
Year 2: Surveillance Audit
Year 3: Surveillance Audit
Then we start again with a Triennial Audit, followed by two annual Surveillance Audits, and the cycle continues…
How We Can Help
Your personal Consultant gets to know you, your business, and what you need to achieve out of your systems and your Certifications.
We take care of the whole process for you, answer all your questions and adjust our services to suit your resources and your individual business needs. We’ll be there for you to coach you through the preparation, through the audits and ongoing.
We assist in selecting your Conformity Assessment Body to ensure they have the appropriate knowledge of your industry to ensure you achieve the certification.
We understand that every business is unique – we want this to be a meaningful and value-adding process for you.
