Who needs ISO 9001:2015?
It is not a necessity to become accredited to the ISO 9001 standard; however the advantages of working to the standard are great and could make the difference between your business turning a modest and a major profit. For more about the specific advantages please see the why do I need it? section of the website.
All businesses can benefit from some if not all areas of the standard. It is a tool to ensure effective and efficient practices are put into place and that once in place they are consistently monitored and reviewed in order to continually improve and update them.
ISO 9001:2015 is beneficial to small and large businesses alike. You may think that your business is too small to need set procedures, however it is a good idea to implement these while the business is at a level where this adaptation is a relatively small task (providing that you already follow sensible methods of practice!). By taking this approach while the business is small it will not only mean that it becomes part and parcel of inducting new staff to the organisation but it in itself will be a beneficial tool for any future business growth.
ISO 9001 places emphasis on the continual review of company performance and attention to any internal or external changes that could affect the business. Monitoring these areas closely and taking any necessary preventative action, paves the way for successful growth. Addressing potential problems before they occur as opposed to adopting a fire fighting practice supports the smooth running of your business and promotes maximum efficiency.
If your business spends time and money on corrective action that could with hindsight have been prevented, the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system is for you.
Equally if your business suffers from poor supplier performance or high rates of customer dissatisfaction ISO can help you to identify and address underlying causes and negative patterns of behaviour through monitoring supplier performance and customer feedback. Identifying these problems is the first step to solving them, from there the system supports the development of positive preventative action to anticipate potential future problems and put measures in place to deal with them before they can occur.
Many companies who have implemented ISO 9001 report clearly visible improvements in their productivity, increased levels of customer satisfaction and a reduction in product returns. A well implemented quality system helps to define the processes you use every day and develop working guidelines, this ensures the continuity of procedures within your business.
