ISO is the International Organization for Standardization, a non-governmental, international federation that seeks to provide knowledge and develop organizations in more than 140 countries. It does this by promoting standardization that facilitates international trade.
Perhaps the main standard created by the organization is ISO 9001, which certifies that a company has reached the desired standard of quality management. A certification of this type guarantees that the company in question can create safe products that maintain consistent characteristics.
For example, think of a chair that you sit on to work or eat your meals. The manufacturer of that piece of furniture most likely chose suppliers of screws and nuts that had certifications attesting to their quality and durability.
Everything we’ve talked about so far is just a small part of the importance and usefulness of ISO certifications. In the rest of this article, we’ll explore more aspects of this topic, so stay tuned!
What is ISO 9001 for?
As stated above, the main function of ISO 9001 is to help organizations ensure that they comply with the requirements of their customers and the regulations of the countries in which they operate. To this end, the International Organization for Standardization provides a framework for companies to achieve consistent quality.
In other words, ISO 9001 is designed to help your company have more satisfied customers. One way to do this is to improve your processes by identifying and eliminating inefficiencies.
The result is simplified procedures and reduced waste. Additionally, the framework encourages a risk-based thinking style — enabling organizations to mitigate potential threats to their operations.
10 benefits of ISO certification
Two main benefits motivate companies to seek ISO certification: improving their internal processes and building trust in their brand. The process will ensure that your organization has established procedures and policies to achieve the desired quality.
Check out the top ten benefits of seeking ISO certification:
- Build trust in your organization and your brand
- Have more competitiveness in your industry
- Improve understanding of your business and its procedures
- Improve the quality and consistency of your product
- employee engagement and commitment
- Work with experienced auditors and have external validation for your systems
- Increase the efficiency and productivity of the entire company
- Improve customer service and consumer satisfaction
- Promote information security for your team and your products
- Alleviate your organization’s pain points
Reasons to have an ISO certification
Why do companies follow the rules of an entity that does not require them? In many sectors, this freedom is limited. However, many companies choose ISO certification because they understand that it is beneficial.
According to the ISO Survey 2017, more than 1.5 million companies have some kind of certification. Only the ten most sought-after certifications were considered.
Two-thirds of these companies chose ISO 9001. Below we will discuss the reasons that justify such an effort to obtain certification.
1. Standardization
The objectives of standardization are:
- Simplify production in different industries
- Ensure product consistency and safety
- Promote global collaboration and compatibility.
Overall, companies experience technological, economic, and social benefits because of standardization.
2. Meet customer requirements
This is a dangerous reason. Many companies want ISO certification just to satisfy a customer’s requirement. Or the customer states that they will only do business with certified suppliers.
Yes, you need to serve your customers satisfactorily, but in a plural and continuous way. Focusing only on this benefit can cost you much more in the long run. Even more so if you focus only on your immediate gain, without truly putting the customer at the forefront of your decision.
3. Improve the quality of processes and products
The adoption of a standardized method by an ISO certification is directly linked to quality, even if it is not ISO 9001. Certification results in a better level of quality for the entire organization, including each process and product.
American writer Philip Crosby, who specializes in the field, defined quality as “conformity to requirements.” Famous business consultant Joseph Juran called it “fitness for use.” A well-designed and effectively implemented management system puts a company on the path to quality.
4. Describe, understand, and communicate your company’s processes
ISO requires you to identify and describe your processes with business metrics. The idea is to better manage and control these processes.
Objectives are the heart of the system. Metrics help you understand and communicate how the system is performing against objectives. By honestly pursuing ISO certification, you will learn more about your company.
5. Improve the consistency of your operations
Reducing variation in processes is the best path to consistency. The customer is best served when you provide a consistent product: the same dimensions, weight, tolerances, and output.
They don’t accept variation, and neither should you! But how can you reduce this variation? By increasing process control.
Control comes from having a clear objective, collecting data about the process, and understanding how to adjust it to maintain consistent output. ISO requirements help with all these points.
6. Improve efficiency, reduce waste, and save money
An ISO management system is not perfect, but it can bring your company closer to perfection if it is well executed. With more consistent processes and goals achieved regularly, tangible results appear and process waste decreases.
Waste is the result of poor quality and inefficiency, and it translates into money lost forever. Inefficiency comes from variation and inconsistent processes. Reduce variation, improve consistency, and you’ll have less waste—and therefore more money.
7. Facilitate business collaboration
ISO’s international scope and acceptance facilitate collaborative business, research, and new product development.
Standardization allows your company to make international agreements with the certainty of compatibility and invariability of products or inputs used in the process.
8. Achieve international recognition
We already mentioned ISO’s credibility at the beginning of this article, and this factor is crucial. Obtaining certification from this organization places your company in a select group. The image that the organization conveys is fundamental in a business negotiation process.
Conclusion
Implementing ISO 9001 goes beyond a simple quality seal, representing an ongoing commitment to excellence. Companies that adopt this standard can improve their internal processes and products and strengthen the trust of customers and partners.
By seeking this certification, organizations position themselves strategically, gaining greater competitiveness in the global market, minimizing risks, and promoting continuous improvement.
With this, ISO 9001 ensures compliance with quality requirements and drives sustainable growth and innovation within companies.
Looking for more efficiency and compliance in your operations? Our experts can help identify the best strategies for your company with SoftExpert solutions. Contact us today!
