Quality Management Systems are needed for any kind of business, and show that your business operates to a recognised standard, ensuring the highest quality of work and lack of mistakes.
Implementing an ISO 9001 accredited QMS will ensure that your customers are receiving a quality service, and it is also used to tender for contracts, allowing you to achieve bigger projects and grow your business in the process.
But what exactly is a Quality Management System? What is ISO 9001?
We’ve decided to take a look at what Quality Management Systems are and why they are essential for any business.
What Is A Quality Management System?
A Quality Management System (QMS) is a collection of practises, policies and processes that a business uses to meet customer requirements and ensure customer satisfaction.
These processes outline how a business will operate and provide they services, from the creation to the finished product. Each QMS is tailored to the individual needs for a business, but must meet certain requirements to be compliant.
The key to spotting an effective Quality Management System is whether or not it has been ISO 9001 certified.
What Is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is a certification given to Quality Management Systems that comply and operate to the highest standards.
These requirements are put in place by the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) to help standardise how a Quality Management System is designed, and ensure that a business does not miss any important elements.
It is used to show that a business can and will provide a service to a consistently high standard, and meet regulations in the process. First published in 1987, the ISO 9001 is now recognised as the international standard for Quality Management Systems.
Businesses of any size can achieve accreditation, and the latest version of the system is the ISO 9001:2015.
What Are The Benefits Of An ISO 9001 Certified QMS?
Achieving ISO 9001 certification will open up your business for a range of different benefits and opportunities. These new benefits include the following:
Higher Level of Customer Satisfaction
An ISO 9001 certified QMS will let customers know that they can expect nothing but the best of what you have to offer, and with that will ensure confidence in your product or service.
Customers/clients are the most important factor to a business’ success, and putting their satisfaction above all else should be a priority. Implementing a QMS will result in a higher level of satisfaction due to better procedures and more efficient processes.
A poor service is usually down to a lack of organisation or procedures, so having an ISO certified QMS will ensure that less errors are made and employees will know exactly the level of work that is required of them.
Increased Profits
Providing a better service is ultimately going to lead to an increase in revenue and profits, which is never a bad thing.
If you have a QMS in place that ensures you are providing a service to a great standard, then people are going to notice that and refer you in the future. These referrals lead to more business, which leads to more revenue coming in and a steady increase in the size of your business.
The new procedures and processes laid out in your QMS will also mean reduced costs and waste, improving your profit margin as well.
Tender For Business
If you were looking at gaining new business through a tender process, this will also come I handy. ISO accreditation is required for most tenders now, with companies needing reassurance that a quality service will be provided.
Failure to achieve ISO accreditation will see many business struggle to prove they have sufficient processes for the job, and will often lose out as a result of this.
Winning more business and competing in tenders will allow your business to grow, making a profit in the process and improving the reputation of the company.
Improved Company Image
Another huge benefit to having an ISO 9001 certified QMS in place is the positive company image that comes with it, allowing you to compete directly with your competitors.
Having gone through the process of putting in place a QMS that is certified by the ISO shows that quality is a priority for your business, and customers can trust they are using a professional company.
It is becoming more and more common for clients to request businesses that have ISO 9001 quality management systems, and failure to have this could result in losing business.
Safer Working Environments
By implementing a detailed Quality Management System, you will actually be improving the health and safety of your employees.
The nature of an ISO certified QMS details all of the procedures that it takes to produce or provide a service, and the correct and most efficient way to do this. By doing this, you will see fewer human errors and reduced risks that could come with failure.
Some of the other benefits include better management control, business decisions and marketing opportunities.
Where We Come In
Wurkplace’s team of experts have many years of experience in preparing businesses and getting them ready for accreditation. Achieving ISO accreditation can be a very expensive and lengthy process if you are not prepared, so that’s where Wurkplace comes in.
We will come in and assess your situation, identifying the right quality management standards that apply to your business and will create a plan to getting you ready for ISO certification. Our consultants will be with you every step of the way, and will ensure that you stay ISO compliant even after achieving certification.
Many small businesses do not have the resources or money to do this in-house, so outsourcing to Wurkplace allows you to concentrate on growing your business without having to break the bank.
If you’d like to learn more about the services we can provide, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
An experienced Director who controls and oversee all business operations, people and ventures. Responsible for the overall success of the business.
As a leader, he is able to steer a company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals. Additionally, he has strong crisis management skills to “save” companies in times of need.