ISO 9001

ISO 9001 is a very popular standard with companies who want to ensure their processes are effective, efficient and working as they should be. The standard is used across many industries but is most widely recognized in the manufacturing sector. This blog will provide you with more information on ISO 9001, including ISO 9001 certification and ISO 9001 training.

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is a quality management standard that was first published in 1987. It was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is based on the eight principles of quality management. The standard helps organizations to ensure that their products and services are of a consistent high quality, and it can be used by organizations of any size, type, or structure. ISO 9001:2015 is the most recent version of the standard and was published in September 2015.

What are the Eight Principles of Quality Management?

The eight principles of quality management are as follows:

1. Customer focus

2. Leadership

3. Involvement of people

4. Process approach

5. System approach to management

6. Continual improvement

7. Factual approach to decision making

8. Mutually beneficial supplier relationships

How Can ISO 9001 Help My Organization?

ISO 9001 can help organizations to improve the quality of their products and services, as well as their processes. It specifies procedures to be followed so that organizations can ensure that their products and services delivered in a timely manner. The ISO 9001 standard also helps organizations to improve their efficiency and effectiveness, and it encourages the use of best practices. ISO 9001 also offers the opportunity to build customer satisfaction by demonstrating an organization’s commitment to meeting customer needs and continually improving their products and services.

What is ISO 9001 Certification?

ISO 9001 certification is a way of demonstrating that an organization has met the requirements of the standard. It can help to give the organization a competitive advantage, as well as helping it to attract new customers. ISO 9001 certification enables an organization to ensure all of their processes are effective and efficient, which can then result in a higher quality of products and services being provided to their customers.

How Does an Organization Achieve ISO 9001 Certification?

To achieve ISO 9001 certification, your organization must first undergo an external audit carried out by one of the many different accredited certification bodies. Organizations may choose to use a certification body that is already recognized, or they may choose to have their certification body accredited by a national accreditation body. The certification body will then follow the procedures in the ISO 9001 standard to assess your organization’s ability to meet its requirements.

Tips When Hiring a Certification Body

It is very important to understand the background of the certification body you hire for ISO 9001 certification. When choosing a certification body to carry out your ISO 9001 certification audit, some of the things you should consider include:

• What accreditation do they have?
• How long has the organization been carrying out audits?
• What kind of training do their auditors receive?
• What experience do they have of working with companies in your industry sector?
• What are their policies for using consultants?
• Do they have any experience of working with companies in your country?
• What are their rates?
• How do they communicate with their clients?

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is the process of recognizing a certification body as competent to carry out specific types of audits. The accreditation process includes an evaluation of the certification body’s technical competence and impartiality. Accreditation is carried out by national accreditation bodies, which are recognized by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). There are currently over 40 national accreditation bodies around the world.

It is important for your organization to ensure the certification body you hire has accreditation by a national accreditation body. This accreditation will make your certificate more credible in the market. Additionally, certification bodies that have accreditation are more likely to follow strict guidelines before issuing certification which ensures all processes are carried out in a straightforward manner.

What is an ISO 9001 Audit?

An audit is a process of assessing whether an organization meets the requirements of a specific standard. It is carried out by an accredited certification body, and usually takes the form of an on-site visit. The certification body will review documentation and carry out interviews with employees to assess how the organization meets the requirements of the standard.

The audit process is rigorous and often takes several days to complete. It is important for your organization to be prepared for the audit and to cooperate fully with the certification body. This will help to ensure a successful outcome and reduce the time it takes to achieve certification.

ISO 9001 Certification – Audit Procedure

The audit procedure for ISO 9001 certification will take place in 2 stages:

Stage 1 – Preliminary Audit

The certification body will send an auditor to your organization to carry out an initial assessment. This includes conducting the following activities:

• Employee interviews
• Location/Site evaluations
• Understanding your system processes

The auditor will then produce an audit report based on the findings and will notify you in case of any deviations from the ISO 9001 requirements. The auditor will also schedule the dates for the Stage 2 audit.

Stage 2 – Certification Audit

The second audit is conducted to verify that your system adheres to ISO 9001 requirements. The auditor will check that all non-conformities found in the stage 1 audit has been rectified. Additionally, the auditor will examine your system documentation, including the quality manual, procedures, work instructions and internal audit report.

After both audit stages are completed, the certification body will decide if your organization is ready to obtain ISO 9001 certification. If your organization does not meet the requirements of the standard, you will be given a corrective action plan to follow. If your organization meets the requirements of the standard, you will be given an ISO 9001 certificate of compliance.

What are the Benefits of ISO 9001 Certification?

The main benefits of achieving ISO 9001 certification include:

• Competitive advantage that enables an organization to win new business and retain existing customers;
• Suitable for any size, type or structure of business
• Demonstrates an organization’s commitment to continually improving
• Opportunity for quality and process improvements
• Helps to ensure that all processes are effective and efficient

What is ISO 9001 Training?

ISO 9001 training is a way of ensuring that individuals working in an organization understand the requirements of the standard and how to implement them. The training can help employees to develop the skills and knowledge needed to achieve ISO 9001 certification for their organization

Types of ISO 9001 Training

• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training:

ISO 9001 lead auditor training teaches participants how to successfully conduct an external audit of any organization’s quality management system. Lead auditor training is suitable for those wishing to increase their career prospects as certified auditors.

• ISO 9001 Lead Implementer Training:

ISO 9001 lead implementer training teaches participants how to implement and maintain an effective quality management system in their organization. The course is suitable for those who are responsible for the implementation of ISO 9001 in their business. ISO 9001 lead implementer training is also for management consultants who help an organization achieve ISO 9001 certification.

• ISO 9001 Internal Auditor Training:

ISO 9001 internal auditor training is suitable for those wishing to ensure that their organization’s quality management system meets the requirements of ISO 9001. The ISO 9001 course covers how to perform an audit, generate an audit report, and address any non-conformities.

• ISO 9001 Foundation Training:

This course provides an overview of the eight quality management principles, as well as how each principle relates to ISO 9001:2015. It concentrates on preparing participants who have no previous knowledge on ISO 9001 and its requirements. The course also goes over the history of ISO and ISO standard requirements.

What are the Benefits of ISO 9001 Training?

ISO 9001 training benefits include:

• Job opportunities as a lead implementer or auditor
• Ensures that all employees understand the quality management system
• Ability to produce and maintain your organization’s quality policy
• Increase your understanding of ISO 9001:2015 and the eight quality management principles

For more information on ISO 9001, please contact us today for a free consultation.

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