The ISO 9000 family standards are a guideline for what organizations must do to demonstrate good quality management practices. Customer's quality requirements, regulatory requirements, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement are all taken into consideration. Out of all the 9000 series standards, ISO 9001 is the only one that can be certified by different organizations. Also known as the QMS or quality management system standard, it was based on the idea that happy customers are the main lifeblood of any organisation. Customers are the most important thing for an organisation if they want to make high profits. To keep them satisfied, it must satisfy their needs.
ISO accreditation is generally an option, a decision that management makes on business grounds and not a requirement. Although not mandatory, many certification bodies and organisations seek ISO 9001 accreditation in order to prove their industry competence or reputation. There are two reasons organisations should adopt the QMS standard and seek accreditation. Here are some other reasons that organisations may want to be certified for quality management systems.
Satisfy customer needs - It is difficult to meet all of the customer's requirements. To keep customers happy, organisations must have and follow a long-term strategy.
Attract new customers – Organizations can obtain an ISO 9001 certificate to market their products and services to new markets.
Higher quality products and companies - The ultimate purpose of ISO standards implementation or accreditation is to improve efficiency and effectiveness in company operations.
Customers that delight - Businesses can go beyond satisfying customer needs and keeping customers happy to gain the qualities that allow them to delight customers. This is possible with QMS.
Management of company processes - QMS gives organisations insight into how to best understand, describe and communicate their processes. This leads to improved control and management.
Empower your organisation members - ISO 9001 can help increase employee morale. The standards give employees a clear understanding of what they are expected to do, how much resources are available, and the consequences of their actions.
ISO certification is a key step in the success of organisations that have achieved international recognition for quality management. These elite groups are well-positioned to reap the benefits of ISO standards, especially improved efficiency and effectiveness in their business processes.