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The ISO 9001 standard is a universal, and therefore the world’s most popular, quality management standard. Its first edition (based on a British system developed in the 1970s) was published by the International Organisation for Standardisation as early as 1987. Since then, the ISO 9001 guidelines have been continuously improved. The standard has become the basis for a series of quality standards. These ensure the efficiency and consistency of operations across organisations worldwide, which translates into high-quality services and customer satisfaction. Regardless of what your company does, ISO 9001 certification can significantly contribute to its faster growth.
ISO 9001 contains guidelines so general that they can be implemented in virtually any type of organisation – corporations, small businesses, public institutions, administrative bodies or non-governmental organisations. The quality standards set out in the standard apply to every sector (both manufacturing and services), regardless of the size of the organisation or its legal form.
The universal guidelines of the ISO 9001 standard cover issues such as:
In practice, quality management systems based on ISO 9001 differ from one another. Each organisation must interpret the standard’s guidelines in relation to the specific nature of its organisation and the processes taking place within it.
The international ISO 9001 standard is one of the standards for which compliance is confirmed through certification. In Poland, ISO 9001 certification may be issued by a body that:
The basis for obtaining the certificate is an external audit confirming that the processes within the organisation comply with the standard’s guidelines. The certification body carries this out once the quality management system has been implemented. The ISO 9001 certificate is valid for 3 years. After this period, it must be renewed.
The ISO 9001 certificate is a document recognised worldwide. For potential customers or business partners, it serves as a guarantee that the organisation operates in accordance with the highest quality standards.
Because the guidelines of the ISO 9001 standard are formulated at a high level of generality, organizations set different goals and derive different benefits when implementing them. In every case, however, ISO 9001 certification translates into increased company efficiency, higher quality of products or services, and, consequently, greater customer satisfaction.
The very act of implementing the standard (regardless of whether your company applies for ISO 9001 certification) brings many internal benefits:
Improving the quality of your company’s operations leads to better financial results. For example, process stability leads to consistent results, meaning your company will be able to maintain a consistent quality of products or services, which has a significant impact on customer satisfaction. A well-run company with implemented risk management procedures also minimizes operational losses, such as costs associated with defective products or services.
You will gain even more from ISO 9001 certification. Confirming that your company’s procedures comply with globally recognized standards will enhance its credibility in the eyes of customers, business partners, and all institutions authorized to oversee your operations, such as the County Sanitary Inspection or the National Labor Inspectorate. An ISO 9001 certificate will serve as proof that you operate in compliance with the law and offer products and services of the highest quality. This will strengthen your competitive edge in the market and open up new opportunities, such as participating in tenders, securing grants, and collaborating with international partners.
Companies sometimes fear that ISO 9001 certification will restrict their freedom of operation. Occasionally, one encounters the opinion that supervision by an auditor from an independent certification body will mean, for example, preventing the sale of products that do not meet the requirements specified by the standard. This is a misconception about the role of the ISO 9001 audit, which is actually conducted regularly in certified organizations. The auditor’s role is not to supervise the company, but to support it in its efforts to meet the standards set by the norm.
Both the ISO 9001 certification audit and subsequent surveillance audits serve solely to identify gaps in the quality management system and resolve any non-conformities with the standard. It is therefore an effort to improve the company’s operations. It does not entail any negative consequences. The only consequence to be concerned about is the denial or loss of ISO 9001 certification if the company fails to implement the required (and beneficial) corrective actions.
An organization seeking ISO 9001 certification can count on professional support from the very beginning—and not necessarily from the certification body whose decision determines whether the desired certificate is granted. The implementation of ISO 9001 and the internal audit confirming the quality management system’s compliance with the standard’s guidelines can be entrusted to a company such as DJB Doradztwo. In addition to auditor support, we offer training on the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard, which significantly facilitates preparation for the external audit (by the certification body).
DJB DORADZTWO
Marcin Chorąży
