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A direct indicator that your business cares about consistently improving is certification from an international organization dedicated to assessing quality. Maintaining an ISO 9001 certification for your business may be the expectation of your customer, company leadership, industry regulator, or local government, but each of these stakeholders are looking for the same thing – commitment to process improvement across the organization. By committing to an ISO 9001 certification, you can grow core business, improve efficiency, and level up the skills of your team.
If your organization takes ISO 9001 certification seriously, then there’s always room to improve the quality of every team’s output. Managing this certification requires collaboration, continuous improvement, and clearly documented processes that auditors can examine closely. Don’t miss these steps when managing your company’s ISO 9001 standard.
5 Steps to Make ISO 9001 Work for Your Organization
- Step 1: Find someone in the organization to manage the ISO 9001 standard. This person will own the certifications, quality management systems, and the associated partnerships, vendors, and training. Without a passionate advocate for quality improvement, an ISO 9001 program can fall apart. Look for team members with experience in audits, who demonstrate an aptitude for strategy and an ability to create organization out of chaos.
- Step 2: Define and understand business processes. Aim to simplify your team’s processes as much as possible and align them to the ISO standards.
- Step 3: Find the right QMS Software. Connecting all of your business processes through documentation, trackable training, and organized approvals ensures customers can expect a quality product. The right QMS software makes it easy to assess and improve all of these systems. Look for software that can be customized to your team’s specifications.
- Step 4: Communicate beyond the requirements. Employees need to understand the WHY behind process changes, interruptions due to internal and external audits, and documenting the completion of their training.
- Step 5: Put your customers at the center of your organization. When a potential customer asks for your ISO 9001 certification, they’re really asking you to demonstrate a commitment to delivering a quality product. Answer the call!
Now’s the Time to Improve Your ISO 9001 Strategy
If you need consistent output and improvement, now is the time to become an expert in ISO 9001. One of the many elements of an internal ISO audit is defining the risks and opportunities facing your team. These continual internal discussions about what’s ahead can prepare your employees for everything from a tornado to solving customer complaints. Owning this element of the business and helping leaders create strategies for success will not only improve the core of a business but also provide key career opportunities for those who manage the program internally.