Continually improve with the world’s most recognized Quality Management System standard

What is quality management ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognized Quality Management System (QMS) standard that can benefit any size organization. Designed to be a powerful business improvement tool, ISO 9001 Quality Management certification can help you to:

• Continually improve, streamline operations and reduce costs

• Win more business and compete in tenders 

• Satisfy more customers

• Be more resilient and build a sustainable business

• Show you have strong corporate governance

• Work effectively with stakeholders and your supply chain

• With a greater focus on risk-based thinking and aligned to ISO’s high level structure, the new ISO 9001 can deliver additional benefits to organizations  of all sizes.

How will ISO 9001 help my business? (Benefits)

Our customers tell us they receive significant business benefits from ISO 9001 including:

How we do it?

i) Introduce internationally recognized processes to your business

ii) Give suppliers and stakeholders confidence in your system

iii) Put these quality controls in place across your process & supply chain

iv) Introduce transparency around accountability and responsibilities

v) Continually improve and update your systems so it stays effective

vi) The standard make it easier for you to apply the quality management principles

vii) Comply with current quality standards across different continents

viii) ISO 9001 will help to document all techniques, methods and procedures in a thoroughly systematic way

ix) Increase traceability, efficiency and resourcefulness in the supply chain

x) This standard will enable you to participate in large scale supply chains around the world

xi) Ensure that your supply chain is secure to meet growing quality requirements

Provide reassurance to all concerned

1. Consumers are increasingly concerned and aware of where their product/services comes from. They take an active interest in ensuring they are buying on an informed decision.

2. Tailored and efficient management of your processes will prevent quality failures and associated costs, whilst increasing legal compliance.

3. Public, private sector and governments internationally are increasingly regarding ISO 9001 as a guarantee of quality, system and security.

4. ISO 9001 connects you to a growing network of international suppliers in both developed and developing economies. ISO 9001 applies if you are in production industry, processing, distribution or storage.

Challenges of Implementing ISO 9001

ISO 9001 certification is of immense value. Implementing this Quality management system has been shown to directly lead to more efficient use of resources and less waste. This is an extremely easy way to increase profitability. It has also been proven to reduce the risk of prosecution and insurance claims stemming from Quality issues. Finally, customers are reassured by the standard’s ethical basis.  Here are some of the challenges sometimes associated with ISO certification:

1. Getting Started

The first major challenge in ISO 9001 implementation is to get started. Organisations feels the complexity of ISO 9001 implementation. Understanding of standard, placement of documents, training of persons are some of the challenges. Too often companies complain that they are not ready to start, and they want everything to be perfect before they begin the certification process. However, ISO implementation is considered an ongoing process which will never be perfect.

2. Setting Goals

Companies aiming for ISO 9001 certification set their own targets. A company knows its own capabilities and limitations best and should be able to set realistic goals. In theory this can allow very conservative, easy-to-attain goals to be set simply for the sake of attaining certification. Given the expense of ISO certification, companies should create realistic goals to maximize return on investment.

3. Problem Solving

Most organisations find that once they understand their Quality issues and impacts, implementing ISO 9001 is relatively simple. In some cases however, it can be significantly more complex. Sometimes a detailed statistical analysis may need to be carried out, with the necessary statistics being hard to record and more difficult to analyse.

4. Applying Relevant Regulations

A successful ISO 9001 implementation usually requires more than just a list of acts of legislation. You should also understand in plain English how each piece of legislation applies to each part of your business, including sites, organisations and people. Legal registers such as Pegasus are available to help achieve this for a fraction of the cost of legal advice.

5. Self-Management

ISO 9001 implementation is self-managed, and its success mostly depends on the enthusiasm of the organisation’s management. Many ISO 9001 certification failures are due to the management’s lack of awareness of the resources required. Managers may also set unrealistic, ultra-lenient goals to portray their organisation in a better light than is justified.

6. Transparency

 Ensuring the correct information is shared with all employees is another major challenge of ISO 9001 implementation. Frequently, information about the implementation process is not disseminated to the levels required for the maximum return possible. Customers have also been known to make purchasing decisions based on ISO 9001 certification, so they should also be informed.

How does my business gain ISO 9001 Certification? (Need)

Generally organisations start their ISO journey with ISO 9001, as this puts in place quality management procedures that can be extended and developed to include Quality Management System.

How can ZQI help my business to gain 9001? (Support)

1. With Zenith Quality you can realise the Truth of Transformation.

2. We Drive Excellence & Inspire Innovation.

3. Real Challenges, Real People & Real impact.

1. ZQI work alongside your existing Food safety professionals to work out the most effective way to implement ISO 9001 in your business. This may include presentations to your senior team, training and support on production of policies and manuals.

2. ZQI has team of Experts, Assessors, Trainers & Consultants who will make this process simple and safe, less time taking: support and guide your business towards certification using hand hold practices. 

3. Our experienced assessors will help your business audit and improve its Food safety management systems, offering training and support where necessary.

4. The standard is designed to be generic, so can flex around the organisation – our assessors are there to help you identify what is relevant for your business, whatever its size or turnover.

5. We strive to make ISO certification as simple as possible for our clients. 

6. With a flexible approach, we work with your business to make the process of gaining ISO 9001 as painless and yet as beneficial as possible.    

7. Our role is to support and guide your business towards certification. We will look at your business needs and existing systems and advice you on what is right in ISO 9001 for your business.

The certification process is very similar to ISO 9001, working on the principles of:

“Say What It Does” – document day to day operating procedures and systems
“Do What It Says” – work in accordance with those procedures and systems
“Prove It” – with a certification audit which confirms, from records, that the procedures and systems meet the requirements of ISO 9001 and are operated in accordance with the standard.

With a flexible approach, our assessors are focused on making standards work in your business.

For further details, please contact us.