ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems

ISO 9001 is the ultimate global benchmark for quality management and a critical tool for boosting your company’s success, profitability, and market potential.

Are you searching for ways to improve the quality of your service, create more efficient systems and workflows, or increase employee morale? Perhaps you require an internationally recognised standard to win a new tender or to match a competitor?

No matter what you’re looking for, IMSM can talk you through how an ISO 9001 management system could put your company on a path to business success.

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Guide: ISO 9001 Guide: ISO Certification

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is the ultimate global benchmark for quality management and a critical tool for boosting your company’s success, profitability, and market potential.

ISO 9001 sets out the necessary steps to adopting a quality management system. It is designed to help organisations ensure they meet the needs and expectations of both customers and other interested parties, based on internationally recognised quality management principles set out by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

ISO 9001 is one of the most widely used management tools globally, with over one million organisations certified. It is a ‘generic standard’ as it is designed to fit flexibility around any organisation. Our assessors are there to help you identify what is relevant for your business, whatever the size or turnover.

What are the benefits of ISO 9001?

Client satisfaction
By focusing on your customers’ experience, ISO 9001 will better equip your business to meet their needs, improving the customer focus throughout the company. The impact of this can fundamentally change your business and increase your profits through referrals.
Reduced operating costs
ISO 9001 streamlines your internal processes. This improved efficiency contains costs and saves you money, whilst also improving accountability and traceability, allowing you to tackle problems better and quicker.
Improved efficiency
Do you find you lose time to inefficient processes and poor communication between teams? Efficiency also improves staff motivation. With greater clarity and focus on business objectives, time and resources are spent on what really matters to the business.
Competitive advantages
Better internal processes and customer service ultimately improve your market competitiveness, leading to higher profit potential.
Open new markets
Having poor customer retention or missing important deadlines can be detrimental to your operation, but ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised mark of quality. Becoming accredited can open your business up to larger clients, both at home and overseas.
Continual improvement
Perhaps the most crucial element of the standard is that it is not a one-off exercise. Regular reviews keep quality at the forefront of the business, and that quality will keep your business improving.

Steps to getting ISO 9001 certification

Working towards ISO 9001 certification with IMSM is a trouble-free, step-by-step approach.

Initial consultation
We help you outline your goals, focusing on what your business wants to achieve and how it defines success, particularly in relation to your client’s requirements. You and your ISO consultants will agree on reasonable outcomes and delivery dates.
Producing your organisation’s ISO 9001 manual system documentation
Next, the IMSM consultant will audit your existing procedures and help you document the new systems that will help deliver success – both existing and how you will improve these. The manual system documentation sets out how your business should operate going forward so that it can deliver ISO 9001.
You will be able to view the manual system documentation, along with most other relevant documentation, on our client portal IMSMLoop. It offers a comprehensive insight into the progress of your ISO implementation, along with copies of the relevant audit reports, certifications, and any necessary corrective actions. The portal serves as a central hub for tracking your ISO journey.
Training you to adopt the ISO 9001 framework
While the manual is a vital document moving forward, it is even more important that it gets put to practical use. We work with the senior management team to ensure the framework is embedded throughout your organisation. We can also develop and deliver tailored training for staff to ensure that the understanding and implementation of ISO 9001 is watertight. This will create consistency across your organisation, transforming your business from day one so it is optimised for efficiency, continual improvement, and greater profitability.
Submission to a third-party external auditor
Before you can be awarded the ISO 9001 certification, your organisation applies to the third-party certifying body that you have selected to conduct your audit. This audit objectively determines whether your business conforms to ISO 9001, and the relevant accompanying documentation is accessible through our client portal, IMSMLoop.

As we have provided excellent support and guidance to your business every step of the way, you can rest assured that your ISO 9001 certification will be successful.

Why IMSM?

Simple: We make it simple. Since 1994, we’ve been helping businesses achieve ISO certification and have over 150 experts worldwide. With 15,000+ clients trusting us to implement their ISOs, we have proven to be experts capable of handling the logistical heavy lifting, saving your company precious time. With a transparent fixed fee, flexible approach, and real-time access to updates, documentation, and an array of other features through IMSMLoop, we work with your organisation to make ISO 9001 implementation as straightforward and beneficial as possible.

We strive to do this with our:

– World-class gap analysis
– Experienced and diverse ISO consultants
– Regular updates, provided through IMSMLoop
– Flexible terms and contract
– Fixed fee
– Full implementation

How can ISO specialists help your business?

Getting started with ISO 9001 certification might seem daunting; this is often the reason why businesses enlist the help of an ISO consultant. For thirty years, we’ve supported and guided organisations like yours through certification. Our experienced consultants take the lead on auditing your business, helping you use the results to enhance your quality management system. If necessary, there is also plenty of room for training.

FAQs

How do I get ISO 9001 certified?
Your first step involves reaching out to an ISO specialist to organise an initial consultation. Contact us to set one up. Our expert team will help you implement an effective, globally-recognised Quality Management System (QMS) into your organisation.
What are the primary requirements for ISO 9001?
The ISO 9001:2015 standard is very flexible when it comes to what information it requires. These can be split into documents and records.
How long does it take to get ISO 9001 certification?
It depends on the size and complexity of your business, but most organisations can expect to be certified within three to six months of beginning the ISO 9001 process.
How do I pass an ISO audit?
A business will pass an ISO audit by being properly prepared. Your IMSM ISO specialist will help you with this preparation, but it is important that your organisation is open to change. Are you analysing the results of internal audits? Are you regularly implementing corrective actions? Do you have a clear set of objectives and targets? Getting the entire team onboard each step of the way will help you pass.
How long does ISO 9001 last?
Most certifications are valid for three years, but it is worth checking if yours has an annual expiration date. Regardless of how long your ISO 9001 certification is valid, your organisation will need to demonstrate continuous improvement.
What is the difference between ISO 9000 and ISO 9001?
ISO 9000 is a family of quality management standards; ISO 9001 is one of them and it outlines the fundamentals of an efficient and effective QMS.
What is the current version of ISO 9001?
ISO 9001:2015 is the most up-to-date version of the certification and has eclipsed ISO 9001:2008, making any qualification certified to previous standards now redundant.
Is ISO 9001 a legal requirement?
ISO 9001, though recognised as key in many industries and business dealings, is not a legal requirement. However, certification helps companies adhere to their country’s respective laws and regulations.

ISO 9001 Blogs

Take a look at our most recent blogs relating to ISO 9001

The benefits of ISO 9001 to your business

ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised standard that sets out the requirements necessary for a quality management system.

What is the difference between ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 9001?

ISO/IEC 17025 was introduced in 1999 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Contact Us

For a free Quotation or On-Site presentation by an ISO Specialist, contact us today!

IMSM Ltd
The Gig House
Oxford Street
Malmesbury
Wiltshire SN16 9AX

Tel: +44 1793 296704