What is ISO?What are the benefits of ISO 9001 System?

What is ISO?

The international Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the specialized international agency for standardization, at present comprising the national standard bodies of 91 countries. ISO is made up of approximately 180 Technical Committees. Each Technical Committee is responsible for one of many areas of specialization ranging from asbestos to zinc. The purpose of ISO is to promote the development of standardization and related world activities to facilitate the international exchange of goods and services, and to develop cooperation in intellectual, scientific, technological, and economic activity. The results of ISO technical work are published as international standards. The standards discussed here are a result of this process.

Who developed the ISO 9000 series standards?

ISO Technical Committee 176 (ISO/TC 176) was formed in 1979 to harmonize the increasing international activity in quality management and quality assurance standards. Subcommittee 

1 was established to determine common terminology. It developed ISO 8402: Quality Vocabulary, which was published in 1986. Subcommittee 2 was established to develop Quality System Standards – the result being ISO 9000 series, published in 1987 (revised 1994 and 2000).

What are the ISO 9000 series standards?

The ISO 9000 series is a set of individual, but related, international standards on quality management and quality assurance. They are generic, not specific to any particular products. They can be used by manufacturing and service industries alike. These standards were developed to effectively document the quality system elements to be implemented in order to maintain an efficient quality system in your company. The ISO 9000 series standards do not themselves specify the technology to be used for implementing quality system elements.

In December 2008, new revisions of ISO 9001: 2008 and ISO 9004: 2000 was issued. ISO 9001: 2008 replaces 2000 version of ISO 9001 standards.

ISO 9001 is developed for use in contractual situations such as those between a customer and a supplier. ISO 9004 provides guidelines for internal use by a producer developing its own quality system to meet business needs and take advantage of opportunities

What are the benefits of ISO 9001 System?

·                              Achievement of specific goals.

·                              Improved worker confidence and participation.

·                              Achievement of world’s best practice.

·                              Improved efficiency and productivity.

·                              Effective management of risk.

·                              Improved marketability of products locally and internationally

·                              Reduction in paperwork

·                              Automation of document flows

·                              Improvement in morale

·                              Effective record management

·                              A simple but comprehensive set of instructions (procedures, work instructions, etc) that enable consistency of work practices and ease training of new staff.

·                              Accurate reporting mechanisms that enable the identification of adverse trends and the implementation of effective corrective action.

·                              Enhance customer satisfaction

·                              Recognition by Customers

·                              Recognition by Regulatory Authorities

·                              Recognition by Suppliers

·                              Continual Improvement in Company Performance

·                              Control of Operations

·                              Reduced Costs of Operations

·                              Uniform Standard of Work Practice

·                              Elimination of Waste / Redundancies

Who is using them?
Organizations around the globe have built and continue to build their quality systems around these standards. Both large and small companies with international businesses perceive the ISO 9000 series as a route to open markets and improved competitiveness. You don’t have to be a multinational corporation or have business oversees to benefit from implementing these standards in your company.

How much will it cost and how long will it take to implement these standards?

Unfortunately there is no set answer. Each company is different. The answer really depends on

·                              Company main activities and scope of work

·                              How developed the company present system is

·                              What is the implementation strategy company wants to adopt

·                              Total number of employees

·                              Total number of offices or sites

A Turn Key solution will be designed to meet the needs of your company and can include the following:

·                              Gap Analysis

·                              QMS System Documentation Development

·                              Training - System Awareness & Internal Auditors

·                              System Implementation Assistance

·                              Conducting on-site Internal Audits

·                              Management Review Assistance lly

·                              Third Party Certification body Selection

·                              Certification Audits Assistance.

ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Administration

If you need assistance in administering and maintaining the system we offer the following service:

·                              Assume the position of Management Representative.

·                              Maintain the quality management system documents, including posting new and revised documents.

·                              Development of internal auditing schedule.

·                              Conducting of internal audits.

·                              Systems records maintenance, including Corrective & Preventative Actions, Internal Audits, and Management Review.

·                              Responsibility for all communications with certification bodies regarding audits and subsequent actions.

·                              On-site participation in certification body surveillance audits, internal auditing, management review, and other special meetings as required by management.

·                              Off-site consultant to assist mangers and others with documentation and other systems improvements.