Become Certified in ISO 9001
ISO 9001 is a quality management system used to ensure that organizations meet customer and legislative requirements for quality. It is the world’s most widely adopted international standard for quality management, with over 1 million certified organizations in 178 countries worldwide. By becoming ISO 9001 certified, organizations can prove that their products and services are of high quality; in turn, this helps them maintain customer satisfaction and increase their competitive advantage. In this blog post, we will discuss the steps involved to become certified in ISO 9001 and the benefits of doing so.
What is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS). Organizations use the standard to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. ISO 9001 is the most widely used quality management standard in the world.
The standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement. These principles are explained in more detail in the ISO 9000 family of quality management standards published by ISO.
ISO 9001:2015 specifies requirements for a QMS where an organization:
- Needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and
- Aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for continual improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
The Benefits of Being Certified in ISO 9001
There are many benefits of being certified in ISO 9001. The most important benefit is that it can help your organization to be more efficient and improve the quality of your products or services. Being certified also demonstrates to customers, suppliers and other stakeholders that you are committed to quality and continual improvement.
Other benefits of certification include:
- Improved customer satisfaction
- Reduced costs
- Increased sales and market share
- Improved employee morale and motivation
- Enhanced reputation and credibility
How to Become Certified in ISO 9001?
There are a few steps you need to take in order to become certified in ISO 9001. The first is to get registered with a certification body that offers the certification. Once you're registered, you'll need to have your organization's quality management system (QMS) audited by a qualified auditor. The auditor will then issue a report on whether or not your QMS meets the requirements for ISO 9001 certification. If it does, you'll be issued a certificate.
To maintain your certification, you'll need to get your QMS audited every year and renew your registration with the certification body every three years.
What is Required for Certification?
In order to become certified in ISO, there are a few things you will need. First, you will need to have a basic understanding of quality management systems and how they work. Second, you will need to attend an accredited ISO training course. And lastly, you will need to pass an ISO certification exam.
How long does Certification last?
Once you have been certified in ISO, your certification is valid for three years. After that, you will need to be recertified.
How can QMII support you to Become ISO 9001 Certified?
There are a number of ways in which QMII can support you to become certified in ISO 9001. We can provide you with training and consultancy services to help you understand the requirements of the standard, and we can also offer auditing and certification services to ensure that your quality management system meets the requirements of the standard.
We also offer a range of resources that can help you to implement ISO 9001, including books, software and templates. Our website also provides a range of information and resources that can help you to understand the requirements of the standard and how to implement it within your organization.
Conclusion
Becoming certified in ISO 9001 is an excellent way to demonstrate your commitment to quality management and show that you are committed to continuous improvement. It requires a great deal of dedication, but the rewards can be plentiful if done correctly. Achieving certification opens up opportunities for increased market access, customer satisfaction, improved efficiency and cost savings. With the right guidance and preparation, becoming certified in ISO 9001 is a rewarding process that can help set you apart from competitors.