Quality Management Practitioner

Why should I get ISO 9001?

ISO certification is an investment in your business.  Fundamentally ISO 9001 supports sustainable growth.  It does that by providing assurance to your customers that the quality of your business outputs and the needs of your customers are a priority in how you manage your business.

Having certification allows you to access new sectors and customers and over the long term it improves your efficiences, improves your reputation and encourages customer loyalty. 

Even if you choose not to get certified, mechansims such as processes can be put in place to improve how you operate.

How long does it take?

It's not unusual for implementation to take 8-12 months.  However, there are multiple factors which affect the timescales including:

• How you want to appraoch the project
• whether you're on a deadline
• how much internal resource you can spare to get the work done
• the size and complexity of your business
• where you're starting from i.e. whether you have some of the required documents or systems in place already.

Our initial conversations will provide enough information to provide an estimated timescale which goes into the proposal.

For an initial discussion on how your project might work please give me a call on 07590 267 209

How much does it cost?

Whatever your budget it's possible to get your certification but, as with timescales, there are several factors which affect the costs involved in your ISO 9001 project. For example:

• The level of input needed from your consultant
• your choice of consultant
• The approach taken to implementation
• The duration of the project
• The various certification options

if you'd like to get an estimate for your project please get in touch with me on 07590 267 209.

Do I really need a consultant?

The short answer is Yes. 

Consultants have a level of understanding which 99% of businesses do not have. 

I'm trained as an external auditor which means I understand what an auditor is looking for, how the audit process works and what you need to know, do and undersrtand beyong the requirements of the standard. 

I also have process management, change management and training skills which supplement and support the basic requirements of the standard.

Will it disrupt my business?

Somewhat yes.

The implementation phase requires time and input from staff which will, at times, take them away from the 'day job'.  There is no way to put ISO 9001 in place without involving your staff so this is inevitable and you will need to identify as a business how much time you can spare.

Once you have achieved certification your business will work differently. The trick to making this work is to carry out change management actvities alongside the implementation project. By doing this the changes are incremental and staff have time to adjust.

As a manager do I need to be involved?

Absolutely. In fact, it is a specific requirement of the standard that Top Management carry out certain activities and demonstrate certain behaviours.  Failing to do so will hamper your certification.

Furthermore, the system needs to become part of your company's DNA which means everyone needs to be involved.

However, with a well designed implementation plan this is very achievable.