ISO 9001

ISO 9001 is a standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that sets out the criteria for a quality management system (QMS). The purpose of ISO 9001 is to help organizations ensure that they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders while meeting statutory and regulatory requirements related to their products or services.

Key purposes of ISO 9001 include:

Quality Management: ISO 9001 provides a framework for organizations to establish and maintain a quality management system that enhances product or service quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Consistency and Continual Improvement: It helps organizations establish processes and procedures to ensure consistency in their operations and products/services. Additionally, it encourages continual improvement, allowing organizations to identify and address areas for enhancement over time.
Customer Satisfaction: ISO 9001 emphasizes meeting customer requirements and enhancing customer satisfaction. By implementing ISO 9001, organizations can improve customer focus, leading to increased loyalty and positive relationships with clients.
Competitive Advantage: Adhering to ISO 9001 standards can provide organizations with a competitive advantage, as it demonstrates their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Many customers, particularly in certain industries or sectors, prefer to work with suppliers or partners who are ISO 9001 certified.
Risk Management: ISO 9001 requires organizations to identify and mitigate risks that could affect the quality of their products or services. By addressing risks systematically, organizations can prevent quality issues and ensure consistent performance.

Overall: The purpose of ISO 9001 is to help organizations establish robust quality management systems that drive efficiency, consistency, customer satisfaction, and continual improvement, ultimately leading to long-term success and competitiveness in the marketplace.

Sample of ISO 9001 Requirements

Quality Policy Statement-normally a one or two page commitment to the ISO standard, this provides a framework for setting, achieving and maintaining quality objectives, commits the organisation to legal compliance and to continuous improvement.
Organisation Chart-this demonstrates the structure of the business and can include line management, roles and responsibilities.
List of Quality objectives-these should have measurable targets and be time-related.
Legal Register-a list of all legislation that applies to the business and a regular review of this document against current and updated legislation.
Interested Parties List-a list of all internal and external people and organisations that have an interest in your business to include what they expect from your business and could include Directors, Customers, Employees, Suppliers, Regulatory Bodies, Banks, Unions, Insurers and Neighbouring Businesses.