Show them how ISO 9001 certification will not only benefit your company but also each employee.Įxplain the positive effects on work processes, employee satisfaction, and job security. Inform your staff about ISO before rumors start.
An even better alternative for a team of executives is targeted on-site or remote training that's customized to their needs. Given the typical time constraints of top managers, we recommend a concise online course. The first step in achieving active support is providing management with the needed knowledge and teach them about their own role in ISO 9001. It's critical that they not only support the ISO project but also "walk the talk". Top management plays an important role in ISO 9001.
Otherwise, smaller companies might prefer an online implementation course, while larger companies with an implementation teamīenefit most from a remote or on-site custom course that combines training with hands-on implementation activities.
If you are using a consultant to get certified, you could learn enough by working side-by-side with the expert without getting formal training. You'll also need to be able to plan and execute the certification project.
If you are in charge of getting your company ISO 9001 certified and manage the quality system thereafter, you'll need to be familiar with the ISO 9001:2015 standard, understand its requirements and how to apply them at your own company. We also recommend that companies with multiple locations apply a decentralized approach and appoint additional local management reps.ĭone right, you'll gain flexibility and simplicity from this setup. It's often a quality manager or executive, but could be anybody with sufficient authority to implement and change operational processes. No matter how you pursue certification, your company needs an ISO 9001 point person (often called "ISO 9001 Management Representative") who is responsible for achieving and maintaining certification. No matter how you choose to achieve certification, nowadays the entire process can be done remotely. Some companies create a custom solution by combining both approaches.įor example, a Do-It-Yourself certification project could be kick-started through initial consultancy.Īnd companies that want to leverage their internal ISO expertise could save time through documentation templates and video training.Ĭonsider factors like urgency, budget, and staff availability to determine the best implementation approach for your company. There are different ways to get ISO 9001 certified but most companies either outsource their ISO 9001 certification to a consultant or do it by themselves in-house using a toolkit. Which Implementation Approach Is Best For You? There is much to be gained by uniformly applying ISO 9001 to the entire organization. The pros and cons of limiting the scope of ISO, though, need to be carefully considered. Or you could roll out your certification gradually, starting with the most critical functions. Rather than applying ISO 9001 to every part of your organization, you could exclude specific departments, products or locations. Then convert them into tangible objectives. So start your ISO certification project by defining the benefits you want to gain. How you benefit from ISO depends not only on your organization's circumstances but most importantly on the goals you set. ISO 9001 can bring numerous benefits, both operational and marketing.īut your company won't just "automatically" achieve them. Preparing well not only affects the immediate success of your certification project but also the sustainability of the quality management system. The first step addresses the preparation needed to achieve ISO 9001 certification at your small or midsize company – including making a decision on your implementation approach.