What is ISO 9001?

The ISO 9001, as an internationally recognized standard, is responsible for recommendations for best QMS practices in companies. With the ISO 9001 certification, your company proves its quality awareness, its reliability in production and services and its general competitiveness. The standard is regularly updated, the current version being from 2015 (ISO 9001:2015).

The global industry standard specializes in the quality management system and helps companies to efficiently improve quality for optimal customer satisfaction.

This article deals with the topics:

1. How important is ISO 9001?

2. What does ISO 9001 say? And is ISO 9001 mandatory?

3. How to get ISO 9001?

4. How do digital technologies support DIN ISO 9001 certification?

5. Summary

How important is ISO 9001?

The QMS serves as a basis for the classification and structuring of processes and responsibilities that promote the achievement of quality goals. ISO 9001 provides a useful aid for the continuous optimization of the QMS.

The ISO 9001 is one of the most successful and most certified ISO standards in the world. More than one million companies use the standard for their QMS and about 50,000 companies in Germany alone. With ISO 9001, managers and responsible persons can continuously monitor the company management with regard to quality standards and their sustainability and improve themselves internally through self-control. In this way, the responsibilities of all stakeholders are structured and developed and optimized for the long term.

What does ISO 9001 say? And is ISO 9001 mandatory?

The ISO or International Organization for Standardization primarily makes recommendations for an effective QMS, these are summarized in 7 Principles of Quality Management summarized:

1. Customer orientation as well as sustainable success:The service orientation should always be the central focus and should be constantly reviewed to achieve sustainable success.


2. Leadership: A uniform structure and objectives that encompass the company as a whole and do justice to the management and employees.


3. Commitment of employees: The competence and commitment of all employees should always be given and striven for. To this end, appropriate training and regular training or support in the execution of work processes should be available.


4. Process structure: Internal processes should be made transparent and easy to understand in order to increase efficiency.


5. Improvement: Prevention instead of follow-up of existing problems should be considered as intention. A certain proactive approach puts the focus of management on promotion instead of stagnant troubleshooting.


6. Evidence-based decision making: Data analysis should always be the basis for corrective action. Quality indicators are instrumental in achieving the desired ROI.


7. Promoting lasting relationships: Relevant stakeholder and supplier relationships should always be identified and effectively managed.

ISO 9001 is not a mandatory obligation for companies. However, the documentation of the QMS as well as the adjustment to the DIN ISO 9001 certification is a proven and renowned solution for management teams. Nevertheless, each company should individually weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a certification according to ISO 9001.

How to get ISO 9001?

The following six steps will make it easier for you to get started with the development of a QMS and the certification according to ISO 9001:

QB

determine a person responsible for the QMS, the so-called quality representative, who can be part of the management, the management or even a regular employee. His suitability is important, i.e. he should be assertive, have a good knowledge of the company and the requirements of the QMS. The QB can also be the internal auditor of the QMS.

Create a project plan

A project plan helps especially with the timely implementation of the project. For this purpose, the most relevant factors are how the documentation is processed and how much time it takes. Which internal measures are taken and how long the implementation will take and when the actual certification audit will take place.

Find a certification officer

Next, an external inspector should be found, relevant factors you should take into account are the price for the services and proximity to your company.

First Stage Audit

After the internal conformity check, the first documentation check should be carried out by the external certifier as soon as possible.

On-site audit

Finally, the actual certification according to ISO 9001 is carried out on site. This consists of coordinating the documentation with the actual on-site procedure. In the best case, you will obtain your ISO 9001 standard certificate in this way.

Conclusion

• ISO 9001 conformity creates a qualitatively sustainable, continuous and customer-oriented company management.


• The prestigious ISO 9001 certificate will strengthen the reputation of your team and establish you as a competitive, high-performance company in your retail chains and with customers.


• ISO 9001 certification is not mandatory, but should be used depending on the company's structure and objectives.


• The ISO 9001 standard deals with the improvement of the quality standard and therefore primarily with customer satisfaction.

How do digital technologies support ISO 9001 certification?

With templates for ISO 9001 certification, you can document your QMS clearly and transparently, easily identify non-conformities and their causes, and plan and implement corrective measures well. ISO 9001 audit checklists support your internal conformity checks and prepare you effectively for ISO 9001 certification.