What Is ISO 9001 – Quality Assurance?
A good definition of Quality Assurance is “the maintenance of a desired level of quality in a service or product, especially by means of attention to every stage of the process of delivery or production”.
ISO 9001:2015 (and previous versions) is the internationally recognised standard defining the key clauses a business or organisation must meet to become certificated. How the organisation meets these clauses is recorded and documented within its Quality Management System.
What is a Quality Management System?
A Quality Management System is the term used to describe a business’s or organisation’s policies, manuals, procedures and processes, explaining how it will deliver the required level of quality in the provision or a product or service.
An ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System will have procedures or processes describing the following areas;
Product or Service Delivery – procedures describing the “life cycle” of a product or service from initial enquiry from a client or customer through to delivery through to invoicing and all key points in between.
Internal Audit – A system of internally monitoring and checking that the processes are working and being adhered to.
Document Control – A system of ensuring that the documents, records and processes used by an organisation are up to date and of the current revision to prevent the use of out of date processes & information.
Management Review – A process for ensuring that senior management are reviewing the quality management system and checking it is fit for purpose and is being implemented.
Business Risks – Risks impacting on the business’s ability to provide its products or services.
Quality Objectives – The objectives of the business and its quality management system.
Quality Policy – An organisations statement of commitment to providing a Quality Management System and maintaining the principles of ISO 9001 signed by the most senior position in the company and communicated across all levels.
Non-Conformance Management – A system of managing non-conformance or non-adherence to the systems or processes and to prevent non-conforming products or services being delivery to the customer.
How Does Certification Work?
To achieve ISO certification, you will be audited by an external 3rd party certification company (BSI / BAB / NQA etc). An auditor will visit your premises and check that the Quality Management System reflects the requirements of ISO 9001 and is being adhered to and implemented effectively.
You will receive an initial certification audit, 2 annual surveillance audits and every three years are certification audit.
The duration (and cost) of the audit is dictated by the size of the business and the number of sites covered by the Quality Management System.
Why Would I Want a Certificated ISO 9001 Quality Management System?
There are number of reasons that a business or organisation may want to implement a Quality Management System including;
• A client or customer is insisting you get it
• To increase tender and PQQ successes and awards
• Improved efficiency savings and performance improvement
• Put your business ahead of your competition
• Open the market place up to bigger customers and clients
• Business growth & development – e.g as part of an Exit Strategy
Anything Else?
You may be considering working with an external consultant or partner to help you develop your Quality Management System, if so have a think about the following when selecting them;
1. Check they have direct experience of working in or doing the role you are paying them to do. When consultants have lived, and breathed the role it gives them excellent insight into practical solutions for day to day problems and opportunities.
2. Do they have some form of professional qualification or competency in their relevant discipline or areas. It can highlight a further or deeper understanding of their areas of expertise.
3. Do you to trust them? It can be a difficult question to answer but remember you may be giving them access or authority to deal with sensitive issues, data and information.
If you have any questions or would like more information please do not hesitate to call David Burton at QBH Solutions on 01303 297034 or 07795 564089.
