A myriad of industries are buzzing about the newly released ISO 9001 revision. With a greater focus on stakeholders and a risk-based thinking approach, the anticipated revision is said to have greatly improved the scope and ultimately the benefits associated. A more detailed comparison and additional useful resources are found here. With the revision so widely discussed, we have received several inquiries from organizations wanting to know about the standard and asking for advice regarding the benefits of certification. While Pro QC is not a certifying body, we do work with organizations to prepare them for final audits. We also work with many organizations that are not seeking certification, but rather are looking for a standard to apply in order to better manage their business. The ISO 9000 family of standards provides “guidance and tools for companies and organizations who want to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer’s requirements and that quality is consistently improved.” Standards in the ISO 9000 family include: ISO 9001:2015 – sets out the requirements of a quality management system ISO 9000:2005 – covers the basic concepts and language ISO 9004:2009 – focuses on how to make a quality management system more efficient and effective ISO 19011:2011 – sets out guidance on internal and external audits of quality management systems Why does standardization even matter? Ensures positive change. Harmonizes global best practices. Companies have increased confidence in the quality and reliability of suppliers who use standards. Eliminates technical barriers to trade. Companies actively involved in standards more frequently reap short- and long-term cost-savings than those that do not participate. Having influence in the content of a standard is an important factor in gaining competitive advantage. Standardization can lead to lower transaction costs in the economy as a whole, as well as to savings for individual businesses. Standards can help businesses avoid dependence on a single supplier because the availability of standards opens up the market. The result is a broader choice for businesses and increased competition among suppliers. More choices for the consumer. Standardization encourages cooperation between businesses atthe same stage in the value chain. Businesses not only reduce the economic risk of their R&D activities by participating in standardization, but can also lower their R&D costs. Organizations certified to the previous ISO 9001 revision will be provided a three year transition period. Contact us for assistance with this process! Did you know? October 14th is World Standards Day. The theme this year is “Standards – The World’s Common Language.”
