subject: Quality Management - The Benefits of an Effective ISO 9000 Quality Management System [print this page] Quality Management - The Benefits of an Effective ISO 9000 Quality Management System
While some folks will say that an ISO QMS brings unnecessary bureaucracy to an organization; those who have implemented effective systems for their business will instead talk about the benefits. We are firm believers that a QMS (or EMS, or RCMS) should be based on YOUR needs and should benefit YOUR business as opposed to implementing a system "to meet the standard."Some of the benefits include:
Overall Benefits of an ISO Quality Management System (QMS) Customer satisfaction
Builds on your reputation for quality
Provides structure and organization for your quality system
Systematically drives process improvement
"Just good business"
Should yield $$$
Benefits to a Specific FacilityProvide a QMS that fits your operations
Help you identify improvement opportunities
Insure management involvement at all levels
Aid in identifying priorities and quality objectives
Insure that people understand how quality affects them
Provide for effective process monitoring & measurement
Help us more readily adapt to changing circumstances
Daily Operational Benefits Useful documentation
Consistency in operations
Meet customer requirements
Effective preventive actions
Effective corrective action process
Knowing customer satisfaction results
Management Reviews and Internal Audits
Six Reasons to Pursue ISO 9001:2000Builds customer confidence
Aids inprocesses improvement
Drives continuous improvement
Forces internal follow-up on issues
Provides a framework for "comfort"
Only QMS that has proven itself in $$$$
Your QMS Should:
Not be cumbersome to live with or bureaucratic
Yield measurable results
Be built on your culture and operations
Improve customer satisfaction
Reduce scrap and waste
Improve quality
Yields $$$$
Drive continuous improvement
Be simple to administer
Reducing headachesis a significant part of an effective QMS. Your QMS should help reduce headaches related to internal problems as well as customer complaints and issues. It should also address the inputs to your business and reduce headaches related to suppliers and purchased goods or services. If your QMS does not reduce "headaches" then it is not as effective as it can be and you need to be working on the system!
Davis M. Woodruff, PE, CMC is an internationally recognized consultant, professional speaker and author who is an expert in showing companies how to be the low cost, high quality, environmentally responsible leader. The benefits he brings to his clients include: developing leaders; optimizing resource utilization; improving processes, quality and customer satisfaction; and saving time and $$$. He is a 1972 Engineering graduate of Auburn University, a Certified Management Consultant and Professional Engineer. His consulting firm, Management Methods based in Decatur, AL, is now in its third decade. Davis can be reached at davisw@managementmethods.com or for more information and free downloads visit http://www.daviswoodruff.com
