subject: The Steps for achieving ISO9001 Certification [print this page] The Steps for achieving ISO9001 Certification
Before you get into what it takes to achieve ISO9001 certification, it's important to understand just what it is and what this certification can and can't do for you and your business. For instance, you must understand that it is only a quality management certification and nothing more, so it by no means replaces any ongoing promotional efforts.
In short ISO9001 is a private organization based out of Geneva Switzerland that sets and oversees a set of internationally recognized standards in manufacturing. By achieving a certification from this organization you have shown that your manufacturing, and, or production processes have been inspected, and adhere to these set standards.
Also because the ISO9001 system of standards is designed to apply to literally any product or service produced or rendered anywhere on the planet, you can rest assured that you can be certified no matter what business you are in. Be aware though that this system of standards does have its detractors and that inferior, or substandard products have come out of certified companies in the past.
At the same time though, it can be pointed out to its detractors that no system is flawless and ISO9001 does not provide for full time on site monitors. It's also worth noting that it is the only real system of its kind. Now of course there are international monitoring systems that function in more specialized terms, such as in pharmaceutical manufacturing. However, none that is as inclusive and broad ranging in its scope as this universal system of standards.
So then what should you be doing now as your initial preparation for ISO9001 certification? Steps that you can take now, such that you will be more able to adapt to any suggested changes that are made during the certification process? After all, it is highly unlikely that you will be certified without having to make at least some adjustments to the way that you're currently doing things.
The first thing that you can do is to implement a quality control monitoring system in key areas, or processes. Now try to understand that even if you're currently unable to address certain quality issues that may become apparent, you must none the less institute a quality management, and accounting system. In short, even if the quality in any given system, or process is sub-par, do account for it.
Along the same line, or topic, you need to set up a record keeping and tracking system that tracks and records manufacturing defects through your entire system. Just as with the above listed suggestion, this should be an accounting system that should be put in place regardless of your current quality standards but unlike the above localized system, covers the process in its entirety.
So after you have these two record keeping systems in place that record quality levels and manufacturing flaws on both an item by item, as well as your entire process, your next step should focus on the finished product. That is that you need to implement a final inspection process at the tail end to insure that no flawed or substandard products are cleared for market, packed, and shipped out to your customers.
