What is ISO 9001?
This ISO certification is the most widely-recognised quality management system standard in the world. It demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to supplying a product or service that consistently meets its customers’ requirements. The ISO 9001 is the only standard in the 9000 group that is directly audited for certification purposes.
What are the requirements of ISO 9001?
The requirements are specified in a document called “Requirements for ISO 9001”, which is available from the national standards body in each country. Here in the United Kingdom, this is the British Standards Institute (B.S.I).
In order for a UKAS accredited certification body to issue or renew an ISO 9001 certificate, the auditor in question will need to be satisfied that the organisation being assessed has implemented the requirements of sections 4 to 8 as set out below. The first 3 sections are not used directly for auditing but give context and definitions that are vital for understanding this ISO certification.
ISO 9001 Outline Contents
The outline contents for ISO 9001 are:
- Section 1: Scope
- Section 2: Normative Reference
- Section 3: Terms and definitions (specific to ISO 9001)
- Section 4: Quality Management System
- Section 5: Management Responsibility
- Section 6: Resource Management
- Section 7: Product Realisation
- Section 8: Measurement, analysis and improvement
ISO 9001 Documented Procedures
The ISO 9001 standard sets out that the organisation in questions should issue and maintain the following 6 documented procedures:
- Control of Documents – Clause 4.2.3
- Control of Records – Clause 4.2.4
- Internal Audits – Clause 8.2.2
- Control of Nonconforming Product / Service – Clause 8.3
- Corrective Action – Clause 8.5.2
- Preventive Action – Clause 8.5.3
Other Requirements
In addition to all of the above procedures and documents, the ISO 9001:2008 standard requires that a business or organisation documents any other processes that are deemed as necessary for its effective operation. The certification also requires that the organisation issues and makes readily available a documented quality policy, a quality manual and several other records which are specified throughout ISO 9001.
What are the benefits of ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 standards can help any size or type of organisation that wants to improve the satisfaction of customers, increase the effectiveness of its employees or establish a framework for implementing a long term strategy – all of which can lead to improved profitability and security.
Other ISO Standards
There are two other supplementary, but not auditable, standards:
ISO 9000:2005 Quality management systems — Fundamentals and vocabulary
ISO 9004:2009 Managing for the sustained success of an organisation — A quality management approach.
These two standards contain deeper information on how to sustain and improve quality management systems.
How can ISO in a Box™ help?
Equas has helped organisations achieve ISO 9001 certification in every type of industry sector. We particularly specialise in building systems that can be easily adapted to meet the requirements of other standards. We also specialise in a whole host of other ISO certifcations, such as the ISO 50001 Energy Management System. If you have any questions whatsoever about any standards, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Contact us now to find out how to achieve ISO 9001, discuss ISO 9001 requirements or to obtain a fixed-price quotation with guaranteed certification.