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ISO Standards
The ISO standards are a set of patterns and procedures which confer international quality standard processes, products and services.
The ISO or International Organization for Standardization is the international and independent body that developed, updates and disseminates the most important international standards of quality and standardization in the world.
ISO has a global presence and since the name of “International Organization for Standardization” would be abbreviated differently in different countries, the founders chose the name “ISO”, derived from the Greek term “isos”, which wants say “same”.
The benefits and advantages of implementing ISO 9001 extend to several areas of the business. Of course, visibility and expansion in the market are among the most mentioned, but it is important to remember that quality is applied in every way, whether they are professional or personal.
Why ISO Standards are Important
- Increase in the performance of its services and products
- Greater customer satisfaction
- Best customer opinion
- Increase in productivity and efficiency
- Cost reduction
- Improvement of the level of communication and satisfaction of workers
- Greater competitiveness and increased sales opportunities
- International recognition
- Damage Reduction
- Increased employee awareness
Motivated and aligned team = greater competitive advantage
The ISO 9001 certification is a way to align objectives and ideas, in favor of the organization. By implementing the standard, the organization shows the employee that he must think about the future, that the market is changing and that suggestions are always required that lead to improvement.
In this way, the professional will feel motivated to work better, review their concepts and embrace the changes that certification implies. Having focused and committed professionals represents a considerable advantage. A motivated team transmits that motivation to suppliers, but above all to customers.
Similarly, it is certain that the employee better understand the internal processes of the place where he works, and understand that it is part of those processes, becoming a pillar of the success of the organization.
Customer satisfaction, as the main focus of the business
This is one of the main benefits and advantages of implementing ISO 9001. The organization stops focusing its attention on the product and orientates it towards the customer. Therefore, the first step is to know in depth what motivates you, what are your values, your expectations, your lifestyle, your behavior, your opinions, among others.
With this information, we can understand our client as a whole and seek their satisfaction, and how to create value for them. With the ISO 9001 standard, your organization will be able to monitor the 5 basic elements necessary to create value for customers: quality, relationship, performance, price and performance. At the same time, you may have objective criteria to monitor satisfaction.
Get new business and improve the image in the market
The ISO 9001 certification, thanks to the improvement in quality management, brings a new image to the market. This shows that the organization cares about the way it is seen by its customers, and teaches them that it wants to continuously improve and is open to new opportunities and partnerships.
Of course, the markets are more receptive to players who have the certification, in certain industries it can even prevent those who do not have it from participating.
Save resources and invest in development
In the short term, obtaining the ISO 9001 certification, brings improvements in internal business processes, reducing rework and waste, increasing the quality of products. The savings generated can be invested in the development of new products, staff training, structural reforms of the facilities, etc.
In the long term, it is common to check the increase in revenue of the organization, as customers become loyal and loyal, which leads to the arrival of new business partners.
Benefits and advantages of implementing ISO 9001 – In the business areas
By applying the regulatory requirements of the day-to-day decision making of the organization, the company can succeed in continuous quality improvement like this:
- Internal organization: information flows from one area to another easily. The problems that hinder the traffic of information, become identified, treated and even eliminated.
- Better performance in activities : it helps administrators to increase the performance of the organization, both internally and in relation to competitors. The key activities of the organization are controlled and the results appear in the short, medium and long term.
- Better performance in commercial applications: ISO 9001 certification, improves the reputation of the brand, as it shows that the organization is committed to recognized international standards, and continuous improvement.
- Economy and waste reduction: materials management and production efficiency bring financial benefits. With the control of nonconformities, the organization reduces waste.
- Increase in customer satisfaction: ISO 9001 establishes a requirement for customer satisfaction, ensuring that their needs are considered and taken into account. Thus, the organization improves quality and meets customer expectations.
- Greater control of the management of organizations and shareholders: the standard proposes the organization to anticipate the problems that may occur in the processes. This allows Senior Management to have a preview of possible failures and propose solutions before they arise.
Of course we all know that paper accepts everything. Having the certification on paper, and not having a culture of quality and continuous improvement does not help much. If your organization decides to take this path, you are likely to encounter many challenges and many learning opportunities that will be decisive in the growth process.
If you want to expand the information about the benefits and advantages of implementing ISO 9001 in your organization, you can access our Course Methodologies for the Implementation and Certification ISO 9001 2015, where you will know how to implement or make an effective transition from a Quality Management System to the new revision of the ISO 9001: 2015 standard.
Disadvantages of acquiring a certification
- Not being certified or in the process of certification does not mean that you cannot improve customer satisfaction, productivity, cost reduction and waste.
- You can have procedures, operational risks, waste reduction, interdepartmental communication or more successful economic results than a company that has certified its systems. However, we must be clear that what is not shown is not sold, so certification is the letter of introduction to others and the “global market” that is likely to be required to do business with you.