Who needs ISO 9001?

The ISO 9001 standard was designed to be adaptable and dynamic. It provides a comprehensive management system that can help improve core business functions in any industry, allowing it to suit unique operational environments. Although, no organisation essentially needs certification to ISO standards to operate, it is something every company could benefit from obtaining.

Many organisations, large or small, regardless of the sector find it beneficial to acquire an ISO 9001 certification as it enhances the chances of securing contracts and winning tenders. This is because the ISO 9001 certification provides a framework to help organisations meet regulatory obligations and customer requirements. As a result of this flexibility, the ISO 9001 framework can be applied to a wide variety of businesses globally.

The common factor in the implementation of all Quality Management Systems (QMS) and ISO auditing is the business objective to improve the quality of products or services and reduce risks. In this article, we will name seven industries that can benefit greatly from ISO 9001 certification.

The construction industry

In the construction industry, budget and time constraints are constantly being enforced. The impact of these constraints is enhanced particularly by a range of external stakeholders, third party investors and demographical factors, leading to a constant tug of war between safety and quality. When construction management teams adhere to ISO 9001 standards, they significantly reduce waste costs, enhance efficiency and improve employee training.

One of the significant recommendations in the ISO 9001: 2015 standard is that it offers guidance on leadership and engagement of people.

The ISO 9001 standard teaches companies to engage employees in a way that increases job satisfaction, imbues tasks with purpose, thereby increasing output.

The standard’s process approach focuses on improvement, ensuring that the processes are reviewed and improved periodically, thereby making your organisation a safer and more transparent place to work.

Additionally, the ISO 9001 provides an excellent roadmap for evaluating supplier performance through its principle of relationship management. This helps the organisation to streamline their processes and foster a proactive attitude to efficiently manage their supply chain.

The engineering industry

Engineers, irrespective of the discipline they belong to, require enhanced accuracy and efficiency. Their reputation for accuracy and efficiency is what allows them to maintain an influence amongst the potential contractors. The success of engineers is determined by their ability to perform tasks consistently and scale their performance without compromising on quality.

The ISO 9001 is beneficial for engineering firms as it builds quality assurance into service offering. The standard allows organisations to demonstrate an ability to identify potential hazards and insufficiency as well as develop plans to mitigate these risks. It is these kind of assurances that can help differentiate an organisation in a crowded market.

Technological services

The increase in demand for tech-based services off-late has seen a rapid growth in businesses offering services such as cloud-based software, IT systems and digital support. As a direct response to the increase in demand, the relatively young tech sector is being forced to mature quickly.

Organisations are not only providing more innovative products and services, but they are also becoming sophisticated in a competitive sense. As the ISO 9001 requires comprehensive documentation, standard operating procedures and disaster recovery plans, acquiring the certification can be beneficial for many IT services and tech-based businesses.

The hospitality industry

Industries that are customer-facing and process-driven face numerous challenges from a management perspective. In many hospitality businesses, the lack of documentation regarding standard operating procedures can let the performance of the team down in the long run.

Acquiring the ISO 9001 can be beneficial for hospitality businesses as it provides a method of ensuring standards within the daily operations. It makes it simple for managers to implement a clearly defined set of procedures without having to rely on ad-hoc management techniques.

Community services

Many community-based programs can benefit significantly from the implementation of a QMS. The ISO 9001 can be particularly advantageous to an organisation, when its core principles are embraced including involvement of people and a systematic approach to management.

Having internal audits and recognised systems to handle feedback can also be beneficial for the long-term performance of community service projects. When community service projects are able to demonstrate an increased level of successful program implementation, it can also increase the chances of acquiring funding from government bodies.

The healthcare industry

The healthcare industry serves a vital role in our community. It promotes health, heals, provides treatment and increases the quality of life of individuals that are being served. The ISO 9001 can guide different sectors to conduct detailed evaluations. Examples of such sectors include health care facilities, aged care, hospitals, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, ambulance and emergency services.

The more effective and efficient the operations are, the more beneficial they would be for the community. At its core, both the ISO 9001: 2015 standard and the principles of healthcare are risk-based and customer-centric. Aligning the principles can ensure the delivery of high-quality services that focus on continual improvement.