The framework for effectively managing your business and meeting your customers' requirements
Every organization would like to improve the way it operates, whether that means increasing market share, driving down costs, managing risk more effectively or improving customer satisfaction. A quality management system gives you the framework you need to monitor and improve performance in any area you choose.
ISO 9001 is by far the world’s most established quality framework, currently being used by over ¾ million organizations in 161 countries, and sets the standard not only for quality management systems, but management systems in general.
It helps all kinds of organizations to succeed through improved customer satisfaction, staff motivation and continual improvement.
ISO 9000 series of standards
ISO 9001 is one of a series of quality management system standards. It can help bring out the best in your organization by enabling you to understand your processes for delivering your products/services to your customers. The ISO 9001 series of standards consist of:
- ISO 9000 – Fundamentals and Vocabulary: this introduces the user to the concepts behind the management systems and specifies the terminology used.
- ISO 9001 – Requirements: this sets out the criteria you will need to meet if you wish to operate in accordance with the standard and gain certification.
- ISO 9004 – Guidelines for performance improvement: based upon the eight quality management principles, these are designed to be used by senior management as a framework to guide their organizations towards improved performance by considering the needs of all interested parties, not just customers.
Who is it relevant to?
ISO 9001 is suitable for any organization looking to improve the way it is operated and managed, regardless of size or sector. However, the best returns on investment come from those companies that are prepared to implement it throughout their organization rather than at particular sites, departments or divisions.
In addition, ISO 9001 is designed to be compatible with other management systems standards and specifications, such as BS OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety and ISO 14001 Environment. They can be integrated seamlessly through Integrated Management. They share many principles so choosing an integrated management system can offer excellent value for money.
Why choose us?
As the founders of the first quality management system standard BS 5750, the forerunner to the ISO 9000 series, and a continued key member of the ISO 9000 technical committees, our knowledge and experience of the standards is unsurpassed. We understand how to fully exploit the benefits of your quality management system to ensure you unlock the true potential in your organization.
- Competitive advantage
ISO 9001 should be top-management led, which ensures that senior management take a strategic approach to their management systems. Our assessment and certification process ensures that the business objectives constantly feed into your processes and working practices to ensure you maximise your assets.
- Improves business performance and manages business risk
ISO 9001 helps your managers to raise the organization’s performance above and beyond competitors who aren’t using management systems. Certification also makes it easier to measure performance and better manage business risk.
- Attracts investment, enhances brand reputation and removes barriers to trade
Certification to ISO 9001 will boost your organization’s brand reputation and can be a useful promotional tool. It sends a clear message to all interested parties that this is a company committed to high standards and continual improvement.
- Saves you money
Evidence shows that the financial benefits for companies that have invested in and certified their quality management systems to ISO 9001 include operational efficiencies, increased sales, higher return on assets and greater profitability.
- Streamlines operations and reduces waste
The assessment of your quality management system focuses on operating processes. This encourages organizations to improve the quality of products and the service provided and helps to reduces waste and customer complaints.
- Encourages internal communication and raises morale
ISO 9001 ensures that employees feel more involved through improved communication. Continued Assessment visits can highlight any skills shortages sooner and uncover any teamwork issues.
- Increases customer satisfaction
The ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’ structure of ISO 9001 ensures that the needs of the customer are being considered and met.
From a one-day introductory course to implementation training or lead auditor courses, our network of public and in-company training can help you at every stage of the process. Our experience of how organizations of all types and sizes relate to the standard is unequalled - and we can deliver the training you need for understanding, implementing, assessing and certifying your quality management systems.
We offer a comprehensive programme of training courses covering every aspect of ISO 9001:2000 for:
Delegates who are new to quality management systems
- Courses in awareness, understanding and implementing a new system
Delegates who need to audit and improve an existing system
- Courses in auditing, assessing and improving an existing system
Next steps
For further information about specific training on this subject, please call us on
(+44) (0)845 086 9000 or enter your details in our enquiry form.
We’re an accredited body ourselves, which ensures that we look at your management system from an independent angle, and our highly trained and experienced Client Managers bring their industry knowledge to bear to help you get the most out of ISO 9001.
If you’re new to BSI, don’t worry – the certification process is very simple.
1. Make contact
Get in touch and tell us what you need, so we can sort out the best services for you. We’ll then give you a proposal detailing the cost and time involved.
2. Meet your assessment team
We’ll assign you a Client Manager, who will be your main point of contact through the process – and beyond. They’ll have an excellent understanding of your business area and will support you as you move forward to the assessment and certification of your quality management system.
3. Consider training
Whether you’re seeking to implement a management system or would like to increase your general awareness of the standard, there are a range of workshops, seminars and training courses available. Read more about training.
4. Review and assessment
We’ll do a desktop review of your management system against ISO 9001, and identify any omissions or weaknesses that need resolving before formal assessment. Once these have been addressed, we’ll conduct a full on-site assessment.
5. Certification and beyond
Once the assessment has been successfully completed, we’ll issue a certificate of registration, clearly explaining the scope of your management system. The certificate is valid for three years, and your assessor will visit you regularly to help you make sure you remain compliant, and support you in the continual improvement of your systems.
Next steps
For further information or a "quick quote" please call us on (+44) (0)845 080 9000. Alternatively enter your details into our enquiry form and one of our advisors will contact you.
