Requirements for ISO 9001 Certification - Essay Example

Student Name: Name: Title: ISO 9001 Course: Institution: Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Section 1 3 Reasons for implementing 3 Section 2 6 Requirements for ISO 9001 certification 6 After the implementation of ISO 9001 9 References 11 Section 1 Reasons for implementing It is important for a company to a company to implement ISO 9001 due to a number of reasons. ISO 9001 is recognized worldwide in terms of quality management1. It ensures that the company gains international recognition. Once the company gains international recognition, it stands a better chance of negotiating for contracts and tenders. Most contracts are usually awarded to outstanding companies that can perform the given task conclusively. The performance of an organization gains a lot from the certification since it will be equipped with the proper tools of management and thus increased efficiency for the company. The company needs to implement SO 9001 for the purpose of ensuring its resources are well managed. The revenue for the company increases due to the implementation of ISO 9001. This is mainly because the company attracts more clients once it is satisfied2. The company also stands to benefit from the improvement in quality management. This is considering that the certification plays an important role in ensuring that the organization has an efficient quality management system. Good quality management system promotes the management of the organization by putting in place the necessary framework required for the operations of the organization. Continuous improvement is also witnessed by the organization due to the improvement in quality management. This is considering that the improvements are normally continuous once the certification has been done. In terms of competition, the certification plays an important role in ensuring that the company becomes a leader in the market. This is due to the recognition by the world standards bodies and other companies and potential customers for the organization. The control of the business enterprise therefore becomes easier once the system is in place. This ensures that the company is able to meet its goals and objectives fully and effectively3. Customer satisfaction is one of the main emphases by the ISO 9001. The certification strives at ensuring that needs of the customers are put first. The customer stands to benefit a lot from the certification and thus ensuring g that the company is able to maintain its clients at all times. It is evident that once an organization is able to satisfy its clients, then maintaining them becomes easier. The project bid requirement is also achieved by the certification of ISO 9001. Some of the projects require that the company be certified with the ISO 9001 in order to win the bid. It is therefore an added advantage for the organization. The international requirement for good practice is also achieved by the implementation of the ISOP 9001. Good practice within the company ensures that any form of wastage is reduced and totally eliminated during the production process. The company thus stands to benefit a lot from the implementation of ISO 9001. Without the implementation, the company may not be able to attract clients and may lose to its competitors who have adapted the certification4. Importance and benefits to governmental organization The certification is important in terms of reducing unnecessary paper work5. This is considering that the procedures within the government may take long to be approved due to the amount of paperwork that is required. For a document to be approved by the government, it has to undergo several checks that may even take months for the purpose of verification. However, with the implementation of ISO 9001, the process becomes faster and the time taken is reduced. This is considering that one of the requirements being documents should not be piled in any office. The staff is also motivated by the certification. This is due to the model that it takes. Once the staff members are motivated, then it becomes easier for them to serve the clients. Most of the failures by the staff members are due to lack of motivation and low morale. The ISO 9001 ensures that the interest of the staff members are considered and thus empowering them. The governmental organizations thus stand to benefit a lot from the implementation6. The certification ensures that the best practices are maintained by the governmental organization. This brings a lot of trust to the government organization. This is considering that most of the governmental organizations have lost the credibility and trust of the local people. Streamlining of the operations which is the main purpose of the certification therefore improves the services offered by the government organization. The quality of services offered by the government institutions is quite important and relevant to the people. This is considering that the people always rely on government services and seek it on a daily basis. The implementation process also ensures that the leadership of the organization is improved. In some of the government institutions are usually faced with the problems pf ethics and integrity when it comes to leadership. The certification ensures that the leaders are accountable and thus solves the problems of poor leadership within the government organizations. The certification of ISO 9001 therefore ensures that the reputations of the government organizations are improved. This is considering the bad public image on most of the government organizations. Improved reputation increases the confidence of the local people towards the government and hence public relations. Section 2 Requirements for ISO 9001 certification The main consideration during the implementation of ISO 9001 includes three basic processes. The company must first describe the business practice it conducts. This is considering that ISO 9001 applies to certain operations. This should then be followed by presenting the manuals that contains the guidelines used during the operations at the organizations. The manual acts as a reference for the business process in the company. The company must also be in position to prove that the company actually practices the stated operations. This can only be done through the use of documented evidence. The document proves that the company engages in the stated operations and the reference manual is applicable7. The company must meet various requirements before it is certified by ISO 9001. The requirements are mainly for the purpose of ensuring that the organization is able to meet the requirements of the clients as well as fulfilling its aims and objectives. The company must have a quality policy statement. This statement must be formal and should explain the business management, marketing plan and the customer requirements. The company should be able to meet should first be able to meet its quality control policies and should be well understood by all the employees. The company should also be in a position to make quality decisions based on its recorded data. The quality systems should also be regulated and be audited on regular basis and it conforms to the required standards. The company must also have a record of showing how it processes its products and ensures that any problem can be traced to the source8. The company also requires records that prove it knows the requirements of the customers. A system for communicating with the customers regarding the services and goods it requires. A feedback mechanism for the company is also required for certification. The company must also have procedures regarding how it handles the complaints of the customers and how it serves them. This is important considering that the certification of ISO 9001 is about customer satisfaction. During the production of a new product, the company must have the records regarding its design and testing of the products. The records must clearly indicate the methods used for testing g and the actions the company undertakes if the products cannot meet the required standards. The documentation for internal audits is also required during the certification period. The company has to show that the audits being used are genuine and met the required standards. The auditors should also be qualified to conduct the audits. The company should also present a record of how it dealt with the past problems and how it plans to deal with the future problems. This is important in determining the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization. The methods used to solve the problems should also be presented to determine the ability of the company to handle challenges. A part from the records of dealing with problems, the company must have a record of how it solves the conflicts or issues with the suppliers, customers and its internal problems. The efficiency in the methods used in solving the conflicts plays an important role in determining whether the company gets the certification or not. The quality management system of the company must also be produced. This process also determines whether the organization meets the required standards or not. Quality of the processes is an important consideration for the certification since ISO 9001 is keen on ensuring the clients benefits from good quality products and services9 The company should also ensure that it has the structures put in place of how to deal with bad products in case they are produced by the organization. The policies regarding the bad products should be in place to ensure that the clients do not consume any bad product. This is very important t during the certification as it is aimed at protecting the consumers. Records about what the company does with the bad products should also be available. This determines the effectiveness of the company and determines the business ethics in the company. If bad products are not disposed or they are sold to the customers, then the company cannot be certified. The company must also have the records that show how problems regarding quality are dealt with in the company. This plays an important role in determining whether the company addresses the root cause of the problem or not. The re cords of how the company improves the system is also required during the process. This determines whether the company can maintain quality services even after the certification process10. After the implementation of ISO 9001 After certification of the company, the company still requires to put in place more efforts to ensure that the standards are maintained. This is considering that the certification has to be renewed after three years. If the company does not meet the required conditions during the renewal then it cannot renew the ISO 9001 certificate. Surveillance audits are usually carried out to determine whether the company complies with the requirements or not. Semi annual surveillance is usually carried out after every six months to determine the effectiveness of the company in maintaining the good standards and best practices. This is also for the purpose of making improvements in areas of weaknesses11. The annual surveillance is also done every year and it may require long visits to the company by the auditors. The conformity of the company is also determined during this period. It is thus important for the company to note that the audits become a continuous process once the certification has been done. The company can also preserve the certification by ensuring that it is accountable in all of its operations. The management should ensure that it is able to keep records of all its processes. The use of information technology should also be considered for the purpose of operating the processes of the organization12. Improvements are also required after the certification process. This is mainly for the purpose of ensuring conformity as well as improving the services of the organization. The clients also benefits from the improvement process which is quite advantageous. The improvements are mainly based on the feedback from the clients. This is considering that the certification is aimed at improving the quality of goods and services offered to the clients. The ISO 9001 creates a feedback mechanism from the clients and the suggestions and recommendations should also be adapted by the organization. The feed mechanism thus determines the type of improvements to be made by the company. On the pother hand the members of staff can also make recommendations for improvements incase they notice any change in the customer attitude towards the organization. It is thus recommended that the company should strive at maintaining the ISO 9001 standards and make improvements where it is necessary. The changes should however be made after careful considerations and consultations. It is also recommended that the company seek expert advice during the improvement of the services for the purpose of ensuring that it achieves its aims and objectives13. The identification of improvement cycles is also an important tool for improving the ISO 9001 certification. This includes the reduction of cycle time and the inventories. The internal improvements should also be carried out. This plays an important role in creating a good public image of the company and thus the continuity in good performance. It is also recommended that the top management be committed in the improvement and maintenance of good practices. The commitment of the management inspires the employee who in turn serves the clients better. The company should also use manuals that are all inclusive and reflects on the goals and objectives of the company as well as that of ISO 9001. However the customer experience should be the main tool for improving the ISO 9001 certification. This also guides the company during the manufacture of new products14. References Tsim, Y. et al (2002). An adaptation to ISO 9001:2000 for certified organizations. 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