What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It provides your company with a framework and set of principles that ensure a common sense approach to the management of your business activities to consistently achieve customer satisfaction.

Who is ISO 9001 applicable to?

Any organisation can benefit from implementing  ISO 9001 as its requirements are underpinned by eight management principles:
·         a customer focused organisation
·         leadership
·         the involvement of people
·         ensuring a process approach
·         a systematic approach to management
·         a factual approach to decision making
·         mutually beneficial supplier relations
·         continuous improvement


What are the benefits of registration?

·         Customer satisfaction – through delivery of products that consistently meet customer requirements
·         Reduced operating costs – through continual improvement of processes and resulting operational efficiencies
·         Improved stakeholder relationships  – including staff, customers and suppliers.
·         Legal compliance – by understanding how statutory and regulatory requirements impact on the organisation and its your customers
·         Improved risk management – through greater consistency and traceability of products and services
·         Proven business credentials – through independent verification against recognised standards
·         Ability to win more business – particularly where procurement specifications require certification as a condition to supply


How to gain registration?

The process of registration follows three simple steps:
·      Application for registration is made by completing the QMS questionnaire
·      Assessment to ISO 9001 is undertaken by QI – the organisation must be able to demonstrate that its quality management system has been fully operative for
       a minimum of three months and has been subject of a full cycle of internal audits.
·      Registration is granted by QI and maintained by the organisation. Maintenance is confirmed through a programme of annual surveillance visits and a three yearly 
       re-certification audit.


Initial Certification Audit

The assessment process for achieving certification consists of a two stage Initial Certification Audit as follows:

Stage 1 – the purpose of this visit is to confirm the readiness of the organisation for full assessment.
The assessor will:
·            confirm that the quality manual  conforms to the requirements of ISO 9001
·            confirm its implementation status
·            confirm the scope of certification
·            check legislative compliance
·            produce a report that identifies any non-compliance or potential for non-compliance and agree a corrective action plan if required.
·            produce an assessment plan and confirm a date for the Stage 2 assessment visit.

Stage 2 – the purpose of this visit is to confirm that the quality management system fully conforms to the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 in practice.
The assessor will:
·            undertake sample audits of the processes and activities defined in the scope of assessment
·            document how the system complies with the Standard
·            report any non-compliances or potential for non-compliance
·            produce a surveillance plan and confirm a date for the first surveillance visit

If the assessor identifies any major non-conformance, the organisation cannot be certified until corrective action is taken and verified.


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