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What is ISO 9001?
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ISO 9001 is the standard against which the Quality Management System
of a business is evaluated.
It can be applied to all companies; therefore it is worded to allow it
to be adaptable and non-prescriptive. It is, however, intended to
demonstrate that a business can provide a consistent standard of
quality.
Most importantly, it is a common sense and practical method for
improving procedures.
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Most companies are already operating many of the requirements of the
Standard but have not documented them.
Why ISO 9001
Being able to achieve a significant competitive edge over your rivals is
the major benefit that ISO 9001 Certification brings.
Recent surveys reveal that almost 80% of businesses sought ISO 9001
Certification because of their need to increase or maintain their market
share.
Another survey amongst firms having gained ISO 9001 Certification showed
that:
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Profits increased |
- Costs lower due to less wastage |
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Sales increased |
- Fewer orders lost |
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Exports increased |
- Internationally recognized |
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Management was more effective |
- Less time wasted |
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More prospects were realized |
- ISO 9000 can open doors restricted to
only Certified suppliers |
Benefits of ISO 9001:2000
When ISO 9001:2000 is implemented in an organization:
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As an effective marketing tool:
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Access to new markets
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Some markets require ISO 9001 Registration, some markets favor
companies with ISO 9001 Registration
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Customer request
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Many organizations are asked by a customer to obtain registration as
a requirement to continue or to start doing business with them.
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Well defined and documented procedures
improve the
consistency of output quality:
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Quality is constantly measured
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Procedures ensure corrective action is taken whenever defects occur
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Defect rates decrease
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Defects are caught earlier and are corrected at a lower cost
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Defining procedures identifies current practices that are obsolete
or inefficient
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Documented procedures are easier for new employees to follow
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Organizations retain or increase market share, increasing sales or
revenues
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Reduced costs are obtained through:
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Improved product reliability
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Better process control and flow
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Better documentation of processes
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Greater employee quality awareness
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Reductions in
product scrap, rewords and rejections
Top reasons given for registration:
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Internal operational efficiency
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Lower production costs because of fewer nonconforming products, less
rework, lowered rejection rates, streamlined processes and fewer
mistakes.
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Access to new markets
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Some markets require ISO 9001 Registration, some markets favor
companies with ISO 9001 Registration
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Customer request
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Many organizations are asked by a customer to obtain registration as a
requirement to continue or to start doing business with them.
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Reducing costs
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Organizations are recognizing that an effective Quality Management
System leads to reduced costs and greater operating margins
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