Steps to ISO 9001 Certification for Quality Management in Small Business

by Isabel Blamey Professional writer

Summary:

ISO 9001 is the most recognized standard for quality management, as it helps businesses increase their quality and achieve greater customer satisfaction. This article will explain key steps that small businesses need to implement to achieve ISO 9001 certification.

Small business owners and managers need to implement the ISO 9001 standard to ensure consistent improvement in their product or service quality. ISO 9001 is known to be the best quality assurance certification for businesses in all industries. It aims to enhance the internal processes, quality of products or services, and employee performance, ensuring customer requirements are well addressed. Therefore, the main focus of certification is to set up a revised and effective QMS which will help businesses fulfill all the ISO 9001 standard requirements.

Many small business entrepreneurs are concerned about the lengthy approach of the certification process. Therefore, this article will outline the three easy steps that every small business can follow to get ISO certified sooner. However, getting assistance from professional certification agency will ensure each step is successfully implemented and concluded.

Step 1: Planning and Structuring the Quality Management System (QMS)

The process begins with defining an appropriate QMS for your business, including its processes and type of produced products or services. Hiring ISO 9001 quality management consultants is essential because they can thoroughly evaluate your business and define a QMS that focuses on quality control and assurance. The QMS must be documented and clearly illustrate how it will identify quality issues, rectify them, and involve employees.

The key aspects that a documented QMS must cover are-

• A quality manual describing all the processes for quality management,
• Measures to identify non-conformities with the standard,
• Corrective actions needed,
• An internal audit process that can be regularly followed.

Step 2: Implementation of the QMS

Quality assurance experts can ensure the QMS is properly implemented, and ensures the consistent improvement in service or product quality. QMS implementation calls for proactive involvement or participation from each member of the organization. They must be notified about QMS requirements, how the new QMS may change their role, and how to maintain the goals of the QMS.

The role of an organization’s management is considered crucial for the implementation process. They will monitor the QMS, evaluate its effectiveness, find any issues that must be solved, and make any necessary changes.

Step 3: Validating the QMS

The last step in the ISO 9001 quality assurance certification process is the verification of the implemented QMS. Hire a professional internal auditor to evaluate the QMS, check how well it has been integrated, and determine whether it will ensure quality improvement.

An internal audit is usually seen as a pre-certification audit that helps management recognize any existing mistakes or non-conformances in the QMS and carefully correct them. Therefore, it helps to ensure the QMS is perfectly compliant with the ISO 9001 standard requirements.

In Conclusion

After going through these steps, your business will be finally ready to apply for ISO 9001 certification and get certified. This three-step simplified process for certification is nothing but a plan-do-check-act methodology, which every business should follow under the guidance of a professional quality assurance team.

Author bio:

Damon Anderson is a quality assurance certification consultant who specializes in ISO 9001, helping businesses responsibly plan and implement a quality management system. He is a writer in his free time, and dedicates his blogs to business owners and managers that seek to implement ISO 9001 quality management standard in their small businesses.

Contact Details:

Business Name: Compliancehelp Consulting, LLC

Email Id: info@quality-assurance.com

Phone No: 877 238 5855