Iso 9001 certification uk sets out the seven principles that should govern an organization’s quality management system (QMS). It requires strong customer focus, the involvement of top management and a drive for continuous improvement. It also includes documented processes and a clear audit trail. The result is a consistent approach to quality across the company. Those companies that follow the principles report a significant competitive advantage over those that don’t.
Having an ISO 9001 certificate lets customers, suppliers and others know that the products and services you provide have passed a rigorous international standard. This ensures that the same quality is delivered to everyone, whether they are in Australia or Japan. It’s one of the reasons that major corporations insist on ISO 9001 certification from all their suppliers.
ISO 9001 and Continuous Improvement: A Powerful Duo
The first step in obtaining iso 9001 certification involves a thorough review of your QMS documentation by the registrar who will then assess it against the ISO 9001 requirements. Mandatory requirements must be complied with, while non-mandatory requirements need to be submitted as evidence of your system.
ISO 9001 is the basis for many other standards, including AS 9100 — an interpretation of the standard developed by major aerospace manufacturers and now owned by AlliedSignal. There’s also IATF 16949, an automotive version of the standard developed by GM, Ford and Chrysler. The most current version of the ISO 9001 standards is ISO 9001:2015, which made minor revisions to the 2000 and 2008 frameworks and clarified certain concepts.