ISO 9001 is sometimes referred to as the...

Why should you have a quality management system according to ISO 9001?

Win contracts and gain new customers! Requirements for quality management systems according to ISO 9001 are often present in public tenders. The chances of winning a public tender significantly increase if you have a quality certification or a quality management system.

Many companies also consider a quality management system and ISO 9001 certification to be a prerequisite for hiring a supplier.

Increase profitability! By implementing and working according to a quality management system like ISO 9001, you not only obtain a structured way of working but also tools to:

- Prevent complaints through documented quality controls.
- Report and address internal and external deficiencies (deviations), with the goal of not recurring.
- Monitor customer satisfaction and process efficiency.

Together, these elements help reduce the company\'s quality issues and increase customer satisfaction, thereby improving profitability.

Get better organization! Additionally, a quality management system ensures better organization by clearly defining responsibilities. You can also gain increased control over:

- Inspections, maintenance, and equipment service.
- Staff qualifications and skills.

A quality management system includes guiding daily work to:

- Meet the requirements set by stakeholders.
- Prevent risks from a quality and business perspective.

For daily work to function as intended, support is needed in the form of:

- Quality policy and objectives.
- Distribution of responsibilities and authorities within the organization.
- Competent employees.
- Effective communication, both internally and externally.
- Deviation management to address internal and external issues.
- Follow-up on customer satisfaction and process key performance indicators.
- Management review - a meeting where company management evaluates the quality work and makes decisions to address deficiencies.

Common Mistakes When Implementing ISO 9001:
Common mistakes made when implementing ISO 9001 certification in a company or organization as a management system include:

- Starting from the standard structure - A tip is to start from the flow in your company. This way, your quality management system will be tailored to your business.
- Describing how you want to work, not how you work.
- Being too detailed - Remember that what you commit to in the management system must be demonstrable. Be detailed only where there is a significant quality risk or stakeholder requirement.
- Trying to do everything at once - Think of it as renovating a house, one room (process) at a time. Otherwise, you will never finish.
- Being time-optimistic and thinking you can manage implementation alongside regular work.

How can we help?
Our HSE and ISO consultants can assist with:

- Conducting a GAP analysis to identify any deficiencies in the company\'s existing quality management system.
- Developing and implementing a quality management system according to ISO 9001.
- Providing support in daily quality work.
- Conducting internal audits.
- Training the company\'s internal auditors in auditing methodology or educating company management on their responsibilities in quality work.

How does the certification process work?
Certification is carried out by an accredited certification body in two steps.

Step 1 focuses on documentation and management responsibility in the management system. The revision will cover stakeholder analysis, risk & opportunity analysis, quality policy, quality objectives, deviation management, supplier evaluation, internal auditing, responsibility & authority distribution, competence development, management review, etc. The goal is to verify that a quality management system is in place that meets the requirements of ISO 9001 to obtain certification.

In Step 2, the certification auditor will assess whether the quality management system is integrated into daily work, ensuring that daily operations follow the system\'s procedures and comply with ISO 9001 requirements.

If the auditor identifies deficiencies in the management system or daily work, deviations will be documented. Deviations from Step 1 must be corrected before the Step 2 audit, and deviations from Step 2 must be addressed, with corrections approved by the auditor before certification can be issued.

After certification, the certification body will conduct regular audits at least annually. The frequency depends on factors like company size.

What happens after ISO 9001 certification?
Many companies tend to relax after obtaining ISO 9001 certification, but this is when the real quality work begins. You must continue to follow the procedures outlined in your quality management system. Additionally, the certification body will re-evaluate your company after approximately 6-12 months. The frequency of audits depends on your company\'s size.