As a business owner, you know that it is important to maintain consistent quality standards in the products you produce. In addition, customers expect to receive the same high-quality product regardless of where they are around the globe. To meet these expectations, many businesses turn to the International Organization for Standards (ISO).
The ISO is responsible for creating global standards across various fields, providing businesses with guidelines and best practices for integrating quality, safety, and efficiency into their operations. This article will provide a complete guide to quality management standards for ISO compliance.
What is ISO Compliance?
ISO is an international non-governmental organization that develops standards to ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of products and services. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, ISO is currently one of the most dominant standard-setting entities in the world. Businesses often look to ISO for guidance on improving their operations and meeting customer expectations.
In partnership with different government bodies, policy-makers, and academics, ISO has set over 22,600 standards across various industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, food safety, and environmental management.
To ensure compliance with ISO standards, businesses must undergo a certification process. This process assesses a company’s ability to meet the requirements laid out in the relevant ISO standard. Once a business is certified, it must maintain compliance through regular audits.
Why Should You Comply with ISO Standards?
There are many benefits of complying with ISO standards, including:
- Improved customer satisfaction: By complying with ISO standards, you can show your customers that you are committed to providing them with consistent, high-quality products and services.
- Enhanced marketability: Many businesses are looking for suppliers that can meet international standards in today’s global marketplace. By complying with ISO standards, you can improve your chances of being selected as a supplier for these businesses.
- Increased efficiency: Complying with ISO standards can help you streamline your operations, leading to increased efficiency and reduced costs.
- Improved employee safety: Many ISO standards, such as ISO/IEC 27001, focus on improving employee safety. Complying with these standards can create a safer work environment for your employees.
Types of ISO Standards
There are several different types of ISO standards. The following are the most notable ones:
ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems (QMS)
This standard applies to all organizations, big or small, in all industries. It provides guidelines on how to establish and maintain a QMS. It prioritizes customer experience and satisfaction, as well as the company’s quality processes and continuous improvement.
ISO 14001: Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
This standard applies to any organization that wants to improve its environmental performance. It provides guidelines on how to establish and maintain an EMS. It covers a company and its objectives, targets, and environmental policy.
ISO 27001: Information Security Management Systems (ISMS)
This standard applies to any organization that wants to improve its information security. It provides guidelines on how to establish and maintain an ISMS. It focuses on the company’s information security policy, objectives, and targets.
ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS)
This standard applies to any organization that wants to improve its OH&S performance. It provides guidelines on how to establish and maintain an OHSMS. It focuses on the company’s OH&S policy, objectives, and targets.
ISO 22301: Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS)
This standard applies to any organization that wants to improve its business continuity. It provides guidelines on how to establish and maintain a BCMS. It focuses on the company’s business continuity policy, objectives, and targets.
How to Get ISO 9001 Certification
ISO 9001 is the only standard that is certification-based. This means that to be compliant with ISO standards, businesses must go through a certification process. The key step toward an organization becoming ISO certified is to build and implement a Quality Management System.
While it’s recommended that businesses regularly execute internal reviews of their system, becoming officially certified requires manufacturers to get an audit from an independent, external entity known as a Certification Body. The steps to getting your ISO 9001 certification include the following:
- Conduct an internal audit for your QMS to ensure the systems and processes comply with the current ISO 9001 standards and best practices.
- Start evaluating several different Certification Bodies to find one that’s a good fit for your organization and one that’s accredited. Use the relevant CASCO standard.
- Once your QMS is ready, and you’ve selected a Certification Body, it’s time to start the certification process. Certification typically occurs in multiple stages:
- Stage 1: the auditor will inspect your documentation to determine if ISO 9001 requirements are met and match what’s done across the business. This portion of the audit process will uncover any deficiencies within your system and opportunities for improvement.
- Stage 2: Once required changes are met, including a final verification that ISO-compliant systems are being utilized.
How DATAMYTE Can Help
Did you know that DATAMYTE can help you with ISO compliance? That’s right! DATAMYTE and its quality management software help streamline your quality processes and ensure you’re always meeting customer expectations.
The DataMyte Digital Clipboard is DATAMYTE’s workflow automation software that helps you create, document, and track your quality processes. In addition, the software will help you manage your data collection, analysis, and report generation.
With the DataMyte Digital Clipboard, you can create workflows that help comply with and document your process according to ISO standards. The software also allows you to collect real-time data and generate reports on your process performance. This helps you identify areas of improvement and make the necessary changes to ensure you’re always providing consistent quality to your customers.
To learn more about how DATAMYTE can help you with ISO compliance, contact us today! We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions and start your journey to ISO compliance.
Conclusion
By complying with ISO standards, businesses can provide a consistent level of quality to their customers, no matter where they are in the world. Certification is key to becoming ISO compliant, and DATAMYTE can help you through the process with our quality management software.
If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with ISO compliance!
