Process Change? Think ISO 9000!

Process change is a big decision, but the right one can save you time and money. It can also help you improve product quality and customer satisfaction.

There are many ways to approach process change, but one way that has withstood the test of time is ISO 9000 standards. ISO 9000 is an internationally recognized quality management system that provides guidelines on how to identify and resolve critical business issues. By implementing a Quality Management System in your company, you will be better equipped to achieve your goals for both current and future clients.

In this blog post we discuss the fundamentals of ISO 9000, as well as some of the benefits it offers companies in terms of reducing costs, increasing credibility with customers, improving profitability...and even making it through the recession!

What are ISO 9000 Standards?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) offers a set of standards that have been in the industry for years and that have been proven to be effective. These standards are based on four "pillars" that include:

Quality Management System Requirements for the Workplace Processes for Quality Work Organization Policies and Procedures Control and Verification

In order to be considered a global quality management system, your company must meet all of these requirements. However, you may not have to actually implement all of them for your company. For instance, if you have a small company or are a sole proprietor, you may only need to implement the requirement for process changes.

Your process changes should be done to help improve product quality and customer satisfaction! This is essential for small and midsize companies that often do not have the resources of large corporations. Not only does it help your company in the short-term, but it also allows you to provide better service over the long-term.

When Should I Use ISO 9000?

Although ISO 9000 standards can be implemented in different ways depending on company size and size of project, there are some key timeframes that are suggested to implement this type of system for small companies. These are:

Pre-revenue - If you are starting up a new business and it has yet to generate any revenue, you will want to keep costs low as well. ISO 9000 is a great way for small businesses to lower costs by quantifying the quality of their products or services. It also helps you figure out how you can improve your processes so that you can guarantee your client (or future clients) a better product or service.

Post-revenue - Once your company starts bringing in some revenue, it is time to ensure that these profits continue! ISO 9000 provides a systematic way to monitor product quality and efficiency...which leads to quick and cost-efficient resolution of problems when they arise.

How Can I Implement ISO 9000 Standards?

As mentioned above, how you implement your Quality Management System will depend on the size of your company and the size and scope of your project. However, there are some core elements that need to be included for all types of company. These include:

Employee Involvement - No matter what type of company you have, you will want to make sure that your employees are involved in the decision-making process. This ensures a better understanding within the organization when changes take place and increases buy-in from employees.

Documentation and Inspection - No matter what type of company you have, documentation is a must! It is essential for ISO 9000 certification and it is essential to meeting the requirements of your clients. Documentation also gives you the ability to monitor how well your business is performing overall.

Understanding Your Strengths and Weaknesses - By performing an assessment on your company's strengths and weaknesses, you will be able to fully assess your strengths as well as set realistic goals for improvement. In addition, you can use this information when creating a new system that helps improve product quality and customer satisfaction.

Training of Employees - Training is essential when implementing any type of process change, including ISO 9000 standards. By ensuring that your employees are trained in the system and the products or services you offer, you will have a better understanding of how to meet and exceed customer expectations.

Customer Involvement - Finally, you will want to involve customers in your process change. Not only will this give them a better idea of what to expect from you, but it can also help build stronger customer relationships over time. This will be essential when you want to boost revenue.

As you can see, there are many different ways to implement ISO 9000 standards in your organization. By including your employees in the process of change, you not only get buy-in into the system, but also a better understanding of how to meet and exceed customer expectations on a daily basis. Not only does this reduce costs and improve efficiency, but it helps build strong relationships with customers in the long run.

To learn more about how ISO 9000 can help you grow your business during these tough economic times, visit: http://www.iso9000certification.com/iso-certification-how-to-use-it/ . You can also learn more about how you can use ISO 9000 with your quality management system in our Solutions Guide: http://www.iso9000certification.com/product-guide/

Learn more about how ISO 9000 can help you grow your business during these tough economic times!Contact us at: info(at)iso9000certification.com for more information or to schedule a FREE introduction to ISO 9000! We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Editor's Note: This guest post is written by Desiree Vogel, founder of Iso9000 & a service provider in the field of Training and Development as well as Management Consultancy and Project Coaching on quality systems and quality management. Used with permission.

Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sloanee/285993860/sizes/n/in/photostream/

Related Links:

- ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003 Quality Management System Standards Explained

- What is a Six Sigma Certification? Overview of the DMAIC Methodology

Questions about your quality management system? Check out our blog or contact us at info(at)qualityblaze.com if you have any questions about implementing quality management systems in your organization! Connect with us on LinkedIn as well! http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/QualityBlaze

About the Author:

QualityBlaze is an award winning international consultancy that helps organizations and individuals increase revenues, decrease costs, and improve customer satisfaction. To learn more about how QualityBlaze can help your company implement quality management systems in a cost-effective manner, contact us today! www.qualityblaze.

Conclusion

Now that you have an idea of how to implement ISO 9000 standards in your business, you can start to create a plan to implement your quality management system. This will help your organization meet the requirements of international organizations as well as increase customer loyalty. To learn more about how QualityBlaze can help you implement quality management systems in a cost-effective manner, contact us at info(at)qualityblaze.com today! Connect with us on LinkedIn as well! http://www.linkedin.