What is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS), based on the principles of strong leadership, customer focus, evidence-based decision making, and relationship management. By applying these principles, organisations deliver consistently high standards of products and services, drive customer satisfaction, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.
ISO 9001 sets out a flexible framework that can be adapted to meet the needs of your business, and can be used for micro-businesses up to large corporations alike. The standard doesn't tell you how to run your business, instead its application ensures that your methods of providing products or services has been designed to deliver a high-quality outcome for your customers.
Your QMS does not need to be certified for your business to reap the rewards of ISO 9001. Many businesses develop their QMS compliant with ISO 9001, and then go for certification at a time that suits them. This means that you can get the benefits of developing a robust QMS without the added expense of certification.
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What are the benefits of ISO 9001?
Streamlined Efficiency: Optimise workflows, eliminate waste, and improve consistency in delivering products and services.
Better Quality Products and Services: Deliver high-quality outcomes, enhance customer satisfaction, and build loyalty.
Proactive Risk Management: Make data-driven decisions, anticipate risks, and ensure predictable outcomes.
Empowered Workforce: Define clear roles, boost morale, and empower employees to take ownership of their tasks.
Continuous Growth: Foster a culture of improvement, adapt to market changes, and drive innovation.
Steps to getting ISO 9001 certification
Every organisation has their own unique way of implementing ISO 9001, tailored specifically to their business. However, there are some common steps to achieving certification.
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Carry out a Gap Analysis to asses your current management system against the requirements of ISO 9001. Develop an action plan to address the gaps and bring your practices in line with the standard. |
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Deliver your action plan to align your practices with ISO 9001. This may include the setting strategic quality objectives, development and implementation of policies and procedures, refining your systems, training your team, carrying out a management review and internal audit. |
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Stage 1 Certification Audit - your chosen certification body will review the scope of your management system and assess your readiness for certification. |
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Address any areas of improvement identified at Stage 1 Certification Audit and continue to implement your management system, building up evidence of compliance. |
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Stage 2 Certification Audit - your chosen certification body will evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of your management system, and will make a recommendation for certification |
Once your have gained certification, you need to continue the implementation and development of your QMS. You will typically be subject to an annual surveillance audit carried out by your certification body to ensure your QMS continues to meet the requirements of ISO 9001.
ISO 9001 Certification is awarded for a period of three years; your certification body will carry out a full certification audit after three years to full examine the QMS.
Remember to promote your ISO 9001 certification - it demonstrates a commitment to best practices and continual improvement, helping you win new business and gives assurance to stakeholders.
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ISO 9001 FAQ's
A: ISO 9001 is based on seven key principles. These are customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, adopting a process approach, improvement, evidence based decision making and relationship management.
A: There is no legal obligation to achieve compliance with ISO 9001, but it is becoming increasingly important in supply chains. Across many industries, ISO 9001 compliance or certification is a common demand during the tendering process.
Implementing ISO 9001 opens up more opportunities for business growth, allowing you to access more potential clients and new sectors. Achieving ISO 9001 means your business has a well-documented QMS, and you are able to address questions during the tendering process easily.
A: Complying with ISO 9001 can be self-proclaimed when you have implemented all the requirements of the standard to the best of your ability. To give assurance to this claim, Applaud can carry out an assessment of your QMS against the requirements of ISO 9001.
Certified to ISO 9001 means that an independent certification body has assessed your QMS against the requirements of ISO 9001 and has provided written assurance of compliance.
A: To achieve ISO 9001 certification, you must engage an ISO 9001 certification body and pass an audit that looks for evidence that your QMS is in place and meets the certification standards. Applaud can help you select a certification body that meets the needs of your business.
A: The time taken to achieve ISO 9001 certification can vary from a few weeks to a year or more, depending on the size and complexity of your organisation and the readiness of your organisation at the start of the process. Typically Applaud work on a six to nine month timescale, but this can be shortened or may be lengthened based on factors such as the size of the organisation, your existing management processes, the resources available to work on the management system and number of locations the organisation has.
A: A certification body provides independent third party recognition of your compliance with ISO 9001. When choosing an certification body, you need to consider if they are accredited by UKAS or not. Be aware that some supply chains insist on UKAS accredited awarding bodies for ISO 9001 certification.
A: UKAS-accredited certification bodies are officially recognised in the UK to provide ISO 9001 certification, ensuring compliance with rigorous international standards and delivering globally trusted credentials. Certifications from UKAS-accredited bodies are more credible, widely accepted, and often required for regulated industries or government contracts. Non-accredited certification bodies, while often cheaper, lack oversight from recognised authorities, leading to inconsistent auditing quality and limited acceptance by clients or markets. Choosing a UKAS-accredited body reduces risks and enhances the value and recognition of your ISO 9001 certification.
A: Certification lasts for three years (subject to the outcome of surveillance audits). During those three years you will need to carry out internal audits of your QMS and be subject to surveillance audits by your certification body. At the end of the three year period, you will go through a re-certification audit similar to the stage 2 certification audit.
A: ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems