ISO 9001 - what is it? ISO 9001 quality system

Picking up some box, the consumer sees a lot of abbreviations, which are not always known to him. In addition, everyone is talking about the quality of goods and services, certifications and guarantors. A modern person, especially owning or managing a business, should be aware of what is happening. Therefore, it is worthwhile to delve into this issue and start with the most popular international standard ISO 9001. What is it, how to get a certificate, what advantages it gives and other issues will be discussed in detail below.

Quality

The word "quality" is firmly embedded in the vocabulary of every person. All standards give different, capacious definitions. The quality in the life of the ordinary consumer is the correspondence (or, better still, the excess) of what he expects, to what he receives. Whether it be services, food, clothing, household items or something else, the consumer expects that they will bring him benefit or pleasure.

Since such an attitude is too subjective, special criteria have been developed, the conformity of which will determine the quality level. Confirm the conformity of goods or services can various independent structures, while issuing their own conclusion.

The consumer is primarily interested in the quality of goods or services, but if this issue is not one of the most important for the manufacturer, it will never succeed in achieving serious and lasting success.

Quality checking

In many organizations, there is an internal check. When the department or certain employees evaluate the work and the goods produced. Of course, the objectivity of such indicators can be doubted, but they should not be abandoned completely.

The second type of verification is partner. For example, when certain requirements are imposed on suppliers, non-compliance with them will entail the termination of the cooperation agreement. Inspections can be conducted independently or with the involvement of third parties. For example, organizations that conduct certification according to GOST standards or ISO 9001.

Certification can be compulsory or voluntary. Do not talk about the possible difference in attitude towards the quality of the manufacturer under these types. Many products must pass mandatory certification: children's products, perfumes, medicines, computers, cars, etc. But compulsory certification does not prevent you from passing a voluntary certification and obtaining an ISO 9001 certificate.

In the Russian Federation the following voluntary certificates are most common: GOST R, TR (Technical Regulations), Fire Safety, Phytosanitary, Certificate of Origin, ISO 9001.

What is it and when should I get a certificate?

To conduct voluntary certification the company can at any time, when it feels the need and the strength to implement the conceived. Nevertheless, to conduct certification, GOST ISO 9001 recommends not when it decides to make a manual and will lower the directive "from top to bottom", and when the whole company feels the importance and necessity. From practice it is clear that if the initiative comes from employees, then the certification process is easier, more qualitative and effective.

So, answer the main question: "ISO 9001 - what is it?" These are international requirements for quality management. It should be noted that these are not requirements for a certain product or service, not a guarantee of their quality, these are requirements for a management system, but the result certainly affects the final product. This made the standard universal, suitable for both large corporations and tiny firms.

Where is the ISO 9001 certificate issued?

Iso 9001 "Quality management systems. Requirements "can be issued by the center or a certification body accredited in this direction.
We contacted the certification expert Semenova Evgeniya company "RosTestStandart" (www.rosteststandart.ru), with a request to clarify how the registration of the document:

"At the time of the client's request, we advise on the stages of certification, the timing and the final cost of the document, after agreeing to formalize the contract. Our goal when working with a client is to issue a document as soon as possible, taking into account all customer requirements and with minimal participation on its part. Over 11 years of work, we have issued more than 7,500 certificates, processing time takes from 2 days, thanks to a well-established process. "

The company "RosTestStandart" is an accredited certification body and has 56 branches in Russia, which allows working with clients from different regions. Also among the clients of the organization are not only from the regions of Russia, but from Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan.

What the ISO certificate gives

There are many companies on the market that provide similar services or products. The certificate ISO 9001 gives:

• Additional increase in the rating and image of the company in the eyes of customers, partners and employees;

• competitive advantages;

• Trust of customers and partners;

• ISO 9001 system with competent construction and further implementation of all requirements will ensure order in the organization (planning, control) and, as a result, improve financial performance;

• The opportunity to participate in tenders, where the availability of a certificate is one of the conditions;

• The opportunity to enter the international market.

If your company comes to the idea that it's time to receive a specific certificate of maturity, but not all management welcomes changes, it's worth to introduce them to ISO 9001. What is it, what does it give advantages, and how to pass certification. It is important to remember that ISO is not only a "piece of paper" for bidding and image, it is primarily an effective management tool. If you use it at full capacity, and not formally, the results will not be long in coming. There are organizations that "live" on the ISO standard, but they do not hurry to be certified.

The most important thing in the standard ISO 9001

Principles, plans, assessment, audits ISO 9001 - what it is and how to work with them, find out the managers. Often, they come to the aid of consultants from certification organizations.

The main thing that is worth remembering and always guided by the company, where the ISO 9001 quality system is implemented, is the "Plan, Do, Check, Act" management principle. Any actions from the field of certification should be coordinated and "banned" through this sequence.

Many managers will grin, because this principle has long been known. The ISO standard does not pretend to be primacy, it only obliges to observe this simple truth always and in everything.

The principles of ISO 9001

The ISO 9001 standard consists of eight basic principles:

• Focus on the consumer. It is important to note that here we are talking not only about the final consumer, the customer, the buyer (although this is a priority!). Internal departments, employees are treated as consumers of products that their colleagues release. All departments of the company in one way or another cooperate, passing along the chain an unfinished product or related products.

• Leadership leadership. It's great if the initiative belongs to employees, but participation, monitoring and making important decisions will be required from management in any case.

• Employee involvement. Every employee, regardless of position, should be aware of the importance of product quality and see his role in achieving it.

• Process approach. A process is an activity that has inputs, outputs, and results. The ISO 9001 system with this approach affects several units and takes into account their needs, opportunities and weaknesses.

• Systems approach. If you understand, in any organization, each department "pulls the blanket over itself" and sometimes requires opposite solutions. The task of the management is to find a compromise and to make a decision that will satisfy the needs and tasks of all departments at once, which should affect the quality of the products and image of the company. The implemented quality system will help management in this matter.

• Constant improvement.

• Decision-making based on facts. Here, reports, audits, assessments, complaints, analysis of indicators, conclusions on compliance with the planned plans, etc. will be used to guide the management.

• Mutually beneficial relationship with the supplier.

Certification procedure

The path to obtaining a certificate consists of 10 conditional steps:

1. Assess your own system for compliance with international standards. You can do it yourself or with the help of outside consultants.

2. Draw conclusions and make decisions to eliminate inconsistencies (do not forget about the role of leadership and the involvement of staff).

3. Implement the decisions taken.

4. Evaluate the result, conduct a second audit.

5. If the results of the audit are positive, apply to the certification body.

6. Sign the contract with the company accredited in the direction of GOST ISO 9001.

7. Provide the external auditor with the necessary documents, provide access to the requested objects, processes, employees (his requirements he agrees with you in advance in the audit program).

8. Get recommendations from him on the audit results.

9. Follow or correct inconsistencies.

10. Obtain an ISO 9001 certificate. The quality of your company's work is now officially recognized (hang the certificate in a box, post it on the site, congratulate colleagues, employees and tell customers and partners).

Remember that the certificate is given for 3 years, and annually it is necessary to undergo audit audits. And, of course, comply with all that you have outlined for the company, and fulfill all the commitments made with joining the community of certified organizations.

Disadvantages of ISO

Practice shows that, despite its popularity, the ISO certificate has its drawbacks. And although these shortcomings are easily explained, they should be known:

• A lot of paperwork. Reports, protocols, questionnaires and so on, but on the other hand, without them do not achieve control and an objective solution.

• Too general concepts, this makes the system universal, but at the same time deprives the specifics of those who need it.

• Uneasy in implementation, weak, unprepared companies reduce certification to a formal event (in this case, the certificate costs them three times more than would be necessary for real use).

• The cost (the cost of certification, the "redrafting" of the established system, the services of an external consultant and a full-time quality specialist) is another reason why one should strive for the real use of the quality system.