Benefits of ISO 9001 Certification implementation on small businesses

Small businesses are stressful to lead. Why? Because a small group of people is looking for so many work functions simultaneously, like government regulations, laws, production and sales, supply chains, financial issues, quality problems, the workforce, etc. Now, what can lead a small business to a sustainable and continuously growing organization are consistent quality services. Consistency in workflows, quality, and processes will allow small businesses to think about the improvement of their businesses.

If an SME (small- to medium-sized enterprise) keeps on struggling with its routine quality issues, then there are far fewer chances for the business to sustain and grow. Thus, the most beneficial tool for an SME to attain sustainability in its processes is ISO 9001 certification. A small business can benefit significantly from the systematic process approach that the ISO 9001 standard provides

 

Why ISO 9001 certification?

The ISO 9001 standard is a basic framework for any organization – large or small – to ensure a good Quality Management System (QMS). The purposes of the standard are to allow a company to provide higher levels of customer satisfaction, along with consistently supplying products or services that meet customer requirements, as well, as to achieve business goals and targets and to maximize profitability. ISO 9001 Certification Body can help a small business in business process consistency and supplier relations.

Examples of  how ISO 9001 helps SMEs:

·        ISO 9001 certification requires the business to ensure that all materials are purchased from suppliers that have been evaluated based on quality criteria and these suppliers must be re-evaluated at defined intervals to ensure ongoing material quality and consistent supply chains.

·        ISO 9001 certification can help SMEs to increase their business – and eventually, their profitability – by building up a business with the customers for whom certification is a contractual requirement.

·        ISO 9001 allows SMEs to gain a clear understanding of their business by gathering all of the valuable business information and data mandated by the various standard requirements. Some examples include risk management processes, the context of the organization, customer feedback, and reviews, results of internal audits and management reviews, analysis of corrective actions, product or service complaints, etc.

·        ISO 9001 provides the basis to develop a system that increases confidence in the company’s stability while providing reliable, recorded information and data to identify and move forward with potential improvements.

·        See more details about ISO 9001 as a business management system in this article: ISO 9001: Why it should be viewed as a business management system.

·        As ISO 9001 is a Quality Management System standard, which is a business development opportunity, let’s see how it can benefit the SME financially. To see some challenges that might come up while implementing ISO 9001, read this article: The 3 key challenges of ISO 9001 implementation for SMEs.

Financial benefits of ISO 9001 certification

ISO 9001:2015 Certification increases business opportunities with potential clients, as well as international business. Some companies do business only with ISO-certified companies, so a business that has an ISO certification will get preference over those that do not. That means that a certified SME will get more business and, therefore, more revenue. Further on, consistent production operations and fewer product failures cut down on quality costs, resulting in more profitability. Consistent quality in products or services leads to higher customer retention rates and increases customer confidence in the business, which leads to the enhancement of the business and eventually results in financial growth.

Increased revenue is the byproduct of ISO 9001 certification. It directly helps the business to develop a sustainable Quality Management System that results in better financial performance by the organization.

Employees benefits in ISO 9001 certification

ISO 9001:2015 Certification requires the organization to define organizational structures, roles, and responsibilities; to ensure competence and awareness, and to provide a suitable work environment for operations. If an organization (SME) fulfills all the requirements of the standard related to human resources, this results in higher employee satisfaction and motivation. People love to work in an organization where they are treated well listened to and allowed to participate, and anticipate personal growth. ISO 9001 certification requires all of the above-mentioned qualities to be fulfilled, so an SME with ISO 9001 certification is likely to be a better place to work for employees as compared to other conventional small businesses without ISO.

Customer benefits in ISO 9001 certification

The ISO 9001 standard is based on the basic quality management principles of meeting customer requirements and striving to exceed customer expectations. A customer always looks for quality in a product and quality in service. It’s not only the product quality that encourages a customer to buy again and again; it is also the customer experience that persuades a customer to return. An ISO 9001-certified business increases customer confidence because the customer knows that he is dealing with an internationally certified company. As the first quality management principle states, this is the key feature that allows a small business to stand out amongst a large number of companies with no such certifications. Click here for Frequently Asked Question about ISO 9001

Employer benefits in ISO 9001 certification

One key benefit that has been discussed above is getting potential contracts. An ISO 9001 Certification  Body increases its likelihood of getting potential contracts when that ISO certification is a requirement. Also, from my experience, customer satisfaction increases for an ISO-certified organization. An ISO-certified SME can identify and resolve customer issues quickly, intelligently, and more efficiently, and it can do so even before delivering its product or services to the customer. In a small business, the optimal use of resources saves a lot. And, if an ISO Certification For Quality Management is truly implemented, then the company saves a lot by reducing wasted time, money, and effort. Running an ISO 9001 system can help a business to manage its resources effectively and identify opportunities where savings can be found and actions can be taken. The higher turnover, optimized production costs, and improved brand reputation will eventually turn into employer benefits.

How To Get ISO 9001 Certification

Some of the benefits of ISO Certification For Quality Management is given below:

1.     Improved quality and service

2.     Higher potential for clients and contracts

3.     Structured and efficient processes management

4.     Gives more satisfaction and retention to our customers

5.     trusted and esteemed data and results about the business

6.     Better business reputation

7.     Consistent processes

8.     Improves business turnover

For more information about ISO 9001 and the role we can play in your efforts to achieve certification to it, feel free to contact us. To get started with the certification process, you can also request a quote. We also provide ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor Training Qatar more enrolment in training Click here.