What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is recognized throughout the world as the 'benchmark' for Quality Management Systems. It is the integration of the policy of an organization with its dedication to delivering quality.

Why ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION?

• Companies with ISO 9001 report winning and retaining more business.
• Most certified organizations prefer to do business with other ISO certified or compliant companies.
• Companies with ISO 9001 report improved customer demand.

Why do companies and organizations work so hard to comply with ISO 9000 standards?

• First of all, with better quality management, your organization can output faster, reduce costs, and be more competitive in the marketplace.
• Second, compliance makes you a more attractive trading partner, in that it demonstrates your ability to meet standards and deliver on time.

How to Comply with ISO 9000 Standards?

The first step to coming into ISO 9000 compliance is to draw up a manual of processes and then to extrapolate standard operating procedures from this manual. Once you do that, you can then develop line item instructions, which are detailed instructions, such as information about how to operate a certain piece of machinery. Finally, you take data from your processes and store those data in records, which offer evidence of your compliance.

How long does it take?

It is dependent on the complexity & size of your business, i.e. number of premises, personnel, processes etc. Normally certification to 9001 will take 9 - 15 months from commencement of project.

How much of our time will it take?

It will depend on the depth of in-house knowledge and/or the quality of consultancy procured.

How do we select a suitable consultancy?

Obviously we would prefer if you choose us! We would advise that you look at track records, take references, decide which consultancy process is most suitable to you and identify what support your consultant has at hand.

Do we need a full-time Quality Manager?

We would normally recommend a Quality Representative rather than a full-time Manager as a good system should be integral to your working practice & not require additional effort.

How can I be sure that proprietary information will be kept confidential?

Confidentiality is a very important aspect of our work at and is outlined in the application form that Qualasco sends to customers at the beginning of projects. Furthermore, employees must sign an application form which contains a confidentiality clause when applying for employment at Qualasco.

If you have any other questions you would like to ask, please submit via our Ask a Question page