ISO 9000 - What It Means and What It Means to Your Organisation

by Ahmad Rajab
http://www.ahmadrajab.com

ISO 9000 series are the most popular and the most sought-after of all standards. It refers to a series or family of standards for the development and maintenance of an effective quality assurance system. This series is based on eight quality management principles, which serves as a guide to any organisation or management that desires improved performance and quality.

The international quality management standard or the ISO 9001 is adopted by thousands of organisations worldwide because it controls quality, saves money and improves efficiency. Moreover, customers expect organisations to have an internationally recognised quality management system. In the business arena, most competing firms are using the standard as part of their marketing and positioning strategies.

The first principle of ISO 9000 is Customer Focus. This means that organisations rely on customers to achieve success so they need to understand what customers want and try to meet those requirements. The second principle is Leadership. This states that organisational leaders must create a unified goal and directs the entire organisation towards the attainment of that common goal. Leaders must encourage and cultivate a culture of active involvement among all members.

Third principle is related to the second, Involvement of People. As mentioned, all members of the organisation, regardless of status and position must participate in reaching the common goal of the organisation. The fourth ISO 9000 principle is Process Approach. This refers to the concept that a desired outcome can be achieved more efficiently when all tasks and activities are managed together as a process.

Principle four brings us to principle five, System Approach to Management. This involves identification, understanding and management of interrelated processes as a single system, helping the organisation to achieve its goals more efficiently and more effectively. Principle six is Continual Improvement. This means that the organisation must make it a primary goal to continuously improve its overall performance.

The seventh principle of ISO 9000 is Factual Approach to Decision Making. This simply means that all decisions are based on careful analysis and study of information. The eighth and final principle is Mutually Beneficial Supplier Relationships. This recommends that the organisation and its suppliers rely on each other, so they must establish a business relationship that benefits the both of them.

The principles and requirements of the international quality management standard are logical and basic. If the organisation makes it a point to follow the principles outlined here, it's simple to become accredited or certified by ISO for quality assurance (ISO 9001), something that puts the organisation in the elite group and gives the organisation influence and recognition in the marketplace.

CG Business Consulting Ltd specialise in implementing & delivering ISO 9000Quality Management Systems & ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems. Visit us at http://www.cgbusinessconsulting.com

Article submitted Wednesday, January 04, 2012 & read 9 times.

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