Many companies who apply for ISO 9001 certification do so because they believe it will ultimately result in more business for them. ISO 9001 accreditation is a mark of quality, and if a potential customer sees that your organisation is ISO 9001 certified, that may very well make them more likely to choose you over your competitors.
But is ISO 9001 certification still worth pursuing in 2018? We live in a hyperconnected world these days, and with so many different marketing avenues - including social networking, search engine advertising, online video, and more - now available to businesses of all sizes, it's easy to assume that ISO certification isn't worth the effort. Getting certified requires a certain amount of time and resources - wouldn't it be better to funnel those resources into other channels?
Well...yes, we think so! And here are three reasons why:
Why ISO 9001 certification is still worthwhile
- It opens new doors. Many industries and organisations only work with ISO-certified suppliers. Achieving ISO 9001 accreditation could enable your company to take on all sorts of lucrative contracts that would otherwise be off limits.
- It makes you work more efficiently. In order to get certified, you will need to implement a quality management system (QMS) that effectively minimises waste within your organisation and ensures that everyone is working towards total customer satisfaction and the continued improvement of the company.
- It's still a trusted mark of quality. ISO 9001 certification is still a widely-recognised symbol of quality and commitment to customer satisfaction. Implementing an effective QMS and getting certified will set you apart from other businesses in your industry - and in this day and age, when Google can show consumers dozens of different providers at the click of a mouse, it's important to stand out in any way you can.
Get certified quickly and simply
The good news is that applying for ISO 9001 certification doesn't need to be the time-consuming, labour-intensive process it was in the past. Here at ISO Accelerator, we specialise in rapid ISO 9001 certification for businesses in the UK, the USA, and the rest of the world.
Certification is available from £695, and the certification process typically takes just 7 days. Find out more here, or fill out our application form to get the ball rolling.
The ISO 9001 standard has been with us for decades, but the requirements for certification haven't remained static since they were first formalised in the 1980s. They are continuously revised and updated, and every so often, a new ISO 9001 version will be rolled out; when this happens, certified companies are given a set amount of time to transition to the new version.
ISO 9001:2015
The current version of ISO 9001 is known as ISO 9001:2015. It was introduced in September 2015, and companies certified under the previous version (ISO 9001:2008) were told that they had three years to transition. The deadline for ISO 9001:2015 transition is 15 September 2018, so if your organisation hasn't already upgraded to ISO 9001:2015, you'll need to do it soon!
Further Reading: ISO 9001:2008 vs ISO 9001:2015
Is there another ISO 9001 revision on its way?
According to www.iso.org, "all ISO standards are reviewed every five years to establish if a revision is required".
However, this doesn't necessarily mean that there'll be another ISO 9001 version in precisely five years' time. Eight years passed between the introduction of ISO 9001:2000 (the first update of the new millennium) and ISO 9001:2008, and the latter is still in use even now, since the 15 September deadline for transition has not yet passed.
For the foreseeable future, at least, ISO 9001:2015 is the current version of ISO 9001 and the certification that your organisation needs.
If you would like to implement an ISO-compliant QMS (Quality Management System) and achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification, ISO Accelerator can help you to do this quickly.
UPDATE 31/07/23: The ISO Subcommittee for Quality Systems has voted to proceed with a revision of the ISO 9001 standard, which means that the ISO 9001:2015 is likely to be replaced by an updated version of the ISO 9001 standard in the near future. Click here for more information.
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US companies can achieve ISO 9001 certification quickly with ISO Accelerator!
Here at ISO Accelerator, we provide fast-track ISO certification for small/medium-sized businesses who don't have time for site visits and quality consultation sessions. We are based in the UK, but we are pleased to say that we can also offer this service to companies in the United States of America!
Getting certified with ISO Accelerator
We are accredited by USAS, a world-recognised body that's based in the city of Melbourne, FL (see map above). Our USAS-accredited status allows us to provide an online certification process for organisations with 25 employees or fewer.
Whether you're based in the UK or the USA, here's what to do if you want to get certified:
- Get in touch via our application form.
- Work with us to develop a QMS (Quality Management System) that complies with ISO 9001 requirements.
- Complete a Self-Declaration of Conformance to verify that you have implemented your QMS properly.
- After we receive your Self-Declaration, we will issue an ISO 9001 certificate that's valid for 3 years
More Information: How Does ISO Accelerator Work?
For business owners with little time to spare and a strict budget to stick to, self-certification can sound like a very appealing concept. The benefits of ISO 9001 certification are well-documented, but wouldn't it be great if you could achieve ISO certification with low fees and no on-site consultation meetings or visits?
Wouldn't it be great if you could just...do it yourself?
The benefits of USAS self-certification
Here at ISO Accelerator, we help to small- to medium-sized organisations to get certified quickly and with minimum fuss. We are accredited by USAS, an internationally-recognised body headquartered in Florida, USA.
Self-certifying with ISO Accelerator allows you to:
- Apply for certification online
- Complete the certification process without any site visits / consultations
- Gain ISO 9001 certification in approximately 7 days
An easier way to get certified
Accredited self-certification really is an option with ISO Accelerator. We can help you achieve ISO 9001 certification online in the shortest possible timeframe. There are no site visits or consultation sessions required, and when successful, you'll receive a valid ISO 9001 certificate from ISO Accelerator (accredited by USAS).
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Implementing a quality management system can be an enormously beneficial move for businesses of all sizes and across all sectors.
Whether you're running a small enterprise with only a couple of employees on the payroll or a multi-national corporation that's already risen to the very top of its industry, a QMS can help you to succeed in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
What is a quality management system?
A quality management system (QMS) is a set of processes that work together to ensure the quality of an organisation's output and improve overall customer satisfaction.
Many businesses rely on quality management systems to keep consumers happy, but you may be wondering whether planning and implementing a QMS is really worth your while. After all, you're very busy, and your company already does fine - why waste valuable time formalising your processes and pursuing ISO 9001 certification?
But while it's true that implementing a quality management system can be somewhat time-consuming, the benefits will far outweigh the drawbacks if your QMS is well thought-out and fully compliant.
The benefits of a quality management system
Here are just some of the ways in which a QMS can benefit your organisation:
Reduced waste.
One of the key aims of any quality management system is to minimise waste. A good QMS will save time that's currently being squandered on tasks that don't need to be done (or could be done far more efficiently). It will also help you to stop wasting money and physical resources.
Happier customers.
Quality management systems are ultimately geared towards delivering the best possible outcome for the customer. Implementing a QMS should help you to meet your customers' needs and expectations more effectively, and happy customers are more likely to reward you with positive reviews, repeat orders, word-of-mouth recommendations, etc.
More opportunities.
If your quality management system meets ISO 9001 standards, you will be able to get certified and advertise this fact to potential customers. Not only do the words 'ISO 9001 certified' inspire confidence no matter what industry you're in, certification is actually a requirement for certain contracts, meaning that your QMS may bring you business opportunities that would otherwise have been off-limits.
If you need help putting together a QMS and getting certified, contact ISO Accelerator today - we specialise in helping businesses to achieve ISO 9001 certification in the shortest possible timeframe!
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