Know your ISO Standard Part 1
What is the ISO 9001 Standard?
What ISO the 9000 Family of Standards?
So what is ISO 9001 then?
Within the Family of standards, it is the ISO 9001 standard that sets out the criteria for a quality management system. This is also the only standard in the ISO 9001 family which you can certify your company’s QMS system against. Please note, that ISO 9001 is a Quality Management System standard, and not a “Product Certification” standard.
The ISO 9001 standard is based on 7 Quality Management Principles which include:
* Customer Focus
* Leadership
* Engagement of People
* A Process Approach
* Improvement
* Evidence based decision making
* Relationship Management
Implementing these Management Principles in your organization will help ensure that your customers get consistent, good-quality products and services, which in turn should bring many business benefits to you.
Where to start?
The ISO 9001 standard can be used by any organization, whether you are in Manufacturing Service, Service, Construction or even Hospitality Industry, the standard can be implemented, and should be implemented, to reflect your type of industry. The size of your organization also does not matter, whether your are a large corporate or a start-up SME’s, that standard will fit your company size.
Note of Caution:
The ISO 9001 standard could at first glance, look to complex for a small SME organization, but not to worry, there is “Guideline handbooks for Small & Medium Enterprise Organizations available.” More on this in our next blog”
The ISO 9001 standard can be used by any organization, whether you are in Manufacturing Service, Service, Construction or even Hospitality Industry, the standard can be implemented, and should be implemented, to reflect your type of industry. The size of your organization also does not matter, whether your are a large corporate or a start-up SME’s, that standard will fit your company size.
Note of Caution:
The ISO 9001 standard could at first glance, look to complex for a small SME organization, but not to worry, there is “Guideline handbooks for Small & Medium Enterprise Organizations available.” More on this in our next blog”
Contact the SAQI team for assistance:
Many organizations (specifically the small & medium enterprise) struggle to get their ISO 9001 QMS system off the ground. At SAQI, we see ourselves as your “Knowledge Partner” and not a consultant. So don’t hesitate to contact SAQI to guide you through the process.
FAQs: Know Your ISO Standard Part 1
1. What is the ISO 9001 standard?
ISO 9001 is an international standard that outlines the requirements for a quality management system (QMS). It helps organisations ensure consistent quality in products and services.
2. What is the ISO 9000 family of standards?
The ISO 9000 family includes a set of standards focused on quality management systems, with ISO 9001 being the only certifiable one. The rest provide guidelines and best practices.
3. Why is ISO 9001 certification important?
Certification to ISO 9001 demonstrates a company’s commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and continual improvement. It enhances credibility and operational efficiency.
4. Who can implement ISO 9001?
Any organisation, regardless of size or sector—manufacturing, services, construction, or hospitality—can implement ISO 9001 to improve quality processes.
5. What are the seven quality management principles of ISO 9001?
The seven principles are: customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making, and relationship management.
6. Is ISO 9001 a product certification?
No. ISO 9001 certifies a company’s quality management system, not individual products or services.
7. Is ISO 9001 suitable for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)?
Yes. SMEs can implement ISO 9001 using specific guideline handbooks designed to make the process more practical and scalable.
8. How can SAQI help with ISO 9001 implementation?
SAQI serves as a knowledge partner to guide organisations through ISO 9001 implementation, offering expert advice and resources for sustainable quality systems.