Obtain the ultimate seal of approval with ISO certification

Rob Pragnell, Director of ISO standards consultancy Anacruses Associates, shares the benefits of gaining accreditation for your business

Compliance is a term that has taken on additional weight since the pandemic, so it is little surprise that more and more businesses are requesting their suppliers to have one or more ISO standard certifications.

What are the ISO standards? The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) brings a global network of experts together to determine best practice for products and services across almost all aspects of manufacturing, technology and management. ISO certification provides assurance to your customers that you have relevant procedures and processes in place for the standard you have obtained. Proving competency is no longer just about the end-product or service. From quality and information security to environmental considerations and health and safety, businesses in all aspects of the supply chain are expected to provide insurance documents, risk assessments and ISO certifications to demonstrate industry compliance.

For the Quality ISO 9001 standard, certification proves that your business has strong leadership, risk management awareness, resources, competency and robust operational processes alongside verifying that you conduct internal reviews in the form of audits and management reviews.

The same applies to other standards, which provide reassurance to your customers in terms of environmental performance, health and safety and information security. As the push for sustainability increases, businesses can adhere to the Environmental ISO 14001 standard or can look deeper and consider the net zero or greenhouse gas reporting standards

As well as reassuring your customers, ISO standards provide a plethora of business benefits. Quality and consistency improve when you apply the standards, and these enhanced processes lead to operational efficiencies which have benefits in terms of financial savings and improved risk management. Businesses also have increased marketability from having certification, and the standards are the same the worldwide.

Customer satisfaction is a key driver within the standards, particularly the Quality ISO 9001. As the ISO standards embed within your organisation, the improvements will provide your customers, partners and suppliers with more trust and confidence. As your business tracks and monitors customer satisfaction, improvements will increase loyalty and enhance your brand.

Continual improvement is a theme that runs through every standard; a drive to make processes, products, services, engagement and your business better.