Introduction
ISO Certifications are great way of establishing credibility and trust among consumers, clients and business partners. The International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, is an independent, non-governmental, international standard development organization that is composed of expert representatives from member countries who develop International Standards that help solve problems and drive innovation.
Many organizations often struggle to understand the benefits and return on investment that accompany ISO certifications. There are many business benefits that any type of organization can experience due to having a certified management system. Quality is needed in all types of organizations, from manufacturing to service and even education.
Benefits
Best Practices – Standards like ISO give organizations the guidance to improve business processes and efficiency with these internationally recognized best practices. There is a standard for everything from health and safety to information security, risk management, food safety, environmental performance and quality management.
Improved Productivity – When adhering to ISO standards you must clearly define, document and monitor organizational process. By developing standards and implementing processes and procedures you can closely monitor and measure your progress. Setting objectives to measure your company’s progress is critical when building a lean and productive business.
Customer Satisfaction – ISO standards were developed to improve quality control, management and employee compliance, as well as customer satisfaction monitoring. Researchers have found one of the top benefits from certification was a reduction in customer complaints.
Improved Revenues – There are countless academic articles and surveys that try to access the many benefits organization regularly see after implementation but all site the same thing, the increase in revenue is significantly higher for certified organizations. The financial investment must be met with a sustained effort in order to achieve the best results.
Opens the Door to Opportunity – As internationally recognized standards, certification can not only open the door to government contracts but give you the competitive advantage of credibility when attracting both national and international clients.
Fosters Commitment – Certified organizations report a more productive and engaged workforce as a result of proper implementation and maintenance of ISO standards. This includes lower turnover rates, high job satisfaction, reduced absenteeism, better employee motivation and increased manager employee communications. The certification process brings employees and managers together to achieve a common goal using consistent processes that result in a renewed commitment to improving the business from all involved parties.
Big or Small – Certification isn’t only for large business and organizations. Companies with just a few employees and feel the real benefits of certification. Often, smaller business pursue certification as the requirement of a client, supply chain, to win DoD and government bids or just to maintain operational best practices.
Conclusion
Organizations gain the ability to focus on increasing customer satisfaction and continual improvement with the implementation of ISO standards. These standards can be utilized by organizations of any size, in any industry, to become more efficient, improve operations and increase profitability. If you are interested in getting certified, Contact Us to speak with a certified management system expert.
