In this article I will try to burst some of the misconceptions that I hear over the years regarding the ISO 9001 Standard and its application. Let’s start…
ISO Certification will not bring any Benefits to my Organization
I heard it a lot in my life. The ISO 9001 Certificate does not contribute the organization but only takes resources and at the process we are left with an adorable picture with remarkable signs or crests on the wall at the reception. Well, this is wrong. The certification is merely a lollypop at the end of the road but definitely not THE goal. The goals are the benefits that the ISO 9001 Standard brings to your organization:
- Understand the context of your organization and act upon this understanding
- Systematically define effective objectives and strive to achieve them
- Identify business opportunities
- Promote efficiency at work and save resources
- Identify and address risks before the damage happens
ISO Certification requires a lot of extra Paperwork
This argument is irrelevant. Why? It is true that working according to the ISO 9001 requirements demands documentation of number of things. But first, it is not that much! And there are many effective ways to reduce and limit this documentation to the minimum.
ISO 9001 Certification is NOT related to profitability of the organization
This conception is also wrong. Implementing the ISO 9001 Standard helps to increase your productivity and assists the organization in finding week spots that cost you! There is a whole capital (8.2 Requirements for products and services) that is dedicated to customer requirements resulting in return of customer sand thus increase of income. Plus getting the certification may open new doors for your organization, for example allow you to participate in tenders or bids that demand such certification.
ISO 9001 Certification is only for producing or manufacturing Organizations
Yet another old and wrong conception regarding the ISO 9001. The most beautiful thing the ISO 9001 Standard is, that it is designed to address ALL types of organization: Service providers, non-profit organizations, academic institutions and civil service providers. The standard is about doing the things right.
Getting Certified is expensive
It is true that getting certification may require investment of resources – financial as well as inter organizational resources (employees time). BUT
- In today’s market you may find various bodies that can guide you. You may choose the one that fits your financial limitations.
- There are many certifying bodies and the competition is becoming greater and greater, thus prices are getting lower
- Read my book 🙂 – it will definitely save you some money
The Certification Process is complicated
Let me put that way – the certification process will be complicated if you decide to make it complicated. If you want it to be easy – it is possible. You must define before the project begins:
- What is your goal out of the certification process
- What is the scope of the certification process
The certification and its extent will be derived out of these 2 decisions.
The ISO 9001 Standard is outdated
This conception is not true. In fact, the last ISO 9001 Revision (in 2015) actually prepares organization to the, let us say…, near future business environment applying concepts like risk management and supplier relations. But most important, it fosters the organization to regularly examine its organizational context, in other word – its business environment, and initiate take actions to keep the quality management system up to date.Share This
