How Did We Achieve ISO9001 For
Our Business?
Establishing quality standards
is crucial for the success of any business
and this is the reason why the team at Shergroup
Outsource decided to embark on the challenge
of achieving this for its processes.
ISO 9001 certification is a series of globally
recognised rules and standards defining
an effective Quality Management System (QMS).
ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised
standard for the quality management of businesses.
It applies to the processes that create
and control the services an organisation
supplies. It prescribes systematic control
of activities to ensure that the needs and
expectations of customers are met.
The Challenge
When we started the project ISO
9001:2008 looking at all its positive aspects,
implementing it had potential challenges
as well. Following are the key ones which
we came across:
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Top management long
term commitment is essential as the
implementation is continuous and constantly
changing with the needs and expectations
of the customers |
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It is also a style
of working to try to solve problems
as quickly as possible and this can
bring to short-term solutions |
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Continuous evaluation
and assessment of the processes may
make professional staff resistant to
changing their practices. |
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On going data collection
and analysis to measure achievement
of the quality objectives, definitely
increases staff workload and may require
efficient implementation of information
technologies |
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Continuous training
of staff to meet changing needs and
staff commitment and motivation has
to be management’s concern and
priority |
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Once accreditation
is achieved, user expectations and demand
for ‘perfect service’ seems
almost a given and there seems to be
no room for errors or anything less
than promised! |
The Solution
With these challenges clearly in
mind, dedication and guidance were the two
most important things required to meet them
head on. We took the necessary steps to
reach our goals including:
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Setting up a core implementation
team |
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Defining and understanding
why we wanted to implement ISO 9001 |
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Clarifying and updating
our policy on Quality |
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Streamlining all our
internal processes |
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Identifying key processes |
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Creating interaction
between trams to meet the quality objectives
we had defined |
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Documenting our quality
management systems in line with the
requirements of our service standards |
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Finally, implementing
the system, by training our team |
The Outcome
In December 2008, Shergroup Outsource
achieved its ISO 9001:2008 certification
from The British Standards Institute (BSI)
with a certificate valid for 3 years. The
efforts of the whole Shergroup team were
appreciated by BSI for implementing the
Quality Management System so efficiently.
The Ongoing Benefits
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We now have well defined
and documented procedures to improve
the consistency of our output |
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The quality is constantly
measured for improved accuracy |
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We now have procedures
which ensure that corrective action
is taken whenever a defect occurs |
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We have defined procedures
which identify current practices that
are obsolete or inefficient |
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Our documented procedures
are easier to follow and have improved
our training capability |
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We have better management
control and reporting which means that
we consistently know how the business
is doing |
In addition to all this we now have the opportunity
to offer ISO9001 Consultancy Services to our
clients. If you would like to find out more
about how we can offer you a cost effective
route to ISO9001 certification please use
the Contact Us area of this website by telling
us what you would like to achieve. |
