Compliance certification has always been a nice-to-have. But in 2017, can businesses afford anything less?

ISO 9001 is the most well-known and popular standard in the world, with over one million businesses achieving certification to date. These businesses enjoy the diverse business benefits of a compliant quality management system, and they are also your competition.

Below we outline the most up-to-date information on ISO 9001, discuss what it will bring to your business, and explore why non-compliant businesses will struggle to compete in 2017.

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for quality management. It outlines the criteria for a quality management system, which can be applied by businesses in any industry and of any size. According to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), there are over one million companies in over 170 currently certified to ISO 9001.

By adhering to the best practices outlined in the ISO 9001 standard, businesses ensure their customers and clients consistently receive great quality products and services. This translates into innumerable business benefits.

The current iteration of the quality management standard is the ISO 9001:2015. Businesses who are certified to the previous version, ISO 9001:2008, will need to migrate their quality management systems to the current edition by September, 2018.

Does My Business Need ISO 9001?

Businesses who aren’t certified to ISO 9001:2015 will find it increasingly difficult to compete in 2017. While certification to the quality management standard isn’t required, businesses who can boast compliance certification give themselves a significant competitive advantage.

Take construction businesses, for example. If you’re tendering for a project, it’s likely you’ll be competing with suppliers who are ISO 9001 certified. This demonstrates their commitment to quality management, their expertise in the area, and their reliability in delivering a quality service.

In 2016, businesses who aren’t ISO 9001 certified have been denied the opportunity to bid for projects, and we can expect this to continue into the new year. In 2017, ISO 9001 certification will become more of a must-have than a nice-to-have.

However, it’s not only construction businesses who are enjoying the diverse benefits of compliance to the ISO 9001:2015 standard. All businesses can reduce costs, boost efficiency, increase customer satisfaction and goodwill, and inspire client confidence by becoming certified to ISO 9001. Furthermore, compliance certification can be used as an incredibly powerful marketing tool.

I Run a Small Business, Do I Need to Be ISO 9001 Certified?

The quality management criteria outlined in the ISO 9001 standard apply to businesses in all industries and of all sizes. In fact, small businesses are reaping some of the biggest rewards by becoming compliant to ISO 9001.

The International Organisation for Standardisation themselves urge smaller businesses to consider the many benefits compliance can offer.

“International Standards need to assist SMEs (small and medium enterprises) as much as they do global enterprises, government and society at large. In particular, SMEs should be able to share in the gains in efficiency and effectiveness offered by ISO 9001,” they say.

How Do I Become Certified to ISO 9001?

So it’s clear that becoming compliant to ISO 9001 can be an incredible asset to your business, whatever that may be. The good news is that reaching compliance doesn’t have to be a headache.

Compliance Council’s unique 8-step process has assisted hundreds of Australian businesses to reach compliance, in as little as 8 weeks. Other compliance consultants typically outline a process that takes anywhere from 6 to 12 months to complete, however our 8 Week Process is designed for efficiency and accuracy, so you can start to grow your business with compliance as soon as possible.

To get in touch with a Compliance Council compliance consultant, or for more information on reaching ISO 9001 compliance, leave us a message below.