At the international level, the largest company International Organization for Standardization - ISO (ISO) is engaged in issues of standardization of production processes. Certificates issued by this organization are recognized worldwide.
The most popular are the standards of the 9000 series. Among them, in turn, a special position is held by the certificate of quality management. ISO, acting as a kind of standardization center, has developed a number of requirements for companies. Compliance with them is regarded as evidence of the competent organization of the management system at the enterprise. Of course, an ISO certified company has significant advantages over its competitors.
Customer focus
In order to receive the ISO 9001 quality certificate , it is necessary to pass an audit within the framework of a voluntary or mandatory national standardization system.
ISO has unified requirements for the organization of enterprise management. All of them are aimed at ensuring the high quality of the company.
As the first and key principle of management, customer focus is proclaimed. Each enterprise is customer dependent. Consequently, firms must understand their current and potential needs, produce goods, provide services, and perform work that meets their needs. In this case, of course, enterprises need to strive to exceed customer expectations.
The essence of standardization
The ISO 9001 certificate of conformity was first introduced in 1987. The standard on the basis of which it was issued was devoted to the formation of a quality management system based on customer focus. Subsequently, the requirements were revised several times, but the main provisions remained unchanged.
The essence of obtaining an ISO certificate is not to ensure control of each operation or unit of production. The standardization of ISO is aimed at creating such a production environment under which control errors will be minimized. This approach is called the "process". It was finally put into practice in 2008. Subsequently, the provisions were adjusted in accordance with the current economic situation in the world.
New standard
The final consolidation of the basic requirements for the quality management system at the enterprise was carried out in ISO 9001: 2015. In this document, the value of the key performance indicator of the enterprise has significantly increased.
Obtaining an ISO certificate according to the new standard is a voluntary procedure. The exception is only some areas: aircraft, military-industrial complex, food production. For them, individual elements of the standard are present in industry regulations and must be followed.
The situation in Russia
Since 2015, in the Russian Federation, all interested business entities can obtain a certificate of conformity according to GOST R ISO 9001: 2015. The international standard has been successfully implemented in the national standardization system. Since its introduction into practice, many enterprises have been able to significantly increase the effectiveness of the quality management system, which has provided them with a leading position in the global market.
Benefits of ISO Documents
With certificates in accordance with GOST R ISO 9001: 2015, the company becomes more attractive to investors. Compliance with established ISO standards means that the company:
- It meets the needs of consumers as efficiently as possible.
- Rationally uses resources, including money.
- Promptly eliminates all errors that arise in the process of economic activity.
- May rely on preferential conditions for lending.
At enterprises certified by GOST ISO, an effective staff incentive system is in place. Not only customers and counterparties, but also government agencies are loyal to such companies.
As a result, the organization increases its client base, expands business opportunities, develops new markets, receives government orders and successfully cooperates with foreign partners.
Certification specifics
Paperwork should be considered as the final stage of the implementation of the quality management system at the enterprise. Certification is carried out by bodies that have received accreditation under the national, voluntary or international system. The lists of the first are updated by the Federal Service for Federal Accreditation. The official website of this body contains information about all certificates issued to domestic enterprises.
Voluntary standardization systems involved Rosstandart. This service maintains their registry. When applying for voluntary certification from an enterprise, the central authority independently determines the organization accredited in the corresponding system.
According to the current legislation, consulting companies can be involved in the procedure. They provide a wide range of services, including the implementation of a quality management system, the preparation and execution of documents for certification. As a rule, the activities of such companies are carried out according to a well-established scheme. This significantly saves the manufacturer.
Process
In essence, certification can be considered a form of external audit. During it, the independent party evaluates the effectiveness of the implementation of the quality management system.
The verification is carried out in 2 stages: a documentary and field assessment is performed. The audit is performed by an independent expert of the certification body and a specialist of the Federal Accreditation Service, a voluntary or international standardization system.
ISO certificate is issued subject to the compliance of documents and activities of the enterprise with the established requirements. The document issued as a result of the audit confirms the existence of a quality management system in the organization.
It is worth saying that the simultaneous implementation of several ISO standards and the subsequent certification of such an integrated management model will require less money and time from the company.
Nuance
It is worth saying that, since certification according to ISO 9001 is a voluntary procedure, most manufacturers are tested to implement specific tasks.
For example, after conformity assessment, an enterprise gains the right to affix special markings on products. Its presence on products significantly increases the level of consumer confidence.
In some cases, when tenders are announced, customers require an ISO certificate. This document also opens the door to the international market.
Deadlines
The speed of implementation of the quality management system in enterprises varies significantly depending on the specifics of the activity. As practice shows, the term for introducing a management model varies from several months to 2-3 years.
Direct issuance of a certificate takes about two weeks. The specific term will depend on the number of employees and the size of the enterprise.
Cost
An ISO certificate in the Russian Federation can be issued both according to international rules and national ones. In the first case, only foreign organizations can issue a certificate. Among them can be called, for example, "Afnor", "Tyuff Thuringen." The most popular domestic authorities are the "QMS Standard", "Military Register", "Roszhilkommuntsertifikatsiya".
You can get an international document on average for 150 thousand rubles. Registration of a national certificate will cost 25-200 thousand rubles. If the company plans to work with foreign counterparties, to attract foreign investors, preference should be given to an international document.
Conclusion
Some enterprises undergo voluntary certification to optimize the production process. Such companies do not have high ambitions and do not seek to conquer the international market. Their main task is to fully satisfy the needs of the Russian consumer.
Representatives of small and medium-sized businesses are usually satisfied with a certificate obtained as part of a national standardization system.