The Secrets to Getting More from ISO 9001 Certification

Certification is a hot topic in almost every industry these days. Not only does certification demonstrate mastery of a topic, but it provides the opportunity to reassess how your organization is handling the subject of certification. For instance, ISO 9001 certification can be a valuable reminder of how committed your team is to quality standards, and also create internal enthusiasm for re-attaching to overall goals in this area.
Here are five secrets to getting more from ISO 9001 certification.

Secret 1: Do it for the right reasons.
Yes, the piece of “paper” is important. The certification is worth a lot. What is even more important though, are the commitment and adherence to procedures that create quality goods and services. Thus, you and your organization will get far more from this process if you actually embrace the spirit of ISO 9001 and not just the “law” of the ISO 9001 certification process.

Here’s why: When you believe in the benefits of quality, you’ll take it seriously and work hard to make it happen. When you simply want the “stamp of approval,” well, you’ll be more likely to see it as a series of hoops (read obstacles) that you have to jump through and “get out of the way.” Think about taking the ISO 9001 certification on as an organizational challenge that will make you stronger each step of the way, so you can embrace the work and reap the rewards along the way.

Secret 2: Get people involved & take ownership.
ISO 9001 Certification is not a one-person job. And though you might have one person overseeing the effort, it is essential you have buy-in organization-wide. To be committed to the spirit of quality management and to the process of certification, get people involved and have them take ownership of the process for their unit or division. Involvement is a key way to garner that commitment.

When people are part of the process, they start to adopt the principles of quality management and invest in certification. Include people who are reluctant or skeptical about the process (and there always are some) to undertake important roles in the process so they are closer to the work and have a better opportunity to see the process at work. This also instills a sense of unity by getting everyone in the organization on board with a commitment to quality.

Secret 3: Think of it as an investment of time and energy ––quality doesn’t happen overnight.
Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. The first time around, certification is not a quick process. But it is a highly rewarding one. Be aware that this process will take time and plan for it to take time. It helps to think of time and energy investments. For example, training in a gym takes time and energy––it takes commitment and perseverance. And yet, the payoff of a strong, healthy body is the result––one that simply could not be achieved otherwise. You need to put in the work to get the results you are seeking.

Secret 4: KISS principle –Keep It Simple, Silly!
Just because certification takes time and planning does not mean that it has to be super complicated. In fact, all you’ll be asked to have is pretty simple: One Quality manual, six procedures, and 20 documents. So, let the simple parts be just that––uncomplicated, straightforward, and clear. Do not make it more complicated and messy than it has to be.

Secret 5: Lead by example.
This last secret makes it into just about everything ever written on the topic of ISO 9001 certification, for good reason. Your organization cannot truly embrace quality management principles if the leaders of the organization and units do not embrace them themselves. Leadership cannot simply say quality management is important, they have to lead the way in demonstrating that they are important. Their actions speak louder than words.

There’s nothing quite so dispiriting in an organization than leadership that says one thing and then promptly does the opposite. It tells the rest of the organization that their leaders cannot be trusted, that leaders don’t really mean what they say (ahem, they lack integrity), and that their leadership “initiatives” are really just a bunch of hot air.

Instead, work with leaders on how they can make their commitment to quality and the ISO 9001 certification process more visible. Doing this will have far-reaching benefits for employees and the organization as a whole. Learn more about our certification benefits and why you should work with American Global Standards.