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The Underlying Principles of ISO 9001
ISO 9001 is based on EIGHT core Principles and these in effect underpin the standard and define its purpose and direction. They are:
Customer focus
For any business concerned about quality improvement, customers and their needs should dictate much of their strategy. Without customer satisfaction any business will ultimately fail, or at best tread water. Organisations should understand their customers' needs and endeavour to meet or even exceed them.
Leadership
The strategy, direction and ultimate success of any business is largely dependent upon its leadership, along with the environment and even the culture that is encouraged throughout the organisation. A clearly communicated vision and purpose on the part of management is key to ensuring business improvement.
Involvement of people
An organisation's people will provide the front line customer services and follow the vision of the leadership, but they need to be encouraged and involved. They need to feel and indeed be given ownership.
Process approach
It is possible to see virtually all business activities as processes and managing in this way will enable greater efficiencies through a clearer view of what is happening.
System approach to management
Management should view all business activities and processes as parts of an integrated system. This will then encourage greater efficiency and effectiveness throughout the organisation.
Continual improvement
This should be a permanent feature of any organisation that really wishes to excel within its marketplace. Whatever the organisation does to improve performance should be subject to a continuing cycle of review, and this may result in the further raising of targets and goals to new levels. This is necessary to keep ahead of the competition.
Factual approach to decision making
All key strategic decisions should be based on sound data that has been gathered via predetermined measures.
Mutually beneficial supplier relationships
Smaller firms traditionally supplied parts or materials to larger manufacturers to meet a specified order. More however can be derived from the supplier/customer relationship by seeing it instead as an interdependent partnership that provides mutual benefits to both sides.
If you want to enquire further how using the quality management principles that underpin ISO 9001 can really help improve your business, then do call or email. |
