ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System
Implementing a quality management system can help an organization improve its overall performance, increase customer satisfaction, and provide a solid foundation for its further sustainable development. Its implementation represents a strategic decision for the organization and requires commitment and support from management, as well as the involvement of all employees within the organization.
STN EN ISO 9001: 2016 Quality Management Systems. Requirements (ISO 9001: 2015)
The ISO 9000 family of standards provides organizations with the opportunity to enhance the value of their activities and continuously improve their performance by focusing on their key processes. The standards emphasize the close links between quality management systems and processes within organizations and underscore the necessity for continuous improvement. The goal is to guide their users towards achieving business success, including customer and stakeholder satisfaction. Therefore, management should view the implementation of a quality management system as a beneficial and profitable investment, rather than just a certification requirement.
The main benefits of using the standards include supporting the organization’s activities through:
- Implementation of the seven quality management principles,
- Implementation of a process approach,
- Emphasizing the role of top management,
- Setting measurable objectives for all functions and at all levels of the organization,
- Focusing on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction,
- Measuring the quality management system, processes, and products,
- Considering legal and regulatory requirements,
- Respecting the availability of resources.
More than 25 years have passed since the first edition of the ISO 9001 quality management system standard was published.
STN EN ISO 9001: 2016 is the fifth edition of this standard, which was first adopted in the Slovak Republic in February 1991 under the name Quality Systems. A model for quality assurance in design, development, production, installation, and servicing.
The international standard ISO 9001 was issued by the International Organization for Standardization. Since 1987, this international technical standard ISO 9001 has undergone significant changes, and it is natural that the experiences gained from its application have brought about not only a partial change in the philosophy of quality (e.g., a shift from an element-based to a process-based approach) but also changes in the content of some terms and activities. It has become a global criterion for the ability to meet quality requirements and their application to satisfy customer needs in the supplier-user or supplier-customer relationship.
A quality management system is a path for an organization to plan and manage work processes with the aim of identifying the causes of any non-conformities, defining corrective actions, monitoring their effectiveness, and demonstrating their success. Proper implementation of a quality management system ensures better organizational performance and increases credibility towards customers/clients/citizens and business partners. Successful certification confirms that the established quality management system has been verified and is compliant with the ISO 9001 standard.
The acquired certificate provides a positive signal and a guarantee to customers/clients/citizens that useful internal processes are implemented and maintained to meet the established requirements. It also demonstrates that the organization is Quality-focused and is committed to finding the best approach to quality management and its continuous improvement. Certification according to STN EN ISO 9001: 2016 is used in both the private and public sectors to increase confidence in products and services, build trust between business partners, select suppliers in supply chains, and to participate in public procurement contracts.
Advantages of a quality management system include:
- Increasing customer satisfaction,
- Confidence in the quality of products and services,
- Reducing costs in the enterprise,
- Reducing the number of complaints and grievances,
- Documented procedures,
- Making effective decisions based on thorough data analysis.