Get support to make this happen
ISO 9001 is not difficult and can be implemented internally without external support. However, using a consultant can help save your team hundreds of hours researching how and what is needed, trying to figure out what will “pass” an audit, and provide guidance that allows your team to focus on defining and improving processes that they own and know what is needed to achieve optimal performance.
Consultants help with defining a realistic plan, save your resources time, and help with the more difficult areas: process interdependencies and interdepartmental challenges. We start every engagement with a gap analysis – you can use this to help develop a roadmap and identify what support is really needed.
Our approach in obtaining ISO 9001 certification
- ITG’s approach is based on our team establishing an understanding of each customer, with attention to the immediate needs, as well as the operational goals that extend multiple years. Our methodology is to design management solutions that establish a foundation for continued quality support as the organization continues to develop, enter new markets, and expand operational capabilities. We break down the path to certification in an iterative, phase-based approach:
- Planning and Discovery: This phase focuses on understanding the current state and planning to move to the desired state. Typical activities include a planning meeting, orientation training, performing a gap analysis, identifying a scope of the effort, producing a report of the findings which details strengths, weaknesses, and gaps between the actual state versus the planned (or desired) state. These findings are then used to develop a project plan which outlines tasks, timelines, and key milestones.
- Development: After the planning phase is complete, the process development begins. Typical activities include forming a steering committee which defines roles and responsibilities; identifying and defining policies, processes, plans, procedures, manuals, and work instructions, and documenting business processes, inputs, and outputs.
- Implementation: The implementation of the process includes introducing new processes; mentoring employees; setting objectives and measurements; training personnel on new requirements and monitoring their overall effectiveness.
- Validation: This is the final phase, which assesses the validity of the system. Standard tasks include audits; testing; assessing performance; evaluating data and analyzing reports.
Collectively, these four phases culminate in a convergence of your business processes and best practices, and eventually reinvent the “way things are done” across the organization within that scope.
In order to ensure the project is well managed, it is helpful to identify an executive sponsor for escalation points; to identify process owners; to demonstrate management commitment; to determine repositories and tools early on and to establish channels for communication. Lastly, it is our belief that the success of a project starts with how well it is planned, monitored for effectiveness, and communicated to staff.
Need more information about ISO 9001 Certification Support?
Learn more about how we can accelerate your ISO 9001 implementation. We will contact you the moment we receive your information to discuss about gap analysis and new ISO 9001:2015 implementation.