ISO 9001

ISO 9001 is a QMS standard that was developed and is maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Easily the most widely adopted QMS, millions of organizations worldwide have become certified to this standard. This popularity is due in no small part to the fact that requirements of ISO 9001:2015 are fairly generic, and hence can be applied to any industry or organization. Despite its broad application, caution must be taken when undertaking an ISO 9001 implementation. Each individual section of the standard must be translated to make sense within each individual organization, as every company is different. In far too many cases, we’ve seen people go overboard in applying what they think the standard is looking for, only to end up with a system that is overly restrictive and ultimately harmful to the organization’s ability to do business. This is the exact opposite of the standard’s intent.

Conversely, a properly implemented ISO 9001 QMS will allow your organization to work more efficiently, ensure clear and concise communications, and ultimately deliver more value to your customers, thus allowing you to earn even more business. Sounds pretty good, yes?

Here at New England Lean, our Quality Team is ready to help you as much or as little as you need along your ISO 9001 journey.

We can assist in interpreting the standard and applying it in a meaningful (yet workable!) way so that it doesn’t become a hinderance to your team. From full-on QMS development and implementation to outsourced Internal Audits and Management Review, we’re here to help you understand and adopt ISO 9001!