When it comes to finding firms that you can rely on to provide you with the goods and services you need to satisfy your clients, it can be a difficult process knowing which firm to trust. Similarly, if you are a firm looking to supply others with goods or services, it can be difficult to prove that your products and services are of a suitable standard for the end user. There will be many companies looking to satisfy both of these elements and the importance of making correct decisions with respect to partners in your supply chain should never be overlooked.
This is where obtaining a helping hand is always going to be of benefit and with respect to determining who you should work with in a supply chain, ISO 9001 can really help. ISO 9001 is a standard that is recognised around the world and it is based on the quality management system (QMS) of an organisation. The purpose of ISO 9001 is to indicate that a firm can be trusted to provide goods and services that comply with appropriate regulations and which meet a high standard. Whether you are looking to prove you are a reputable supplier or you want to find a firm that you can work with in the greatest of confidence, ISO 9001 provides you with the information that you need and can rely on.
One of the most important elements of ISO 9001 is that can cover an extensive range of topics including:
- The suppliers commitment to quality
- The level of customer focus it offers
- The depth of its resources
- The competency of staff members
- Process management activities
- Quality planning
- Design skills
- Ability to respond to complaints
- Customer perception and so much more
The fact that so many elements are covered by ISO 9001 means that you can tailor your review of a firm to focus on the elements that matter most to you. This is why ISO 9001 is such an effective tool for businesses, it provides a platform which can be used to review your own specific requirements and needs, as opposed to having to confirm to a minimal focus on suppliers. If you are unsure of what you should be looking for from a supplier, there are plenty of examples of ISO 9001 in use to base your own use of the system on, but if you are confident in the standards that your firm is looking for, or what is expected in your industry, you will find that this system is the perfect starting point for what you are looking for.
You can take confidence from ISO 9001
When there is conformity to ISO 9001, you can be confident that a supplier or firm has set up a systematic approach to their quality management services and this means that they should be able to manage their business in an effective manner that is in line with your needs and demands. The fact that ISO 9001 refers to physical products and intangible products such as software or customer service means that it can be used in a wide variety of different industries and for businesses.
While the use of ISO 9001 provides the platform for firms to evaluate suppliers, there is also a need for firms to communicate effectively with suppliers, making sure that they tell the supplier exactly what they are looking for. Even with all of the assurances that ISO 9001 can bring, it is only the starting point in obtaining the desired product or service from a supplier.
However, the platform for improved communication and confidence between two firms is the ideal starting point in any supply chain and the use of ISO 9001 has enabled a great number of firms to create the starting point for a relationship that provides success and benefits to all parties.
