What is ISO 9001 Certified and what does it do?
ISO 9001 Certified is a QMS (Quality Management System), it can be used by any company, big or small in any field of business. This certification is based on a number of quality management principles such as. a strong customer focus and the motivation and implementation of management, processes and continual improvement. With our ISO 9001 certification, we ensure that customers get consistent, high-quality products and services.
The ISO 9001 is published by ISO (the International Organization for Standardization). The most recent update was in 2015m hence our certification is ISO 9001:2015. When the certification was updated it had to be agreed by the majority of member countries, currently numbering 162. This means it is an internationally recognized standard and so accepted by the majority of countries in the world.
This new 2015 edition features many important changes to the certification, which Nigel Croft, Chairperson of the ISO subcommittee that developed and revised the standard, said.
“We are just bringing ISO 9001 firmly into the 21st century. The earlier versions of ISO 9001 were quite prescriptive, with many requirements for documented procedures and records. In the 2000 and 2008 editions, we focused more on managing processes, and less on documentation. We have now gone a step further, and ISO 9001:2015 is even less prescriptive than its predecessor, focusing instead on performance. We have achieved this by combining the process approach with risk-based thinking, and employing the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle at all levels in the organization”
– Nigel Croft, Chairperson of the ISO subcommittee
What is a Quality Management System?
Often referred to as QMS, the Quality Management Systems is a collection of processes, procedures, records, and policies. The QMS defines a set of internal rules which govern how a company creates and delivers a product or service to customers. A QMS is tailored to a company’s needs and the product they supply. Our QMS is tailored specifically to our needs and the products and services we provide.
What do the ISO 9001 Certified Standards cover?
ISO 9001 standards are set by the International Organization for Standardization, a fully independent body based in Geneva, Switzerland. ISO is recognized worldwide as a body which develops voluntary quality standards. This certification shows potential customers that a business has met these very stringent standards. It means that the supplier’s management systems are constantly assessed and improved.
At Wisconsin Metal Tech we are ISO 9001:2015 Certified by Verisys Registrars® for Supplier of Rod and Bar Products, Saw Cutting, Machining, Polishing, and Centerless Grinding. This certification covers:
- The context of the Organization
- Company Leadership
- Planning
- Support
- The operation, including requirements management, supplier controls, production, and non-conformance control
- Performance Evaluation
- Improvement
ISO 9001:2015 Requirements
In order to successfully satisfy the requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 we had to implement the following. The first four sections are introductory:
Section 0 – Introduction
We had to learn and understand purpose, principles and key concepts of the standard
Section 1 – Scope
This section defines the scope of the 9001:2015 standard. The scope includes specifying requirements for a QMS of any organization.
Section 2 – Normative References
This is the supporting standard referenced in ISO 9001:2015, it is indispensable for its application is ISO 9000:2015 which covers terminology and fundamentals. This and other supporting standards make up the entirety of the 9000 series.
Section 3 – Terms and Definitions
This section is the terminology used throughout this standard, it comes directly from ISO 9000:2015, Quality management systems – Fundamentals and vocabulary.
Section 4: Context of the Organization
In this section external and internal issues are determined, the needs and expectations of all interested parties, quality management system scope and its processes.
The following sections are the actual requirements for the QMS
Section 5 – Leadership
The management has to demonstrate leadership and commitment, they must establish and communicate a quality policy. And ensure responsibilities and authorities are assigned, communicated and understood.
Section 6 – Planning
The top management must also plan for the ongoing function of the QMS. Risks and opportunities of the QMS in the organization need to be fully assessed. Quality objectives for improvement need to be identified and plans made to accomplish these objectives.
Section 7 – Support
The support section deals with the management of all the resources for the QMS. It covers the necessity to control all resources, including human resources, buildings, and infrastructure. It also includes the working environment, monitoring, and measurement resources and organizational knowledge. The section includes requirements for competence, awareness, communication and controlling documented information.
Section 8 – Operation
The operation requirements deal with the aspects of planning and creation of the product or service. This includes requirements for planning, product requirements review, design, controlling external providers, creating and releasing the product or service and controlling nonconforming process outputs.
Section 9 – Performance evaluation
The performance evaluation includes the requirements needed to make sure that you can monitor whether your QMS is functioning well. Monitoring and measuring of all processes must be carried out together with assessing customer satisfaction, internal audits, and ongoing management review of the QMS.
Section 10 – Improvement
The 10th section includes the requirements needed to make your QMS better over time. This includes the need to assess process nonconformity and taking corrective actions for processes.
The Key Benefits to you of an ISO 9001 Certified machine shop supplier
If you need a great supplier then you can narrow your search for a suitable machine shop by looking for one which is ISO 9001 certified. It is a critical indicator that the supplier is professional, their products are safe, reliable and of good quality. In order for us to receive an ISO 9001 certification, we have developed a system of processes. These repeatable processes ensure that all aspects of your project are consistent and complete. It ensures that any issues are appropriately identified, prevented and resolved. The actual processes serve as a guide to help in improving workflows and accuracies.
We are uniquely qualified to benefit your company in 5 ways:
1. Improved Customer Satisfaction
When we produce your final product it is manufactured using ISO 9001 Certified processes. It will be reliable, to high tolerances, robust and meet corporate compliance or regulatory specifications.
2. Consistent Quality
ISO 9001 standards require us to have proper and repeatable workflows and protocols. As our customer, you are assured that consistency is always maintained in the production of your product. Any variations from one order to the next are minimized.
3. On-time Delivery
As an ISO 9001-certified supplier we have efficiencies in place to get your project done right the first time every time. Because we get it right the first time there are fewer mistakes. This means no reworks and no do-overs, resulting in faster time to market. Giving your company that essential competitive edge for increased profitability and better results.
4. Continuous Improvement
Being an ISO 9001 certified supplier, we are required to conduct comprehensive audits to ensure that all our processes, procedures and policies are performing at optimal levels. This allows us to monitor and assess each phase of our production process. We adapt to evolving technological innovations to establish a culture of continuous improvement.
5. Proven Results
It’s important to note that when we achieve our ISO certification, it does not mean a one-time designation. It means our company is audited regularly to ensure compliance and guarantee that we’ll continue to deliver top quality and outstanding service. Achieving ISO 9001 certified is a major undertaking which requires a significant investment of time and money. It is also an ongoing commitment to complying with all applicable ISO regulations. Because we have gone through this rigorous process, you can be certain that we are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards possible and providing you with exceptional products and services.
We are proud of our ISO 9001:2015 Certification, it is central to our customer service and would be pleased to help you in any way we can. Get in touch with us to see how we can help.
