A practical guide to ISO 9001 for small businesses must not only lay out the process of getting certified, but also explain the relative benefits of the quality system certification against the costs and hassles involved. The pros and cons are discussed in some detail below, but let's start by accepting the fact that it may offer tangible benefits to certain business categories but not to others. Ultimately, figuring out the cost-benefit ratio is an exercise that must be considered individually by each firm.
Depending on where it is located, a small business can have between 1-500 employees. Let's look at how the certification process works for the smallest firms with less than ten employees. That should provide small businesses of all sizes with a fair idea about how to proceed.
Generally speaking, ISO certification is a three-stage process that begins with a precertification audit. The management then has to implement the changes suggested, and the final stage is the actual audit that leads to certification. All of this won't take more than a few weeks for a small business.
The initial audit may be accomplished by one auditor going over the operations and records in a single day. The report should take no more than one more day to write up. After this, the management can begin working on the recommendations in the report. During both these stages, it is customary to bring in a consultant to guide the business.
Once the business seems fully compliant, the firm that is performing the certification audit is called in. They will need a couple of days to do another audit and write up a report. If everything is in order, the certification is awarded and sent over within a month.
It's possible to get a fair idea of what kind of changes will need to be made by taking a look at the ISO9001 Quality Management Framework documentation. It's not really all that much of a hassle, provided it's done in a planned manner without any hitches that call for more follow-up changes and repeat audits. Regardless, the cost is obviously not going to be insignificant.
There's a fee to be paid for the two audits, which is likely to vary a lot based on the size and location of the firm. The consultant will also need to be paid a consulting fee. After that, there will be annual fees and the costs of getting a new audit done once every three years.
Before actually undertaking any of these steps, talk to a consultant and the auditing firm and get quotes that clarify all the costs involved. It must be balanced against the expected benefits. For example, a business that expects to gain contracts limited to ISO-certified companies is obviously in line for tangible returns on the investment.
Even if there are no specific returns on the table, ISO 9001 for small businesses is still helpful in fueling growth by making it easier to get new customers. People who see the ISO label don't need to be convinced about the quality of the company's products and services. It's not all just about product quality and perception, because the changes implemented also make the business operations more efficient.
Depending on where it is located, a small business can have between 1-500 employees. Let's look at how the certification process works for the smallest firms with less than ten employees. That should provide small businesses of all sizes with a fair idea about how to proceed.
Generally speaking, ISO certification is a three-stage process that begins with a precertification audit. The management then has to implement the changes suggested, and the final stage is the actual audit that leads to certification. All of this won't take more than a few weeks for a small business.
The initial audit may be accomplished by one auditor going over the operations and records in a single day. The report should take no more than one more day to write up. After this, the management can begin working on the recommendations in the report. During both these stages, it is customary to bring in a consultant to guide the business.
Once the business seems fully compliant, the firm that is performing the certification audit is called in. They will need a couple of days to do another audit and write up a report. If everything is in order, the certification is awarded and sent over within a month.
It's possible to get a fair idea of what kind of changes will need to be made by taking a look at the ISO9001 Quality Management Framework documentation. It's not really all that much of a hassle, provided it's done in a planned manner without any hitches that call for more follow-up changes and repeat audits. Regardless, the cost is obviously not going to be insignificant.
There's a fee to be paid for the two audits, which is likely to vary a lot based on the size and location of the firm. The consultant will also need to be paid a consulting fee. After that, there will be annual fees and the costs of getting a new audit done once every three years.
Before actually undertaking any of these steps, talk to a consultant and the auditing firm and get quotes that clarify all the costs involved. It must be balanced against the expected benefits. For example, a business that expects to gain contracts limited to ISO-certified companies is obviously in line for tangible returns on the investment.
Even if there are no specific returns on the table, ISO 9001 for small businesses is still helpful in fueling growth by making it easier to get new customers. People who see the ISO label don't need to be convinced about the quality of the company's products and services. It's not all just about product quality and perception, because the changes implemented also make the business operations more efficient.
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