ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System:
ISO 9001: 2008 defines quality as ‘the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfils requirements.’ Grade denotes a category or grade attributed to a product, and grades and categories of products having the same functional use can be widely different. The term quality assurance is used to denote actions that lead to building confidence in all concerned stakeholders that requirements would be fulfilled. The term quality control simply focuses on fulfilling quality requirements. Quality management, on the other hand, encompasses all activities, maintaining the focus on distinction and control aspects in an organization as regards quality is concerned.
Gaining competitive advantage through quality; Successful companies are those driven by quality- from the way they operate, to the customer service standards they set and the products they deliver. Focusing on quality makes for leaner, fitter organization, and one that is better equipped to win new opportunities in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. Certifying your organization to ISO 9001, or other standards relating to quality, offers a proof of your commitment of business performance.
ISO 9001: 2008: is an international standard related to quality management, applicable to any organization from all types of business sectors and activities.
ISO 9001: 2008: is based on eight quality management principles (all fundamental to good business practice). When fully adopted, these principles can help improve your organizational performance.
Customer focus: organizations depends on their customers, and therefore need to shape activities around the fulfillment of market need.
Leadership: is needed to provide unity of purpose and direction.
Involvement of people: creates an environment where people become fully involved in achieving the organization’s objectives.
Process approach to management: to achieve organizational objectives, resources and activities need to be managed as processes, with an understanding of how the outputs of one process affects the inputs to another.
System approach: the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization depends on a systemized approach to work activities.
Continual improvement: adopting this as a part of everyday culture is a key objective for an organization.
Fact based decision-making: effective decisions are based on the logical and intuitive analysis of data and factual information.
Mutually beneficial supplier relationships: such relationships will enhance the ability to create value.
BENEFITS OF ISO 9001:2008
Involves Top management in the improvement of the Quality management System.
Facilitates the organization to become a customer-focused organization.
Ensures sustained customer satisfaction by producing, delivering services and providing support functions that meet customer's needs and expectations
Increases the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization through continual improvement in systems and products' /services quality
ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System:
EMS defines an effective environmental system which can be applied to all types of companies. Environmental issues have come to the forefront in recent years with greater awareness amongst legislators, insurers, financiers, shareholders, customers, employees and neighbors. It reduces the environmentally harmful effects of companies operations and by reducing the raw material and energy consumption it increases the financial efficiency of a company.
The system encourages the companies to use the environmental friendly, advanced production technologies.
ISO 14001: specifies the most important requirements to identify, control and monitor the environmental aspects of any organization, and also how to manage and improve the whole system.
ISO 14001: is part of a series of international standards applicable to any organization, anywhere, relating to environmental management. Based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, ISO 14001 specifies the most important requirements to identify, control and monitor the environmental aspects of any organization, and also how to manage and improve the whole system.
Some business benefits are:
Customer, investor, public, community assurance by demonstrating commitment.
Improving cost control through conserving input materials and energy.
Reducing incidents that result in liability therefore reduces insurance costs.
Assisting the attainment of permits and authorizations for local trade.
The focus of the EMS is to control all direct or indirect aspects the organisation has, or could potentially have, on the environment; for example, emissions to air, land or water. The organization should implement improvement programmes, which may lead to financial benefits.
ISO 22001 Food Safety System:
Food safety is a global concern. Public health issues can significantly impact on trade. Legislation, in most countries, requires proprietors of food companies to implement HACCP principles into food production systems. A management system based on HACCP principles allows organizations to identify, document, maintain and review food hazards that occur during the food production process
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 22000:2005 Standard:Requirements for a Food Safety Management System demonstrates an organization’s commitment to food safety, and provides a means to demonstrate that an organization is taking the necessary steps to control food safety hazards.
The standard has three parts:
Good manufacturing practices (GMP) or pre-requisite programs requirements
HACCP principles
Management system requirements
ISO 22001:2005: applies to all organizations, regardless of their size, that impact the food chain. This includes ingredient suppliers, equipment manufacturers, package suppliers, service providers, farmers, food processors, and catering and retailing organizations.
Requirements include:
HACCP System
Management system requirements
Good manufacturing practices (GMP) or pre-requisite programs requirements
Benefits
Allows organization within the food chain to demonstrate their commitment to food safety.
Improved internal and external communication.
Ability to show control of known food hazards.
Continuous improvement of an organization's food safety management system.
Use of the internationally recognized NSF certification mark.
Enables an organization to align its food safety management system with other recognized management systems such as quality (ISO 9001) and environmental (ISO 14001)
ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems:
Information is an important asset & is valuable to an organization and hence needs to be suitably protected. Information leaks enhance risk.ISMS outlines the best practices that one should follow to protect informational assets.
ISMS is the only method that specifically addresses the protection of information. It provides detailed guidelines on how a secure management framework should be implemented. Recent high profile information security breaches and the value of information are highlighting the ever increasing need for organizations to protect their information. An Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) is a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information so that it remains secure. It encompasses people, processes and IT systems.
Benefits: Comforts customers, employees, trading partners and stakeholders – in the knowledge that your management information and systems are secure.
Credibility, trust and confidence: Your customers can feel confident of your commitment to keeping their information safe.
Cost Savings: The cost of a single information security breach can often be in excess of $100,000. Registration reduces the risk of such cost being incurred and this is important to stakeholders and other investors in your business.
Compliance: Registration helps to show the authorities that you comply with all the relevant laws and regulations.
Commitment: Registration helps to ensure and demonstrate commitment at all levels of the organization.
OHSAS 18001 Health & Safety Assessment Specification:
Occupational Health and safety assessment Specification (OHSAS) is an international standard giving requirements related to health and safety management systems in order to enable an organization to control its risks and improve its performance.
OHSAS 18001 helps the organization to define the occupational health and safety policies and objectives including compliance to legal and other requirements. The organization can apply the standard to minimize risks, accidents and hazards, to improve employee motivation and involvement. Using professional assessment teams with in depth knowledge of your health & safety issues, the certification process will ensure that your management system meets the requirements of current Occupational Health & Safety Management Standards.
Benefits of OHSAS: Improve your safety culture
Improved efficiency and consequently reduce accident and production time loss
Increased control of hazards and the reduction of risks through the setting of objectives, targets and devolved responsibility
Demonstrate legal compliance
Increase your reputation for safety and occupational health
Reduce insurance premiums
Is an integral part of a sustainability strategy
Demonstrate your commitment to the protection of staff, property and plant
Encourage more effective internal and external communication
“Business to business contract winner.”
Each element of the OHSAS 18001 standard is represented including the following:■ OH&S Policy ■ Planning for Hazard identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control ■ Legal and Other Requirements ■ Objectives ■ OH&S Management Programs ■ Structure and Responsibilities ■ Training, Awareness and Competence ■ Consultation and Communication ■ Documentation ■ Document and Data Control ■ Operational control ■ Emergency Preparedness and Response ■ Performance Measurement and Monitoring ■ Accidents, Incidents, Nonconformances and Corrective and Preventive Action ■ Records and Records Management ■ Audit ■ Management Review.
