Meeting ISO standards: 3 valuable outcomes for your business

ISO certification brings huge benefits to your company. Your products and processes improve, relationships prosper, and your business grows.

The benefits of becoming ISO certified are many and varied, but we will focus on explaining three of the most important outcomes of ISO certification for any business.

1. ISO standards improve management

One of the seven key principles of ISO 9001 is leadership.

All ISO certified businesses must continually reflect on and improve their leadership within the organisation.

ISO certification gives senior management the framework for an efficient management process. An improved management process creates organisation and structure. This flow-on effect improves relationships with management and compounds by creating a happier workforce.

ISO standards require all levels of employees to be involved in the quality management system to some degree. Responsibility starts with upper management — they must be dedicated to improving processes and communication within the business.

Improved communication creates effective relationships within the workplace.

Implementing ISO standards to a workforce indicates management’s dedication to continual improvement — a commitment that can be shared with employees.

ISO standards encourage management to include employees in areas of the business classically reserved for higher-ranking executives. This demonstrates a recognition of the value of employees and helps to foster a long-lasting, quality relationship.

2. ISO standards improve employee engagement

Two of the seven ISO principles revolve around ‘the engagement of people’ and ‘relationship management’.

ISO standards require employers and businesses to engage with these two principles within a quality management system.

Continual improvement and communication between all levels of the organisation are mandated by ISO standards. Employees develop a sense of ownership over their part of improving quality management systems. This added responsibility within the organisation helps all employees to grow their sense of belonging and value.

“ISO standards require employers and businesses to engage with these two principles within a quality management system.”

 

When employees are happy at work and inspired by their managers – they are so much more likely to stay in the company.

ISO certification will help your company retain quality employees in the long term. This is a significant but undervalued benefit of adopting a quality management system in the workforce.

3. ISO standards improve your customer service and business relationships

When a quality management system is implemented within a workforce, several things happen:

• Managers listen to employees
• Employees seek out the best way to do things
• A relationship is created from continual improvement
• Continual improvement and development improves customer service and relationships

Organisations focused on improving products and processes experience the added benefit of improving customer service. When your internal teams are continually asking the question, ‘how can this be done better?’ the customer’s experience is subsequently improved.

Improving customer service leads to loyal customers — the bread and butter of any successful business. Becoming ISO certified will vastly improve your business and customer base.