Why organisations adopted ISO 9001:2008: ten benefits

Archived discussion of ISO 9001:2008. This article is not guidance on selecting the current edition for certification.

1. Improve customer satisfaction

ISO 9001 requires organisations to monitor customer satisfaction with their products and services. This means identifying methods for collecting customer feedback and using the information to improve services.

2. Use consistent processes, documents and forms

ISO 9001 helps key personnel take the actions needed to ensure that products and services conform to requirements.

ISO 9001 certification supports the use of a consistent set of documents across the organisation.

3. Assessment by an accredited certification body

(for example, a certification body accredited by UKAS, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service). This can help an organisation maintain and improve its operations and draw on auditors' experience to strengthen the system.

4. Improve tendering and contract opportunities

Customers may lack the time or resources to investigate every potential partner or supplier in detail. They therefore often use ISO 9001 certification and other management standards as indicators of a supplier's reliability when reviewing tenders.

5. Manage risks

• Help the business identify applicable legal requirements and support compliance.
• Improve resilience through measures ranging from cross-training to regular backups.

6. Involve employees

Give employees appropriate tools and training, and develop their sense of responsibility to improve job satisfaction.

7. Improve profitability and efficiency

• Reduce errors, scrap and failures.
• Help the business work efficiently and get things right from the outset.

8. Manage records

The organisation should identify and retain the documents and records it needs, including those required by the standard and applicable obligations, rather than retain every document indiscriminately.

9. Reduce rework, reassessment and complaints

Rework, reassessment and customer complaints waste time and money. To address these issues, ISO 9001 provides a system for identifying problems, investigating their causes, agreeing corrective action and implementing it.

10. Continual improvement

The business environment keeps changing. Organisations need to improve and adapt. Applying ISO 9001 helps them monitor important indicators and make decisions and take action appropriate to their circumstances.

Related services

ISO consulting services