Why Choose ISO 90012015 As A Starting Point For Your Business Implementing all elements of the standard can help your business, but what parts of the ISO 9001:2015 standard in particular should prove to be of most beneficial for yours? We've listed a few below.

Ask for any Entrepreneur's to-do-list, ISO Implementation and certification may not always be at the top of it. Businesses are constantly faced with financial, operational and socio-economic pressures, while business owners must make decisions on projects related to "cost vs the benefits". But here's why ISO 9001:2015 is a reasonable investment.

If your businesses is certified under ISO 9001:2008 you had three years to transition to ISO 9001:2015, if you don't transition, your certification will become redundant. The three‑year period started on the date the new standard was published in September 2015. Don't wait, your Day 1 of 365 days starts now.

Implementing all elements of the standard can help your business, but what parts of the ISO 9001:2015 standard in particular should prove to be of most beneficial for yours? We've listed a few below. It may also protect your business (against big business)

How can ISO 9001 make the difference for my business?

Start by viewing the costs as an investment that allows you to better assure your clients, improve your productivity and raise your ability to compete.

Your certification to the standard, can attract reputational benefits and establish a ticket to levels of business that non-certified companies certainly cannot obtain. This may be the most practical time to implement ISO 9001 for your business.

As the full process can take up to 6 months, you need time to plan and execute your transition to the new standard and it will require work, commitment and changes to the habit of doing things.

This is why it's vital to begin early and hire consultants with a 100% certification record with any SANAS (South African National Accreditation System) or International Accreditation Body. It gives the guarantee and expertise you need.

Your 6 steps to getting ready for ISO 9001:2015

1.Establish Processes

• Documenting and Implementing processes in your business can yield great benefits as your business grows. Setting common processes in the beginning will result in consistency in the products and services, this sets a sound foundation for expansion and future growth.
• Save time, cost, and ensure delivery. This takes place when you have new employees and point them to processes that are well established and well documented.
• It allows your staff to feel confident in doing their job, knowing there is a process to follow and with the help of the Document Control Process, you can always re-engineer the process to adapt to change, this results in Continual Improvement.

2.Formulate PDCA cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act)

• The fundamental basis of the ISO 9001 standard is based on Edward Deming's PDCA Model. If implemented effectively it can benefit any type of business however large or small you are, it's practical. The Method is also used by fighter pilots.
• You build a culture of "careful planning, monitoring, and adjustment of actions" this speaks volumes to your employees, and your clients benefit in return.

3.Increase your sales by using ISO 9001

• By using valuable customer feedback, you build up information to monitor and review your client's perception of your products and services, this feeds into a corrective action process, which results in a continual improvement to create relationships with existing clients and attracting new clients.
• Most Tender Requirements from Government, Local and International Companies require ISO 9001 as a qualifier to their procurement process. This gives them the assurance that a Third Party Auditor is auditing an effective Quality Management System aligned to International Standard that has effective process control and will measure client satisfaction.

4.Develop an attentive mindset to risk and opportunities

• Risk and opportunities is the latest introduction to the ISO 9001:2015. This allows businesses to identify potential and current risks in their process and mitigate them before it's too late, the fundamentals of a successful business.
• By cultivating a culture where your team have a sharp eye for risk and opportunities will serve your business well.
• Profits will be maximised while risks are spotted early and can be minimised.

5.Take control of change management

• As the saying goes, "Change is the only constant in the 21st century". The inability to handle change and adapt accordingly is one of the main reasons that many businesses do not survive through the first two years of existence.

6.Setting goals and objectives

• Goals and objectives are key fundamentals of the ISO 9001:2015 standard, these are tools to assist in attaining your companies Vision.
• When you get into the habit of setting, reviewing, and taking action against objectives, the end results is growth and driving improvement.

It is clear that implementing ISO 9001 can take your business to the next level that benefits startups to established corporates. We stress again the vital importance to begin early and hire consultants with a 100% certification record with any SANAS (South African National Accreditation System) or International Accreditation Body.