This month, we’re pleased to announce that we’ve been awarded ISO certification for Quality Management (ISO 9001:2015). We always knew we were fantastic, and now no one can argue.

Find out more about how brilliant we are, and what it means for our customers.

ISO 900…what now?

The ISO 9000 group relates to quality management.

Certifications under this umbrella offer guidance for brands that want to make sure that their:

• Products and services satisfy customers’ needs
• Business improves continually

Quality management standards outlined by 9000 certifications include:

• Customer focus
• Leadership
• Engagement of people
• Process approach
• Improvement
• Evidence-based decision making
• Relationship management

Talking specifics, ISO 9001:2015 deals with quality management system when organisations:

a) need to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements

b) aim to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Put simply, quality end-products and happy customers. And no cheeky non-compliance.

ISO 9001-2008 and ISO 9001-2015 – what’s the difference?

ISO 9001-2008 runs out this November, leaving businesses with two choices: convert to the 2015 accreditation or let the standard expire.

But what’s the big difference between the old standard and the new one?

Risk analysis and leadership, says our Quality Manager, Paul Greening:

“In this incarnation, we’re talking not just about quality management, but about quality management systems. Really robust processes that close the gaps and keep everyone informed.

“Risk analysis is a big factor: we’re not spot-checking processes in isolation, we’re looking at risk from cradle to grave, taking into account the safety of our staff, customers, suppliers, and even members of the public.

“ISO 9001-2015 places a lot more emphasis on leadership and a top-down approach to quality management. These systems need to be at the centre of every single department in the whole Edmo business solution.

Edmo’s Quality Team

As Quality Manager, Paul led the team responsible for our recent transition from ISO 9001-2008 to ISO 9001-2015.

Working alongside our Quality Technician and Quality Assistant, Paul’s basically our chief troubleshooter. His job is to solve problems that crop up, and prevent others from occurring in the first place.

On top of that, Paul deals with the admin side of our compliance, reporting on the issues he deals with and making sure our operations stay in line with the relevant industry standards.

He monitors and evaluates operations data over time, measuring our output and monitoring our KPIs against certain designated objectives, including on-time delivery and customer satisfaction.

Ahead of the curve

In preparation for the steep transition from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015, we looked into training and consultancy – something that would guide us in what needed to be done.

But, we needn’t have worried. Paul and his team were on the case.

“I got a copy of the new standard from BSI and I could see almost straight away that we already complied to about 80% of what was being asked for.

“I enlisted the help of some of our younger staff members, colleagues who’ve grown up surrounded by the latest technology. We brainstormed the changes in the clauses, and identified what we needed to tweak in-house in order to reach 100% compliance.

“The BSI assessor came round for two days. By the end of the second day, we’d done enough to convert to the 2015 standard, no further improvements needed.”

The final word

Paul commented on why the new standard matters so much to us:

“This accreditation is really important to us as a customer-centric business. It reassures our customers, existing and new, that we maintain the highest standards of customer service and product quality.

“It’s natural to feel hesitant when handing over a project to a company like us. But this certification should allay any fears our customers have: we’re an organised, efficient and intuitive company with company care at our heart.”

Edmo MD Andrew Stride added (because that’s what MDs do),

“I’d like to congratulate Paul and his team on attaining the new ISO accreditation on our first attempt.

“Initially, our recent BSI audit was intended to identify the gap between our current business practices and the new, far-reaching accreditation criteria.

“But, thanks to the hard work of Paul and his team – and the wider Edmo team – to define and adhere to robust processes and procedures, the accreditation has been achieved on the first try.

“This is a brilliant achievement – well done, everyone.”

So there we are: Edmo are officially brilliant. Find out more about what we can do for your business.