Many companies manufacture textiles, but how can you be sure that their goods are consistently manufactured to a higher standard? That's where the certification of quality management systems can help to give you trust that a company is manufacturing with consistent quality. The gold standard of quality manufacturing system certifications is ISO 9001. You may have seen the ISO 9001-certified claim made by companies as diverse as Nestle and DHL.
But what is ISO certification? It's become ubiquitous; the logo is at the bottom of manufacturers, suppliers, and other company websites. But what does it mean for you, the customer? Let's explain exactly what ISO 9001 certification stands for and what it means when you buy products from one of our Herculite brands.
Delegates from 25 countries first met in London in 1946 to devise a means to improve the quality of industrial standards. The ISO, the International Organization for Standardization (based in Geneva, Switzerland), was formally launched a year later. The organization consists of a global consortium of national standard-setting bodies.
ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization, a non-governmental membership organization. The ISO website states that their standards offer “world-class specifications for products, services, and systems to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency.” These standards play a crucial role in promoting international trade. The certifications developed by ISO are intended to establish and document a company’s quality management system formally. The procedures and documentation required for accreditation provide customers with evidence of the company's objective quality standards and management practices.
To date, ISO has published more than 19,500 International Standards, covering nearly every industry. ISO certification means complying with an international system of industrial standards.
The standards for manufacturers, such as Herculite, detail a rigorous set of requirements, including:
Documentation of the quality management system: The ISO 9001 standards require that you document how your quality management system will work from start to finish. Everything from how and where you source your raw materials to how your personnel are trained, how the work is done, how your standards are tested, and what happens after the sale to ensure quality goods have been delivered.
Establishment of a quality management support system: It's not sufficient to merely claim that you support quality management; to achieve ISO 9001 certification, you must establish and implement a comprehensive system that continuously demonstrates your unwavering commitment and support to these goals. This involves creating a structured framework that outlines your quality management objectives and actively monitors and evaluates your processes to ensure they align with the highest standards. Doing so provides tangible evidence of your dedication to maintaining and improving quality, instilling confidence in your customers and stakeholders that your operations are consistently reliable and of superior quality.
Customer satisfaction tracking: ISO 9001 requires that you implement a comprehensive customer satisfaction tracking system that not only proactively monitors and evaluates how satisfied your customers are with your products and services but also establishes a robust framework for identifying, analyzing, and addressing any verifiable defects or shortcomings in the manufactured goods. This system should include regular surveys, feedback mechanisms, and data analysis tools to gather insights into customer experiences and expectations. By doing so, you can pinpoint areas for improvement, develop targeted strategies to enhance product quality, and ensure that any issues are promptly resolved, ultimately leading to increased customer loyalty and trust in your brand.
Quality Objectives and Tracking Systems: To meet ISO 9001 standards, a manufacturer must establish clear and measurable product quality objectives that align with the organization's overall goals. These objectives should be specific, achievable, and relevant to the company's mission and customer expectations. Additionally, the manufacturer must implement comprehensive tracking systems to monitor progress towards these objectives. This involves setting up detailed processes and utilizing advanced tools and technologies to collect, analyze, and report data on product quality. The tracking systems should be robust enough to identify deviations from the set objectives, allowing timely corrective actions. By doing so, manufacturers can ensure that their products consistently meet or exceed the quality standards expected by their customers, enhancing customer satisfaction and maintaining a competitive edge in the market.
Product design controls:
The design and development process, crucial for how products are conceived, planned, and produced, must follow a structured approach under ISO 9001 standards. This includes key stages: the input phase for gathering and defining ideas; the output phase for transforming ideas into designs; and the review phase for evaluating feasibility and compliance. The verification phase ensures the final product meets all requirements and functions as intended. By formalizing these stages, ISO 9001 standards manage and control every aspect of product design, reducing errors and enhancing quality and reliability. This approach streamlines production and assures customers that products are of the highest quality, developed with precision and care.
Company Audits:
To maintain ISO 9001 certification, a manufacturer must systematically monitor and measure its quality management systems. This requires a detailed audit schedule covering the frequency, scope, and methodology of audits. The schedule must be carefully planned and executed to evaluate compliance with ISO 9001 standards. Trained auditors assess components like process efficiency, documentation accuracy, and adherence to procedures. Audit findings are analyzed to identify improvements or non-conformities. By consistently following this schedule, manufacturers demonstrate the effectiveness of their systems, meeting ISO 9001 standards and fostering continuous improvement and quality excellence.
Non-Conformance Indentification:
To meet ISO 9001 standards, manufacturers must systematically identify non-conformance by recognizing deviations from quality standards. This requires robust monitoring and regular inspections to detect discrepancies. Manufacturers must also develop plans to control and mitigate non-conformance, including corrective and preventive actions to address root causes. By analyzing these factors and implementing changes, manufacturers ensure their products consistently meet ISO 9001 standards, enhancing customer satisfaction and maintaining quality management integrity.
Preventative and Corrective Procedures:
In manufacturing, the main goal is to prevent non-conforming products. This requires a proactive quality management approach, identifying and addressing potential issues early. ISO 9001 is rigorous, demanding manufacturers establish procedures to prevent substandard goods. These include quality checks at each production stage, employee training on quality expectations, and advanced technologies for process control. The standard also stresses continuous improvement, requiring manufacturers to address non-conformance, analyze root causes, and implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence. By following these requirements, manufacturers can greatly reduce defective products, enhancing quality and customer satisfaction.
An ISO 9001 certification signifies that the company has chosen to operate professionally, responsibly, reliably, and accountably. It offers the customer a level of trust and assurance that other companies may not provide, as they have opted not to adhere to these objective, internationally recognized standards. At Herculite, we take pride in achieving the ISO 9001 certification, showcasing our unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction, quality, and exceptional value in all our products.