ISO 9001:2000 is based on 8 quality management principles (all fundamental to good business practice):
- Customer focus: the customer is always considered paramount in setting out the business processes and procedures.
- Leadership: is clearly set out to ensure there is focus of purpose and direction
- Staff involvement: all efforts are made to provide an environment where staff are fully involved in achieving the company's quality objectives
- Process method: to achieve a quality service, resources and activities are managed as processes, with a clear indication of how the outputs of one process affects the inputs to another
- Systemised management: to ensure effectiveness and efficiency management adopts a systemised approach to managing the services provided by the company
- Continual improvement: this philosophy allows for quality to be maintained if continual improvement is part of everyday business activities
- Decision Making: effective decisions that result in high quality services are based on logical analysis of data and factual information
- Positive supplier relationships: value is added if there are mutually beneficial supplier relationships
ISO 9001 sets out a system of activities and principles that ensure that the needs and expectations of customers are met.
Registration to ISO9001 by an accredited certification body shows that a company is committed to quality, customers, and a willingness to work towards continually improving efficiency.
ISO9001 quality accreditation demonstrates the existence of an effective quality management system that satisfies the rigours of an independent, external audit.
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