ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for quality, so it’s not surprising that accredited companies are able to win more elusive tenders. But have you considered the benefits of having ISO 9001 when you want to sell a business or are thinking about acquiring a business? Could ISO 9001 make your business more attractive …
Is ISO 9001 certification important when buying or selling a business? Read More »
If you’re considering ISO certification but feel overwhelmed by the potential cost or work involved, you’re not alone. If you’ve never been through the process, it’s difficult to know what to expect. And what happens if you start the process, and it turns out to be way more complicated and expensive than you anticipated? That’s …
5 benefits of a gap analysis (that have nothing to do with ISO) Read More »
ISO accreditation is exciting. Who doesn’t want to be recognised for having a world-class business? But getting people on board with ISO isn’t easy – probably because most quality managers and consultants make it sound boring. Talking about clauses, management systems, and conformity doesn’t exactly make ISO sound fun. And that’s why I love using …
Recipe for success: using analogies to make ISO interesting Read More »
Humans have been telling stories throughout history – passed from generation to generation through cave drawings, word of mouth, printed materials and now the internet. Stories and legends help children learn about the world and make sense of complex ideas or emotions. But the power of storytelling isn’t limited to children. Even for adults, storytelling …
Communicating quality through storytelling: how to improve engagement through stories Read More »
There’s no doubt that environmental impact has become a huge consideration for businesses in recent years. If we don’t start reducing our carbon emissions, we won’t have a planet to protect for much longer. Yet, despite the increased focus on sustainability, many organisations still have no idea where to start and wrongly believe that ISO …
If the global pandemic taught us anything, it’s that businesses can be turned upside-down very quickly and without warning. Having an effective business continuity plan can help minimise the impact and losses in a disaster situation. You can’t prepare for every eventuality, but you can prepare for the most likely. And a lot of that …
Is your business continuity strategy a waste of paper? Read More »
Quality management systems are at the core of ISO 9001 and form the framework for building a world-class business. Unfortunately, too many organisations view the QMS as a means to an end – something that is required for the sole purpose of satisfying auditors to gain ISO certification. Once they have gained that certification, the …
Maintain versus improve: are you getting the best from your QMS? Read More »
‘Accidental managers’ aren’t uncommon. Employees who perform well are often rewarded with promotions into line manager roles, project management roles or quality manager roles. Unfortunately, these promotions don’t always come with adequate training. And although the employee might have the enthusiasm and capability required for the role, they don’t always have the knowledge or experience. …
Are you supporting your accidental quality managers? Read More »
There was a time when a person left education, got a job with a company and stayed with that company until retirement. These days that rarely happens. Not only do most employees move from company to company throughout their career, they often change roles too. And that is how so many people find themselves accidentally …
There’s always room for improvement, no matter how small. Continually reviewing and refining your systems and processes will help you spot opportunities for improvement as well as potential risks and threats. In the final part of this seven-part series, we’re looking closely at continuous improvement. If you’ve got effective management systems in place, you can …
Building a quality business one brick at a time Part seven: Continuous Improvement Read More »
