In today’s competitive business world, small businesses face numerous challenges when it comes to gaining credibility and standing out from the crowd. An effective way to overcome these hurdles is by obtaining ISO certification.  The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) provides a globally recognised framework that enables businesses to improve their processes, enhance customer satisfaction, and demonstrate their commitment to excellence.

In this month’s blog, we’re exploring the significance of ISO for small businesses and how it brings growth and success to your company.

Boost your credibility

One of the biggest challenges for small businesses is building trust and credibility among customers and suppliers. ISO certification serves as an independent validation that a company adheres to internationally recognised standards and best practices. It shows a commitment to quality, reliability, and continuous improvement. And potential clients and partners are more likely to engage with ISO-certified businesses due to the assurance of consistent service or product quality.

Raise customer loyalty

Customer confidence and satisfaction are the key to business success. ISO certification helps small businesses prioritise customer-centric approaches by setting clear quality objectives and implementing processes to meet or exceed customer expectations. By consistently delivering high-quality products or services, businesses can improve customer satisfaction and foster long-term relationships. ISO certification also provides a structured framework for handling customer feedback, complaints, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Open up new market opportunities

Many larger organisations and government agencies require their suppliers and partners to have ISO certification. By obtaining ISO certification, your small business can access new market opportunities, expand its customer base, and compete on a level playing field with larger competitors. In a nutshell, the fact that you’re ISO certified gives you a competitive advantage, as it demonstrates your ability to meet stringent quality standards. It also helps your business to enter new territories with confidence.

Streamline your internal processes

ISO certification requires small businesses to develop and implement effective processes and systems. Through the certification process, companies undergo a comprehensive evaluation of their existing practices, identifying areas for improvement and establishing efficient workflows. By improving operations and reducing errors, businesses can enhance productivity, minimise waste, and optimise their resources. These improvements lead to cost savings and increased profitability in the long run.

Strengthen supplier relationships

ISO certification can improve relationships with suppliers and business partners. It shows that a small business has a structured approach to quality management, which can provide assurance to suppliers regarding product or service consistency. This can lead to improved collaboration, better supply chain management, and mutually beneficial partnerships.

Continuous improvement

ISO certification promotes a culture of continuous improvement within a business. It encourages small companies to regularly review their processes, identify areas for improvement, and implement corrective actions. This focus on continuous improvement can lead to increased efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness.

Comply with regulations

Small businesses often find it tricky to navigate regulations and legal requirements. Thankfully, ISO standards are often aligned with regulatory requirements in various industries, and by achieving ISO certification, your small business can demonstrate compliance with relevant laws and regulations, reducing the risk of penalties, fines, and legal issues. By adopting ISO standards, your business can also stay updated with changing regulations, mitigate risks, and demonstrate a commitment to meeting legal obligations.

In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, organisations need to ensure that they are constantly adapting to stay competitive and meet the needs of their customers. One way to achieve this is through the implementation of ISO management systems.

ISO, or the International Organisation for Standardisation, is an independent, non-governmental international organisation that develops and publishes standards for various industries. These standards provide a framework for organisations to develop and implement management systems that meet internationally recognised requirements for quality, environmental, occupational health and safety, and information security management.

ISO management systems are designed to help businesses achieve their goals by providing a structured approach to managing processes, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing best practices. They provide a framework for organisations to consistently meet customer needs, comply with regulatory requirements, and improve overall performance.

 Know your ISO

There are several different ISO management systems, each with its own focus and set of requirements. Some of the most common ISO management systems include:

• ISO 9001: Quality Management System – This standard outlines requirements for organisations to ensure they consistently meet customer requirements and enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of a quality management system.
• ISO 14001: Environmental Management System – This standard provides a framework for organisations to manage their environmental impact by identifying and controlling their environmental aspects, reducing waste and pollution, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
• ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management System – This standard provides a framework for organisations to manage their occupational health and safety risks and promote a safe and healthy working environment for employees.
• ISO 27001: Information Security Management System – This standard provides a framework for organisations to manage and protect their sensitive information by identifying risks, implementing security controls, and continuously monitoring and improving their information security management system.

The tremendous benefits of ISO management systems

Implementing an ISO management system can bring multiple benefits to businesses. These include:

• Increased efficiency and effectiveness – ISO management systems help organisations to identify and eliminate inefficiencies in their processes and procedures, resulting in improved productivity and profitability.
• Improved customer satisfaction – ISO management systems are designed to ensure that organisations consistently meet customer needs and requirements, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Enhanced reputation – Achieving certification to an ISO standard demonstrates to customers, suppliers, and stakeholders that an organisation is committed to quality, environmental, health and safety, or information security management, which can enhance its reputation.
• Better risk management – ISO management systems provide a structured approach to risk management, helping organisations to identify and mitigate risks and opportunities, reducing the likelihood of incidents and improving their ability to respond to them.
• Increased competitiveness – Organisations that implement ISO management systems can gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating their commitment to quality, environmental, health and safety, or information security management, which can help them to win new business and retain existing customers.

So, in a nutshell, ISO management systems provide a framework for organisations to consistently meet customer needs, comply with regulatory requirements, and improve overall performance. By implementing an ISO management system, businesses can improve efficiency and effectiveness, enhance customer satisfaction, improve their reputation, better manage risks, and gain a competitive advantage.

If your business is ready to reap the rewards of a flawlessly designed ISO management system, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] or by phone on 0800 433 2207.  Our expert ISO Consultants are here to help supercharge your business.

 

EmmersonWills explains why an investment in ISO Consultancy is the path to strategic business success

We sometimes find that the notion of an ISO Consultant can cause confusion, so in this month’s blog we’re shining the spotlight on the profession of ISO Consultancy and clarifying the extraordinary benefits of bringing an ISO Consultant on board.

So, exactly what is an ISO Consultant?

An ISO Consultant is an experienced and qualified professional in the field of ISO Standards. ISO; standing for International Organisation for Standardisation – a body created to bring standardisation across different industries, and to continually improve output in the areas of Quality, Environmental, and Health and Safety.

As an expert in ISO consulting, ISO implementation, and ISO certification, an ISO Consultant uses their extensive training and experience to design and install bespoke, management systems that not only align perfectly with your business but also satisfy the ISO standards.

Acting as an extension to your team, an ISO Consultant provides support throughout every stage of the certification process and beyond, working to help your business achieve compliance quickly and advising you on matters beneficial to the ultimate success of your organisation.

A supportive approach

With a fresh pair of eyes, a good ISO Consultant will observe your business and its existing processes – helping you choose an ISO standard most advantageous to you and suggesting new ways of working or the creation of an intelligent management system.

Using their extensive knowledge, your ISO Consultant will write a tailor-made management system that holds consistency, risk awareness, and continual improvement at its core – working with you as a partner every step of the way to keep your business objectives in focus. You can expect to see a sharp improvement in the following areas:

• Profitability
• Productivity / efficiency
• Sustainability
• Quality

A smart investment

The cost of a good ISO Consultant can in fact be cheaper than DIY implementation! It can be false economy to burden employees with an ISO workload on top of their other responsibilities, and a lack of ISO experience can often lead to additional time wasted on running inefficient systems. Not to mention the pressure of navigating ISO standards alone and having to keep up with upcoming changes to ISO standards!

It’s for these reasons that EmmersonWills encourages businesses to seek a professional ISO Consultant who will eliminate hassle and bring real value, delivering a solid return on your investment.

Increased client trust = more contracts

Having ISO certification can make all the difference when it comes to client confidence, boosting your industry credibility and showing that your product or service demonstrates the highest possible standards.

In fact, the ability to display the ISO logo can even win you more business, as so many clients now insist that suppliers hold ISO certification.

The wonders of a robust management system

At EmmersonWills we genuinely believe in making the standard work for your business, instead of your business working to the standard!

There’s nothing worse than an overly complicated and impractical system. Excessive form-filling and administrative workload should not be necessary!

We appreciate the powers of an expertly designed, forward-thinking management system that:

• Works seamlessly
• Provides structure
• Gives greater employee confidence
• Encourages growth
• Increases profits
• Future proofs your business

EmmersonWills – your expert ISO Consultant

Experienced in helping businesses of all sizes with their ISO certification, Matt Jones of EmmersonWills is a CQI / IRCA trained auditor of UKAS-certified ISO quality management systems.

Having worked on both sides of the audit table, Matt has gained invaluable experience on a diverse range of management systems – and EmmersonWills is founded on this expertise.

Underpinned by an ethos of championing business success, EmmersonWills provides continual help and support, building management systems that work efficiently and add vast amounts of value.

For a free, no-obligation appointment, contact ISO Consultant EmmersonWills via our contact form or call us on 0800 433 2207. Let’s safeguard the future of your business.

 

 

 

ISO quality can be a tricky subject to get your head around and clients often fall into two camps – those who fully understand the powerful benefits of adhering to ISO 9001 and those who initially feel obligated to implement ISO.

EmmersonWills MD, Matt Jones, has found the following story has greatly helped prospects in the latter group to understand the point of ISO quality and why a business may be asked for it. Not only has this story captured their attention, but it’s also given them an appreciation of the immense value that ISO quality brings to an organisation.

How it all began

Some years ago, Matt was auditing the quality system of his friend and fellow consultant, Nick Edmunds, when he noticed how well Nick had summarised ISO in the following few paragraphs –

Quality management systems originally came out of factories making weapons and parts during the second world war. Apparently, quite often parts would not fit together correctly or fail to operate. So, in order to try and address these issues the concept of strictly controlling each stage of the manufacturing process was conceived.

The military continues to use its own versions of quality management systems (defence standards) to this day. And in industry, big companies would quite often have their own versions.

For example, the Ford Motor Company has its own A1 standard. However, during the late 1970’s Governments decided to try and create a universal quality management system standard. Our version was called BS 5750 and it was first published in 1979. Originally the standard was published in three parts and was aimed mainly at manufacturing or stockist-type businesses. There were revisions to the standard in 1987 and in 1994 it was reissued as ISO 9001. Again, there were changes in 2000, 2008, and the current version is dated 2015.

Over the years the main emphasis has changed from compliance (say what you do and do what you say) to continual improvement. The standard is now based on the plan, do, check, act cycle. Consequently, the requirements for documented procedures have been reduced over time.

This excerpt explains the history of ISO quality and gives a clear picture of the evolution of ISO 9001 which started in the 1950’s when US and UK Government departments established standards for military procurement.

With time comes progress

Since those early days when the defence industry first adopted quality management standards, the recognition of ISO quality has snowballed as companies seek to demonstrate quality management to their customers.

The 70’s saw the emergence of a basic quality management system, and as the world began trading on an international scale in the 1980’s, countries and industries needed to agree on quality assurance standards. At this point, ISO 9000 was first released – to set a common standard for companies to work to worldwide. This also gave businesses the option to gain certification against the standard, which gave them a strong advantage when working with overseas suppliers.

Whilst a huge leap forward, ISO 9000 in the 80’s had a very rigid structure and focused on conforming to procedures. But as time went on, ISO quality went through various stages of progression, becoming ISO 9001 in 1994, and by the year 2000, there were even bigger changes! Heavy manuals became a thing of the past and companies created quality management systems that suited their business, focused on positive growth, and maintained high-quality standards.

The current version of ISO 9001 was established in 2015 and has gained international recognition as the quality standard to have. Over 1 million organisations across the globe have achieved ISO 9001 certification and it is one of the world’s most popular management tools ever created.

Why ISO 9001 brings business success

• ISO 9001 focuses on customer satisfaction and gives the consumer absolute confidence that a product is safe and reliable. This in turn promotes customer trust and loyalty – helping a business grow.
• A system of feedback and action shows the customer that a company is continuously improving in both its products/services and on the management side.
• ISO 9001 improves quality, decreases waste, and ensures seamless production by making the best possible use of resources.
• ISO 9001 opens up international trade opportunities and helps a company to win more tenders, as many organisations insist that suppliers have ISO 9001 certification.
• ISO 9001 removes the requirement for lengthy questionnaire completion in work bids.
• With ISO 9001, a company can provide products or services of a consistently high standard
• ISO quality concentrates on productivity and efficiency which drives down business costs.
• ISO 9001 gives a business a marketing advantage as the ISO 9001 certification logo is seen as a mark of quality.

A solid business foundation

We hope this blog has made it easy to see the extensive benefits of ISO 9001 and how it strengthens companies of all sizes, in a vast cross-section of industries.

 Secure the future of your business and speak to industry professional EmmersonWills about your next ISO 9001 Quality Management System.

 For a FREE no obligation consultation, send us a brief message via our contact form and we’ll be in touch.

 

What’s the big deal about UKAS?
UKAS is an acronym for the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and is a UK Government approved accreditation body that assesses organisations providing certification to ISO standards. It is the only Government appointed accreditation body and is recognised as the most prestigious marker of ISO quality.

The UK Government is actively promoting the importance of UKAS-accredited certification, as they believe it benefits both UK business and society. And interestingly, UKAS-accredited ISO certification is expected to become the norm in the near future as more and more people are acknowledging its value.

 

UKAS has global status
UKAS is recognised all around the world, as are the certificates from UKAS-accredited certification bodies. For this reason, UKAS opens up international opportunities for a company – increasing growth opportunities on a huge scale.

 

UKAS goes hand in hand with tendering
Having UKAS-accredited ISO certification can make all the difference when it comes to tendering for new business. In this increasingly systemised world, a failure to tick the UKAS box can have devasting effects on a company’s tender success rate. As systemisation is progressively replacing personal relationships, a decrease in human communication means that it can be easy to lose a tender by unknowingly having incorrect certification.

For this reason, many businesses believe that UKAS is an obvious choice.

 

The truth about ISO certification bodies
Did you know that anyone can set themselves up as an ISO certification body and not all are UKAS accredited? This means they can effectively choose the length and frequency of the audits they carry out. Plus, alarmingly, without being UKAS accredited there are no rules or standards to which they must adhere. For example – they can unfairly lock clients into long-term contracts and in theory, they could provide consultancy and then certify their own work! This is something to be hyper-aware of, and finding an ISO certification body with UKAS to its name is well worth the extra research time.

 

Excellence and fairness
UKAS is known to have meticulous and highly experienced auditors. This gives you, and most importantly your customers and prospects, peace of mind that UKAS-accredited ISO certification bodies are constantly working to the highest standards set by UKAS – and operating in a competent and impartial manner.

With a rule that certification bodies can only audit and assess, but not consult, UKAS ensures that all practice is transparent and just. They also support the notion of giving clients the freedom to move certification bodies – eliminating the risk of being bound by lengthy contracts or buyout obligations.

 

EmmersonWills specialises in UKAS
As ISO consultants, EmmersonWills uses only UKAS-accredited certification bodies. This is something we are immensely proud of, as it supports our ethos of ‘simplicity with compliance to UKAS certifiable standards.’

Our clients will always see the UKAS ‘crown and tick’ mark on their certificates, and it is handy to know that all the certification bodies we use are listed on the UKAS website. You can search Find an Organisation on the Quality, Environmental, and Health & Safety UKAS web pages to check this.

Reassuringly, UKAS has also invested in a user-friendly Cert Check platform where clients and prospects can check the validity of a supplier’s certificate directly, by simply entering the company name or certificate number. As all UKAS certificates are issued electronically, each and every one of their certificates is on the UKAS database, making it simple to differentiate between genuine and imitation UKAS certificates.

 

Choose your ISO certification body carefully
When it comes to ISO, the benefits of UKAS accreditation are clear, but it can still feel overwhelming having to ‘go it alone’ and organise your own ISO standards system.

EmmersonWills are here to support and guide you through the process, creating a hassle-free management system that both complements your business and evolves with you.If you would like to discuss your

ISO requirements, please feel free to reach out to us on 0800 433 2207 or via the contact page.

 

We share our motivations, purpose, and beliefs

 

Why we do what we do

At the beginning of the year, EmmersonWills MD, Matt Jones read Start with Why by best-selling, British-American author Simon Sinek – an exceptional book that he recommends for any business owner.

Within the book’s inspiring pages, motivational speaker and marketing guru, Sinek reveals his ground-breaking, self-devised concept – The Golden Circle. A bullseye-shaped diagram that visualises the structure of an organisation in 3 distinct rings: WHAT, HOW, and crucially – WHY at its core.

 

From this, Matt compiled our own WHAT, HOW, WHY document that reveals exactly what makes EmmersonWills ISO Consultants special – and fundamentally our unique purpose.

 

EmmersonWills ISO Consultants’ WHAT, HOW, WHY

Our WHY

We are on a mission to shake up the ISO industry. We believe in innovation, efficiency, and improvement. Gone are the days of outdated and inflexible systems that have been patched together to appease certifications. We do things differently.

Our HOW

We continually strive to learn, improve, and think ahead. Keeping our focus on simplistic compliance, with practical, ever-increasing value – that reinforces the correct foundations of modern and efficient systemisation.

Our WHAT

With passion, we design and develop simple, compliant, and value-enhancing management systems – keeping our WHY in mind.

“We are drawn to leaders and organisations that are good at communicating what they believe.” Quote – Simon Sinek.

It has been said that few companies know their WHY, but this is something that EmmersonWills is crystal clear on.

 

Our WHY is powerful and has a story behind it….

Matt discovered ISO 9001 Quality through more general business consulting. He established a relationship with an auditor and found there was a great deal of variation, plus an open book approach to a myriad of businesses and industries. He also saw secure worldwide earning potential*.

As a business and industry enthusiast, this was enticing, and without delay Matt began training for his 9001 external auditor qualifications.

With aspirations to become a diverse auditor, Matt also trained in 14001 Environmental and OHSAS 18001 Health & Safety (now ISO 45001). His favoured area of specialty was always Quality – which turned out to be a double-edged sword! Most auditors in the industry have a background in Environmental or Health & Safety ISO, therefore Matt’s love of business and 9001 instantly positioned him at the forefront of Quality ISO.

However, with the vast quantity of complex and inefficient systems, Matt quickly became frustrated…and this is what motivated him to found EmmersonWills.

 

Forward-thinking ISO Consultants

While complicated and inept systems may address the requirements of the applicable standards, they are expensive to run, and carry many other risks – see our last blog, The Real Cost of Self-Managed ISO for more insight on this.

Without a passion for efficient and progressive business, it is far too easy to create a rigid, arduous, and wasteful management system.

 

Common examples of complexity and inefficiency:

 – Having half a dozen or more documents to address context, risks, and opportunities, when one document will do – if you take a matrix approach. At EmmersonWills we have an internal invention called the SAIIILOR matrix. An approach that involves 1 dynamic change, avoiding the need to address cross-over in multiple other documents.

 – Sending lengthy supplier approval documents to your whole supply chain, and worse yet, doing that yearly.

 – Lengthy policies. The more there is to read, the less it will be read by staff or clients.

 – Using procedures when processes will do. If there is no, or little variation to the way a task must be undertaken, a procedure is the right way to go. However, many procedures that we have witnessed have been ineffective, out of date, or stifling to efficiency and improvement. And when that is the case, they cease to be used, often resulting in a systemization decline (in practice and in culture.)

 – Long manuals with built-in policies and procedures. Once again, the more there is to read – the less it will be read. Additionally, when you include policies and procedures, you must consider change, as it takes time and cost to reissue the manual. And throughout all of this, an organisation must ensure compliance with the document control cause – an easy spot for auditors! Our approach is to think of your manual as a roadmap and to be general with it to minimise change. The very essence of a map is to be directional. For example, on the printed road maps of yesteryear, a fuel station would be listed as just that. Not as a brand such as Esso or BP, as these things change. Our manuals rarely exceed 8 pages, and that includes a contents page and generally 2+ pages of flow map processes.

 

So, in summary, whilst conducting third-party audits, Matt has come across many systems developed for mass sale rather than the specific business they serve. Whilst they may tick the ISO certification box, they often fail to drive improvement.

 

Inspired ISO

At EmmersonWills we will make the standard work for you – we will not change your company to address the standard.

Our services are full, from Design to Assessment Management and we have helped dozens of clients to simplify their ISO and get immense value out of it. Read our glowing Testimonials to see what they are saying.

 For a free, no-obligation consultation, reach out to us on 0800 433 2207 or send us a message via our website Contact Us page.

We’d be delighted to hear from you.

 

Footnote

*ISO auditing has secure opportunities worldwide with more auditors retiring than are entering it. If you are looking for a change and you like variety, we recommend investigating. If you need help or guidance, we would be happy to share our experience and direct you to the right places and contacts.

If you are interested in becoming an ISO Consultant, we are growing. Get in touch to be added to our list. You can reach us on 0800 433 2207.

The Real Cost of Self-Managed ISO

And Why You Should Outsource Your Company’s ISO Certification

 

The perils of ‘DIY’ ISO

Your business requires ISO certification and a sound ISO business management system, so it seems to make sense to save on the cost of a consultant and to assign ISO responsibilities to a chosen team member. But as Matt Jones, MD of EmmersonWills explains, “During my time auditing before becoming a consultant, I would see companies struggling with their ISO time and time again. A decision would be made internally to save on the cost of a consultant and do it in-house. However, the reality is that it is often the most expensive strategy, and the costs are far more than financial.”

When an inadequately trained staff member is expected to manage company ISO alongside their core role, this inevitably skyrockets their workload and takes them away from their other key duties. Quite often, this person feels pressured and frustrated that they can’t dedicate enough time to any of their responsibilities – and cracks start to form.

When morale and productivity are low, this negativity infects the culture of the whole business, and valued employees may feel forced to resign as they simply can’t focus on the job they were originally hired to do.

Heavy systems have no value

Lack of ISO experience can result in a system that is overly complex, inflexible, and incompatible with a business’s needs. In today’s fast-paced business world, the more there is to read, or use, the less a system is referred to or utilised. Therefore, companies with heavy systems are left with just two options:

• To change the system regularly – but this is costly and open to a lack of document control.
• To ignore the systems and get the job done – and as such, the system becomes non-compliant. It is then necessary to spend more time and money addressing the system for assessment.

Streamlined ISO Certification

Imagine how different things could be with the full support of a professional team of ISO Consultants – enabling your business to operate more efficiently, whilst also being safe in the knowledge that your ISO is taken care of to the highest industry standards.

When ISO can clearly make or break your company – it’s logical to consider reaching out to a reputable ISO specialist that can help your business achieve and maintain ISO certification – and operate more efficiently.

Your company will reap the rewards of having a healthy ISO system in place – seeing an improvement to core business function, that safeguards the future of your business.

You can expect the following benefits:

• Increased sales ability / market competitiveness
• Easier and faster tendering process
• Increased customer satisfaction & retention
• Expandable systemisation foundations
• Sustainable business growth
• Reduced owner/director dependence
• Increased company value
• More control and visibility
• Market place credibility
• More time & freedom
• Increased efficiency
• Increased profits
• Increased health & safety culture and practices (45001)
• Improved environmental impact (14001)

 

EmmersonWills is a highly qualified ISO Consultancy team that can help you do just that.

ISO expertise from EmmersonWills

With years of ISO experience helping companies in a broad range of sectors, from manufacturing to hospitality, EmmersonWills has a practical, business-first approach when it comes to ISO.

We understand that while ISO is technical in nature, all businesses are run by and for human beings, therefore system usability and simplicity are crucially important.

We use our skill and deep understanding of the ISO industry to identify the right ISO for your needs – ensuring the implemented ISO works for your company and the way you do business.

Providing constant support, EmmersonWills monitors your ongoing certification requirements, and we keep our ‘finger on the pulse’ with any upcoming changes to ISO certification standards – saving you the headache.

But don’t just take our word for it – you can read what our happy clients say about us here

Sustainable ISO Support

EmmersonWills is a growing business with strong values. We take care of every area of your company’s ISO; from design and installation, to the maintenance of smart and practical ISO management systems – ensuring ISO certification standards are always met efficiently.

As a successful ISO consultancy team, we provide sustainable and dependable support to your business. This is a refreshing change from the fickle world of sole self-employed consultants and the stress of losing internal ISO staff members due to sickness or retirement.

With a strong focus on your satisfaction and success, we would love to bring our value-adding, full-service ISO support to your company.

Chat to our friendly team to arrange your FREE, no-obligation consultation or demonstration.

Contact EmmersonWills

0800 433 2207

[email protected]