How ISO 9001 Helps Integrators

Why would any consumer electronics manufacturing company decide to invest the money and time to tackle getting ISO 9001 certification in the midst of a challenging business climate?

What is ISO 9001? What does it mean to an integrator? How about your customers? What does it cost in time and cash to actually achieve? They are all good questions.

As manufacturers grow, they must invest lots of time and energy into their processes to monitor and ensure the quality of work. ISO 9001 means a commitment to excellence and a dedication to quality, reliability, and ultimately, the highest level of customer service.

What is ISO

ISO stands for International Organization for Standards, the source of ISO 9001, ISO 14000 and more than 14,000 international standards for business, government and society.

ISO 9001 is probably the most important quality management standard in use today. In any organization, and in particular small businesses, it controls quality and brings clear financial benefits. It also gives customers a high degree of confidence and assists in keeping the organization ahead of its competitors.

In the face of growth, especially in this economy, manufacturers have to work smarter, not harder. There is always room for improvement, and small CE manufacturers like Leon Speakers are fortunate to be able to implement improvements quickly. The ISO process allowed a company to step back and examine the flexibility of its business systems to meet all of its demands and then, ultimately, to focus attention on controls.

Benefits of ISO Certification

But first, you need to understand what is most important to measure, and then settle on how to go about conducting audits in a systematic manner. Finally, the ISO 9001 process forces you to develop a plan to employ positive change that is consistent and enduring.

To a potential customer looking at doing business with an ISO 9001-certified company, it:

• Ensures that your company stands out from those without ISO certification
• Enables you to gain entry to preferred contractor status
• Supports gaining new business when contracts are put out to bid
• Fosters greater international respect and awareness
• Enhances your reputation in your own market area and industry
• Enables you to become more profitable

From an internal standpoint, ISO 9001 offers the ability to:

• Manage your business processes successfully
• Monitor and improve all aspects of your business performance
• Identify training needs and use of resources
• Increase staff involvement and motivation
• Focus on providing best possible delivery of your service and products
• Minimize errors

How Do I Get Started?

In many cases, a manufacturer will hire an international quality management consulting firm named to help guide the company through the process. At first, it can be painful, especially in the documentation process. Procedures and techniques are recorded and then accurately measured to discern a level of quality. The end result is better quality control of products, more control of expenses and clear-cut responsibility for future steps to monitor performance.

It took Leon Speakers about one year from start to finish to complete ISO 9001. The external cost was approximately $15,000, not counting the time expended by internal personnel. We appointed an internal ISO coordinator to be the main contact person and keep the process controlled and moving forward.

In the end, the company:

• Created a full production manual
• Created a quality manual
• Created a procedures manual
• Created a records book
• Set up non-compliance reports
• Conducted a management review to identify the necessary action, assign responsibility and assign a deadline
• Created an employee training plan

All of the processes were documented, and then “made law.” The ISO process was, surprisingly, extremely flexible.

ISO 9001 can make a tremendous impact on a company. The ISO 9001 process enables a manufacturer to prove the benefits of its methodologies and systems to its own employees. Now they know they are all valuable parts of the business and they are more charged up than ever and fully prepared to continue our growth.