To know which ISO/AS Certifications your business can benefit from, first identify where and how you want to participate in your chosen marketplaces. For success, it’s critical to tie everything to the overall business strategy. It’s important to be purposeful, and to understand what a new certification can – and can’t – do for your business.
Where Certifications Count Most
ISO certification isn’t necessary in every case. Generally, the closer you are to producing a finished product in the supply chain, the greater the need for quality certifications. In the robust medical device manufacturing industry, for example, you’ll eventually need ISO 13485 certification to become a big player. But that certification is not strictly required to participate in the medical device manufacturing space. It depends on your end goals, and your present level of business.
Smaller manufacturers, that are part of a larger supply chain, may find that certifications aren’t necessary for their success. They can often experiment and attempt to get into new supply chains without any certifications. However, if pursuing the right certifications would make it easier for a larger manufacturer to select your company, now you have a bona fide motivation for certification. Consider your existing and potential customer base. Is a certain certification required, or would it ease the decision making process of those higher up in your supply chain? Would it make it simpler for them to say yes to your offerings? Do your competitors have certifications you don’t?
Help in Achieving ISO/AS Certification
AM&T brings a wealth of experience to the quality certification process, and can give you an objective third-party view of whether you should pursue certification. When you’re closely invested in your company, it can be hard to “see the forest for the trees.” We have an objective understanding of the standards, as well as the ability to interpret what they truly mean and apply them successfully to an individual business. We understand what the registrars look for when auditing a company to determine if it’s compliant, because we’ve worked with the registrars for years. Since our consultants are also registrar auditors, their experience can help you avoid many of the pitfalls on the road to certification.
For example, we’ve seen many businesses tend to make the certification process too complicated when pursuing a standard on their own. AM&T helps simplify and direct the certification process. We evaluate current quality management systems objectively, and compare them to the standard being pursued. We identify any gaps, develop a road map to close those gaps, and then we work with the client to implement the road map. We can take as active a role as needed, from helping write documentation and procedures to giving general guidance and mentoring a company through the process.
Considerations to address before pursuing ISO/AS Certifications:
- Certification is not an end in and of itself. It should be a part of what you do, and should complement the other components of your overall business strategy.
- Standards should be used to improve your business processes. Certification should be seen as an opportunity to identify process improvements that can create improved business results overall.
- Certification may not get you more customers or improve your business on its own. You’ll need a strategic business plan and an active marketing plan to maximize the benefits of that new certification.
Call Jim Cunningham
at 607-725-1225
if you need help with your quality management system.
See this and other newsletter articles at http://amt-mep.org/files/9413/9273/1871/2014-02.pdf
Visit our website at http://www.amt-mep.org
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