What is ISO 9001 & why is it important?

If you are like many people, you have probably seen business cards, products, web banners, and advertisements with the ISO 9001 logo on them but haven’t given it much thought. But for those who manufacture products that acronym represents a promise made to customers and a goal that must be consistently met internally. So, what is ISO 9001?

What is it?
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent NGO that develops voluntary standards for numerous industries and goods like manufactured products, food safety, and healthcare. The ISO 9001:2015 standard is a set of rules that are collectively called a quality management system. This quality management system outlines all of the requirements that a world class company ought to follow to provide the best products and services to its customers. For a company to be certified to the ISO 9001 standard, they must keep meticulous records to demonstrate that they follow all the requirements, and must endure annual audits to prove it.

What does it cover?
It covers the best practices for operating a business. These include the requirement for careful product planning, the requirement to produce products consistently each time, and the requirement to develop reliable methods to ensure order accuracy and product quality. Among many other things, the standard also requires the business to thoughtfully consider the various requirements of our customers and all other key stakeholders.

Why is it important?
Becoming certified in ISO 9001 is rigorous and time-consuming…but, in our eyes, it is vital. At Ericson, we strive to bring innovative, safe, and reliable products to the market. Being ISO certified not only gives us a set of goals to meet internally, but it is also a promise made by our entire company to our customers that we are offering you the very best products. It’s something that we are reminded of every day when we walk past our Ericson Quality Policy banner and we all take it very seriously because it’s the best thing for us as a company, but more importantly, it’s the best thing for you as our customer.