Quality Management
What is CARES Quality Management System Certification to ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is a "common sense" set of guidelines to improve business processes and put basic management controls in place within a formal documented system. It can be applied to any business of any size and can therefore be applied to any company within the reinforced concrete sector. In CARES terms, this type of certification is available where a product standard does not exist and where Product Certification is unsuitable.CARES Quality Management System Certification ensures that certificated companies have:
- A basic management system for quality which covers key areas of business
- Self imposed disciplines, rules, targets and standards
Why is it needed?
From a manufacturers perspective, how it is perceived and by whom it is known, is clearly of crucial importance to its success. A reputation for quality and the ability to reflect this in its corporate image has long been recognised as one of the most powerful weapons in any organisations armoury. Certification to ISO 9001 from a respected and credible certification body helps to improve this image. Other reasons are:
- Improves consistency of products
- Provides a competitive pressure
- Enhances the existing system
- Is good business practice
- Can be a very good marketing tool
- Provides external recognition of a manufacturers Quality Management System
From a product purchasers perspective, ISO 9001 certification has received a bad press over the years, especially when linked to an expectation of product compliance. This concern has been justified, as this type of certification has often been provided by certification bodies which do not have expertise in a particular product, process or supply chain. CARES will only provide certification in areas in which it has specific expertise. CARES provides a testing audit in any circumstance and its certified companies have commented many times that CARES audits are technically challenging and are appropriate to their business and products/services.
It should be noted that CARES will not normally provide quality management system certification in relation to a product for which there is a CARES product certification scheme. It is felt that this would have the potential to mislead buyers.
Why does operating a management system for quality to ISO 9001 constitute good business practice?
A quality management system provides for:
- Procedures (How do we ?)
- The setting of standards (What is acceptable?)
- Direction, Objectives and Targets (Which way shall we proceed?)
- Internal analysis via audits (Are we doing what we think we are doing?)
- The basis for constructive action (Do we need to do something?)
How do you achieve certification?
Companies wishing to achieve certification must operate in accordance with a documented system that satisfies the requirements of ISO 9001.
Companies that wish to embark on the path to quality management systems can contact CARES to obtain some guidance on how to proceed.
The assessment procedure commences with a detailed review of the Quality Manual against the requirements of ISO 9001. Providing the Quality Manual meets the requirements of ISO 9001, an assessment of the company system is carried out. The assessment team may comprise one or more auditors depending upon the size and complexity of the company’s activities. After a successful assessment and the payment of fees a Certificate of Approval will be issued.
Why is it needed?
As an independent profit for purpose company CARES is completely focussed on the quality of the products and processes we certify. Achieving ISO 9001 certification requires considerable effort and commitment from a company. It is often the beginning of improved process and business performance.
We know that a business relationship is based on mutual trust and understanding. Our experts who have hands on experience in this industry work alongside our customers to get under the skin of their operations ensuring we always deliver the quality assurance that our brand stands for. The CARES difference is the guarantee of an independent and impartial review and the unrivalled knowledge provided by our specialist team.
It makes sense to work with specialists in your field to achieve this standard.
Once approval is issued CARES provides free marketing support to promote successful certification and allows a certificated company to display the relevant CARES "quality mark" on publicity and stationery.
All certified companies are automatically included in the CARES Certified Companies section of this website.
If you are investing so much of your time and business resource in an Operational Health and Safety Management system, Make sure you entrust your assessment to a certification body that understands the product, processes and supply chain.
Only CARES offers industry experts with hands on industry experience.