
There is scope for organisations to design their own procedures within the system, but the accusation has been made many times that compliance becomes an end in itself. The process of certification requires a lengthy exercise to break down processes and their inputs/outputs and produce the Standard’s required documentation. “It is bureaucratic”: The requirement to document procedures and actions can seem like a huge imposition on organisations that have not previously operated such a system.

The main criticisms levelled at ISO 9000 are:ġ. Indeed, some very large purchasing organisations do not value it and instead impose their own quality systems on their suppliers, believing these to be more appropriate and superior. The ISO 9001 approach to quality does, however, have its critics. ISO 9001 certification can be used to enhance an organisation’s image and demonstrate to existing and potential customers that the organisation takes quality seriously. Many purchasers increasingly say that they will buy only from organisations with ISO 9001 accreditation, so the possession of it nullifies the advantage of competitors who have already gained certification. The possession of an ISO 9001 certificate gives marketing benefits to an organisation. These savings will usually be greater for those suppliers who have not previously adopted a systematic approach to managing quality.ģ. By operating to ISO 9001, a supplier should be doing so more efficiently, gaining the cost benefits that flow from improved quality. By seeking quotations only from ISO 9001 accredited suppliers, buyers can more easily make direct comparisons between them.Ģ. Buyers know that an ISO 9001 registered supplier has a quality system of a recognised standard in place. The advantage of any standard is that it gives both suppliers and customers the confidence of knowing exactly what they are agreeing to. If serious faults are found, the certificate can be withdrawn.ġ. Further inspection visits will be made to assess the organisation’s continued compliance. They are likely to make some recommendations, but if no major discrepancies are found, the organisation will be issued with a certificate of compliance. The assessors inspect the related and required documentation and then inspect the organisation to ensure that what is communicated happens in practice. To be awarded an ISO 9001 certificate, an organisation’s quality system must be assessed and approved by independent assessors.
