Leadership at firms, corporations and service organizations are called upon, from time to time, to make critical decisions, which will affect both current and future strategic pathways. Outsourcing, subcontracting, new product/service initiatives and recruitment for senior management roles are just a few of these challenging choices. Another consideration is whether your firm should consider ISO certification.
Not long ago, only major corporations needed to confront the prospect of voluntary compliance to the ISO standards. However, turning the corner into 21st century realities has even small businesses analyzing the value of conformity to a world-wide standard. The marketplace for goods and services is no longer confined to your community, state or even nation; rather, whether as a primary supplier or subcontractor, the world has become your true marketplace. How do we assure a firm in another continent of our commitment to the future? Or, why should a potential European partner choose our design/build process over other approaches for their project? These and other global businesses need to understand that your pledge to quality processes and sustainable growth is founded in a common set of shared values; this may be evidenced by a corporate goal of achieving ISO certification.
The strategic decision to pursue ISO certification will necessitate an investment of both financial and human resources. The latest ISO 9001:2015 revision does NOT require documented procedures other than those an organization deems to be necessary. However, it may require a greater personal involvement by company leadership in defining Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) that are meaningful and help the business to grow and improve. This is a shift from picking out run of the mill objectives or KPI’s that do not add value to the organization. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has looked beyond word documentation and is pressing their certified organizations to forcefully lead into the future. Each individual firm is being called upon to understand their employees, suppliers and clients as critical partners to satisfy requirements, evaluate changes and prepare for the next steps along the continuum of improvement. Business is no longer captive to two or three clients in the next county; rather, firms are more likely to be supporting partners that are on the next continent. Your vision should not be limited by highways or oceans, but by the quality, commitment and excellence of your firm’s services and products. Are you ready?
To explore your firm’s possibilities, please feel free to contact Judi Markel at isoadvantage@comcast.net