Many distributors may ask “Why be ISO certified?” The answer is simple. It’s all about the customer’s trust in the company, and the products they buy from that company. Advance recently received an updated ISO 9001:2015 certification which is in effect until 2025. An ISO certification is important for distributors because it certifies that management systems, manufacturing processes, services, or documentation procedures meets the requirements that ensure quality, safety, and efficiency of products, services and systems.
The ISO certification and process is important to the Advance team and our customers as it requires a commitment from the entire company to improve how we do business. It’s more than just a certificate, it’s a way of ensuring our customers that we have their success in mind. Here is a breakdown of what the ISO 9001:2015 certificate is all about.
Three Components of ISO 9001:2015
ISO
ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization. It is an independent, non-governmental, international organization that is comprised of multiple groups of industry leaders who are responsible for the development of the standards that can range from quality management systems to technical standards.
9001
This number classifies the standard. ISO 9001 is one of the best known standards for quality management. It helps Advance be more efficient and improve our processes to improve our customer’s satisfaction. All standards in the ISO 9000 family refer to quality management.
2015
This number represents the calendar year the standards were launched and the current version that is being met. 2015 is the fifth edition of the ISO 9001, and was launched in September 2015. Advance has updated our processes to meet the specifications of the newest 2015 version, as our we were certified ISO 9001:2008 as well.
What are the ISO standards?
The ISO creates documents or standards that provide requirements, specifications and guidelines for Advance to follow and document. This way we can measure the consistency of materials, products, processes and services that allow us to improve how we do business.
ISO standards are important to Advance for several reasons:
A commitment to meet customer and supplier partner requirements.
Deliver real value through material and resource savings.
Provide sales and marketing advantages.
How Advance was certified
Advance received an ISO certification through regular auditing that demonstrated our commitment to the ISO system which includes maintenance of specifications for every product, service and system that we use. Advance documented the standards and processes we implement to ensure quality, safety and efficiency. We worked diligently to update our ISO 9001:2008 certification to the newest 2015 version which required us to update our processes and training.
Benefits of being an ISO certified company
As an ISO certified company, Advance has invested in an efficient quality management system that helps save on time and cost while improving our efficiencies. Our customers benefit from our investments in a system that creates successful transactions and fulfillment. ISO standards help us continue to improve our business processes and reduce non-conforming products and costs.
At Advance we are constantly working to make our company better. Being ISO certified ensures consistency and quality in the products and services we offer our customers. To find out more about becoming ISO certified, visit ISO.org