“I don’t spend my time pontificating about high-concept things; I spend my time solving engineering and manufacturing problems”
Manufacturing and Engineering is the backbone of many economies and spans a broad spectrum of businesses from simple paper clips through to aircraft manufacturing. Everything you can see around you has been manufactured and this is where ISO standards originated, within the manufacturing sector.
The original ISO organisation started in the 1920s but was suspended until after the war and officially became the International Standards Organisation in 1947. Many people will remember back to BS570 which some claim to be the origins ISO 9001 and the standards were initially built around the manufacturing industry but have changed a lot since then to become more encompassing.
Having ISO certification for a manufacturing organisation can bring many benefits, not only to the business but also to the end customers. Manufacturing is probably the largest sector of clients for Auva and many of our auditors have manufacturing backgrounds to support our clients.
Benefits of ISO Certification for Manufacturing Organisations:
In 2015, the core ISO standards all aligned and now follow Annex SL which sets out a high level clause structure for all standards to follow. This makes it easier to integrate different management systems into one core set of policies and procedures, reducing documentation and allowing for multiple standards to be assessed at the same time.
ISO 9001 in the Manufacturing Sector
ISO 9001 is the most common standard amongst manufacturing organisations, this is often the starting point for many businesses who wish to stand out from their competitors and show their customers what they can do.
ISO 9001 demonstrates your organisation has a Quality Management System in place and focuses your mind on ensuring you provide quality products and services and have systems in place to ensure that customers are at the forefront.
Many organisations are required to have ISO 9001 in order to receive work but it has been proven that if the requirements are embraced, it will not only bring you the business from that customer but you will also see other savings across the organisation.
Some of the benefits of ISO 9001 for manufacturing organisations include:
ISO 14001 in the Manufacturing Sector
Many manufacturers are now looking to take the next step in their ISO Certification journey and embark on ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems. Having ISO 14001 demonstrates that you are not only environmentally conscious but also legally compliant. Knowing that the products and services you acquire come from environmentally conscious organisations is a major factor in decision making.
Depending on the nature of your business, the environmental impact will vary across the manufacturing industry, one of the key impacts will be energy use and material scrap that ends up in a junk yard somewhere. Reducing your environmental impact in both of these areas can not only help the environment but also reduce your overheads.
Some of the benefits of ISO 14001 for manufacturing organisations include:
ISO 45001 in the Manufacturing Sector
Although not the greatest contributor to workplace accidents, the manufacturing sector is relatively high risk due to the equipment and machinery in use. Ensuring staff are safe throughout the manufacturing industry is important and having ISO 45001 certification helps to promote a safe working environment.
Machinery and equipment have many moving parts and there are strict regulations in place to protect workers from harm when using machinery. This is not the only risk within the manufacturing industry with slips and collisions being another hazard, ensuring you have effectively identified all the risks and hazards is vital to a successful health and safety management system.
Some of the benefits of ISO 45001 for manufacturing organisations include: