2. Why are carriers getting registered?
3. How do carriers benefit from ISO 9000?
4. What's required to become ISO 9000 registered?
5. What are the steps involved in getting registered?
6. How long does it take to get registered?
7. Who registers companies?
8. How long does registration last?
9. What resources are needed to become ISO 9000 registered?
Please contact us with any further questions.
ISO 9000 is an international quality standard for assuring consistent quality service to customers.
The quality standard was first published in 1987 by the Geneva based International Organization for Standardization. The "iso" in ISO 9000 refers to the Greek work isos which means "equal" or "consistent."
The primary reasons carriers consider ISO 9000 registration are:
There are internal and external benefits to ISO 9000 registration.
Key internal benefits include:
Key external benefits include:
For more information on the benefits of ISO 9000 in trucking see Case Studies: Benefiting from ISO 9000
ISO 9000 requires carriers to formally document an ISO compliant quality system, that is, define what you do to operate the business to ensure customers' requirements are met. It also requires you to implement and operate your system, and that your system is effective.
The ISO 9000 standard sets minimum requirements that should be addressed
in a carrier's quality system to be compliant. These requirements relate to all
areas of the business that could impact quality from order taking through to
delivery and billing.
The key steps involved in getting registered are:
Step 1 involves organizing for the project which includes planning the objective, scope, resources, activities and related time lines and responsibilities for implementing the project.
Step 2 involves identifying and defining the core processes within your quality system and then training people on their responsibilities as defined within your system.
Step 3 involves operating your system which includes conducting internal audits, holding management review meetings to review and improve the business and your quality system.
Step 4 involves selecting a registrar, having the registrar conduct a desk audit, a pre-assessment (optional) of your business and then an onsite audit to recommend you for registration.
It typically takes between 8 and 14 months to become ISO registered. Two key phases of the project involve documenting your system and then implementing it.
The registration time can vary based on issues such as the availability of
resources, the current level of documentation, the scope of the registration, and
the extent to which your system conforms to the ISO standard.
A quality system registrar is responsible for recommending companies for registration. Registrars are independent companies sanctioned by a national accreditation body. They have individual auditors who examine your quality system for compliance to ISO 9000.
Registration lasts for 3 years and during this time maintenance audits are conducted every 6 or 12 months by the registrar to ensure continued compliance. This cycle continues as long as you want to be registered.
Key resources needed for getting registered include internal resources for managing and implementing the project, external training and support with understanding ISO 9000, and some word processing or documentation software.
Internally, companies typically assign a project champion or leader and set up an implementation team to support the documentation and auditing activities.
External resources vary from attending public seminars (See Public Seminars) to using a consultant to support or lead the project (See Consulting).
Word processing or documentation software helps reduce the time needed to
document your quality system and makes it easier to update documentation
(See ISOtruck software).