The implementation of the ISO 9001 standard is a significant challenge for companies. As a consultant, I frequently receive requests for assistance from companies looking to improve their quality management systems. Despite having ISO 9001:2015 certification, their management systems fail to produce concrete results that drive improvement and goal achievement.
In many cases, these management systems become bureaucratic, creating a gap between the company's daily operations and the tasks required to meet quality standards. This forces people to choose between activities that promote the company's objectives or those demanded by the quality management system. Clearly, this situation cannot persist.
In this article, I will identify the three most common errors that prevent a ISO 9001:2015-based quality management system from delivering results, turning it into a mere ornament for the implementing company.
1. Symptoms of Errors When Implementing ISO 9001
First and foremost, it is crucial to recognize three symptoms indicating that your quality management system has problems that require immediate resolution:
- Since the implementation of the quality management system, no substantial improvements have been observed in the company, nor have positive results stemmed from its implementation.
- The lack of compliance with the responsibilities of the quality management system by employees, particularly during audits, is evident. Recurrent cases are observed where personnel do not follow procedures, do not complete forms, and do not apply established policies.
- The company has become excessively bureaucratic, adding a significant burden of activities related to the quality management system to all the tasks necessary for the company's operation and the delivery of products or services.
2. Why Doesn't the Quality Management System Work Well?
It is essential to understand that the lack of success in the quality management system is not due to the ISO 9001 standard itself, but to specific errors made during implementation. Contrary to what some may think, obtaining ISO 9001 certification and hanging the certificate on the wall does not guarantee an automatic improvement in the company. A quality management system must be continuously maintained and improved to achieve remarkable results.
3. The Three Errors that Cause the Most Harm When Implementing ISO 9001
These are the three fundamental errors you should avoid when implementing ISO 9001:
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Lack of Customization: Not designing and documenting the quality management system specifically for your company. Often, companies implement generic systems or systems based on documents from other organizations, which do not fit their specific needs.
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Lack of Commitment: The lack of commitment, both from top management and employees, is a common error that affects the effectiveness of the quality management system.
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Lack of Alignment with Business Objectives: Failing to align the quality management system with the company's objectives. Implementing the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard in a basic manner, without considering how it can drive the company toward its growth vision, can limit the system's potential.
Each of these errors deserves a detailed analysis. For this reason, I have created a specific video for each of them. If you want to explore in-depth how to resolve them or if you are in the process of implementing your quality management system and want to avoid making these mistakes, I invite you to watch the videos related to each error.
Learn more about ISO 9001 at our Free Learning Center.