It is more evident that market-leading businesses are recognising the importance of management systems to pivotal business functions and understand the importance of certification –It provides them with a unique value proposition for their customers.
There has been an increase in management systems certifications recently, reinforcing their importance in the market.
This blog addresses the following:
- What is Driving an Increase in Management Systems Certifications?
- The Importance of Management Systems
- How Certification Works
What is Driving an Increase in Management Systems Certifications?
The 2020 ISO Survey of Management System Standards has highlighted a 17% increase in certifications since the previous year.
Why has the number of certifications increased?
Sustainable Certification’s recent survey revealed a number of insights into how businesses have responded to the various challenges they’ve navigated since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
According to that survey, “businesses are struggling to meet customer expectations and as a result, are experiencing reduced business opportunities (14%), poor internal culture (11%) and high staff turnover (11%).” Those results are also encouraging in their demonstration of action shown by businesses to stabilise and secure their future.
In times of vulnerability, implementing measures that ensure stability and consistency must be considered as best practice. This approach is what certainly what has fuelled the recent increased the number of certifications.
5 Steps to Certification
Management systems are integral for supporting competitive organisations that must comply to legal and tender requirements for production, services and business activities. Part of the benefits of adopting standards is gain a competitive edge, manage and optimise risks, improve performance & transparency and drive continual improvement
The Importance of Management Systems?
A management system is a key tool in assisting to streamline your business processes and build-in efficiency. Implementation of the appropriate management system and certifying to the appropriate standard to your business improves business performance and embeds safe and sustainable practices into your operations.
This can be achieved by adopting management system standards and achieving ISO certification. Taking this approach is not just about box ticking either -for a lot of businesses it is about growth and expansion. Here are the most common standards
ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems
An Environmental Management System is a set of business processes and documentation that control the conditions and factors that affect, or could affect the environment (including; air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, human, and their relationship) to protect the environment and respond to change in environment. Environmental Management systems are designed to mitigate environmental aspects and impacts and help businesses improve their bottom line.
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
A Quality Management System based on the ISO 9001 principles is a set of business processes and documentation that focuses on the enhancement of customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements. ISO 9001 is also aimed at helping businesses achieve continual improvement.
ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
OH&S Management System is a set of business processes and documentation that control the conditions and factors that affect or could affect the health and safety of workers (including temporary workers and contractor personnel), visitors, or any other person in the workplace, to avoid their ill health and/or injury.
ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems
Organisations and their information systems are at risk of security threats from sources including; fraud, espionage, sabotage, and natural causes. ISO 27001 enables organisations to align with global best-practice for information security management.
Step 5: Maximising Certification
- Show off your success!
- Market your certification for brand and promotional benefits
- Compete in Tenders and government contracts
Implementation Plan
Once you have adopted the appropriate Standards for your organisation, you should follow a structured and systematic approach to implement your management systems. This includes developing documentation to meet business and standards requirements, training staff and implement systems in the business, conducting internal audits, and management review meetings.
Effective Management Systems focus on the organisation’s performance, where key priorities and objectives are clear, and the system compliments business processes.
Below is an 8 step guide to assist with this process:
- Provide awareness and training
- Define strategic objectives
- Design and document processes
- Implement the new processes
- Conduct a gap analysis
- Assign corrective action to any gaps identified in the previous step
- Have a certification audit via your chosen Certification Body
- Continually measure, monitor and review
Why Sustainable Certification?
We’re here to help you build a world-class, globally competitive and sustainable Australian Industry today.
We are here to help commit to helping you grow your business. We collaboratively work with you to help you achieve your business objectives
