New ISO standard places more demands

The new ISO 9001: 2015 standard places more and different demands on companies. A risk-based approach is the basis for the new standard, which means that employees must document their work processes to a far greater extent than was the case for its predecessor, ISO 9001: 2008.

“The biggest change between the old and the new standard is a risk-based approach, which must be incorporated into all levels of the organisation. If for example an employee needs to complete a sale for a customer, then he or she must be able to show what opportunities and risks are present in that specific sale. It requires adaptable employees to accommodate such a change,” explains Frank Arendt, Quality Manager at Hoyer.

Transition period ends in September

Organisations that are certified for ISO 9001: 2008 have had a three year period to transition over to ISO 9001: 2015. When the transition period ends in September 2018, then the ISO 9001: 2008 certificate is no longer valid. Hoyer has been approved for the new IOS certificate after lengthy preparation.

“The certificate has been a long time coming, and it is therefore extremely satisfying that we can now prove that we are ready for the transition in September. The standard is a tool for the optimisation of processes that contribute to increased efficiency and are part of Hoyer’s quality efforts,” explains Frank Arendt.

Integrated control system

In the new standard, organisational knowledge is also an important parameter. The organisations must identify the knowledge there is in the company and make the work processes more transparent. Hoyer has recently implemented a new IMS system (Integrated Management System) that will help employees gain more insight into the daily processes of the individual departments.

“With the new system, an organisation’s internal and external processes are tightened up. We have got a more integrated system, which is actively used in all departments. During the development phase the various employee groups gave us their wishes for the design of the system and have thus taken ownership of it, which it must be said has been a success. It must be put into practice however before it can generate value,” says Frank Arendt.

Quality efforts

The ISO requirements ensure a total quality management and a shared language across the organisation. The approval in accordance with the new standard testifies that quality continues to constitute a central part of Hoyer’s culture and DNA.

Five tips for companies that need to get started on the changeover

• Involvement: It is important that management takes an active role in the upgrade process and that all employees are involved in describing their work processes
• Risk-based approach: Make sure you demystify the term “risk-based approach”. In general this means that you need to become better at formalising the unconscious considerations regarding opportunities and risks
• Organisational knowledge: It is important to consider how you can best ensure that important knowledge does not get lost in the event of changes in the organisation
• Information and communication: Make sure that you keep all employees informed of what is happening at all levels in the organisation
• Training: It is important that prior to the certification, employees receive training and access to the new management system so that they can learn about the new requirements in practice prior to the certification itself

Facts about ISO-9001:2015

• ISO-9001:2015 is an international standard for quality management
• The standard is used by over a million organisations in more than 170 countries
• The ISO 9001:2015 standard came out in September 2015, which means that all ISO 9001-certified companies must have adapted their management systems to the new standard by September 2018 at latest
• In the 2015 edition of the standard, risk analyses must form the foundation for the management system. There is also greater focus than previously on management, the organisation’s goals and control of external suppliers
• The new certification applies to Hoyer facilities in Hadsten (Denmark) and Ningbo (China). In addition to ISO 9001:2015, Hoyer is also ISO 14001:2015 certified