How to build assurance into IT services
Not satisfied with just achieving certification to ISO 9001, this IT Services company is certified to
- Quality – ISO 9001
- Information Security – ISO 27001
- Service Management – ISO 20000
- Environmental Management – ISO 14001
- Secure shredding standards
As a Quality Manager with responsibility for looking after the Management System, Damian highlights in the ISO Show Podcast this week:-
- Benefits ISO 9001 – Some people struggle with the term ;Quality’ and prefer ‘Customer’ requirements
- How standards are used to run an IT business
- How to focus on what is important and not using standards as a ‘tick-box’ exercise
- How ISO Standards can be used as a great communication tool – making everything transparent and not hidden form employees.
- Approaches to Leadership commitment at XFM – How the ‘Big conversation’ provides areas for employees to focus on (objectives) and provide an update on changes.
- As an employer of 500 people, how an IT firm reduces its environmental impact through an Environmental Management System (ISO 14001).
- How the Service Management Team have embraced high standards by introducing ISO 20000 and how this compares with the other ISO’s
- Two top tips for overcoming challenges – Focus on communication and Top Management commitment.
To find out more about XMA, visit their Website.
If you would like to find out more about ISO 20000, we have a free webinar available to watch on demand.
We’d love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here’s how:
- Share the ISO Show on twitter or Linkedin
- Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one.
- Also available on Spotify and YouTube
We often get asked which is the best ISO Standard to go for and what are the benefits.
In this week’s ISO Show we highlight the top 5 from the Annual ISO survey published by the International Standards Organisation. Here’s a summary of the countdown, but worth noting are two runners up!
- Medical devices standard ISO 13485, which is most popular in the USA, followed by Germany. Interestingly, this is the only standard where the USA is top of the charts.
- ISO 45001 the Health and Safety Standard. For years, the predecessor the Occupational Health and Safety Standard 18001 was popular in manufacturing and construction, however since this standard became an ISO Standard a year ago it has seen a significant increase in demand, not only with OHSAS 18001 companies migrating to the new ISO standard, but new companies keen to commit to higher standards of Health and Safety.
So which ISO standard is the 5th most popular in the world?:
Starting in reverse order, I’m going to give an overview of the top 5 standards.
#5 ISO 50001 the energy standard – When ISO 50001 was launched a few years ago, there was some debate about whether it was even worth having a standard for energy management – well clearly there is because thousands of organisations are treating their energy management very seriously by implementing an energy management system and getting certified.
#4 ISO 22000:2018 the food safety standard -countries that are taking the lead with this one – namely, China, Greece, India and Japan leading the way in food safety.
#3 ISO 27001 the Information Security Standard – Why has ISO 27001 become so popular? Apart from governments putting pressure on businesses to secure personal data, businesses are demanding higher standards of protection for commercial data. Now, there is a common misconception that ISO 27001 is just about data – well it’s not, it also covers Personnel and Physical security along with Business Continuity.
#2 ISO 14001 the Environmental Standard – All businesses should be accountable for their environmental footprint. If we are to be carbon-neutral by 2050 we need a real mechanism for change, not just having a piece of paper labelled an ‘Environmental Policy’. This is something, that I am personally extremely passionate about, and at Blackmores we will be focusing on how businesses can help to reverse the damage they are doing to the environment over the next decade. It will not be easy, but it does have to be done, as we are putting our children, grand-children and future generations at significant risk by NOT doing anything.
So whether your organisation has a desire for ISO 14001 certification or not, I implore you to start today by considering how your company can be more efficient with your resources
If you’d like to find out more about this check out the ISO 14001 Steps to Success series, ISO Show # for the low-down.
#1 ISO 9001 the Quality Management Standard – Consumers will always expect high quality services and products, one may argue consumer demands are getting higher. With over 1 million organisations certified globally, the economic benefits are clear, businesses need systems to operate efficiently to be profitable and demonstrate a commitment to quality to clients to retain their business, and win new business.
Other resources: Annual ISO Survey
To help out the ISO Show:
- Share the ISO Show on twitter or Linkedin
- Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one.
- Also available on Spotify and YouTube
What is ISO?
ISO is the ‘International Organization for Standardization’, hang on a minute your thinking, should it be IOS? Yes, it would be in English, or it would be OIN in French for Organisation internationale de normalisation .
This isn’t a great start for an organisation to agree on standards internationally is it? So in the end the founders, decided to name the organisation – ISO which is derived from the Greek, ISOS, meaning EQUAL. So whatever the country, whatever the language, we are always ISO – EQUAL.
So where did it all begin? Well the ISO story began back in 1946 when delegates from 25 countries met at the Institute of Civil Engineers in London, and decided to create a new international organization ‘to facilitate the international coordination and unification of industrial standards’. The following year, the new organization, ISO, officially began setting standards for the worlds trade.
Today ISO, have standards body members from 164 countries and 781 technical committees and subcommittees to take care of standards development.
So What do International Standards actually do? Quite simply they provide a recipe for making things work. They give world-class specifications for products, services and systems, to ensure quality, safety and sustainability. In many cases they are instrumental in facilitating international trade. ISO puts standards at the heart of the Global Agenda and helps define a clear path for businesses large and small.
You could say that in this day and age our world faces complex global issues and uncertainty about how we do business, whether its climate change issues or technological advances such as the ‘Internet of things’. Never before, has there been such a demand for International Standards.
Now although on our ISO show we typically talk about Management System standards i.e. ISO 9001 for quality and ISO 27001 for information security, ISO have actually published 22,942 International Standards. They touch almost every aspect of our lives – from making a cup of tea – yes that does exist! To designing submarines.
So what is an ISO standard? well quite simply it’s a document that provides specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose.
Bringing real and measurable benefits to almost every sector imaginable, standards underpin the technology and services that we rely on and help to provide the assurance of quality that we expect.
Shared success is about successfully sharing the best ideas and methods. Making Best Practice equal – making it ISO.
Of course not everything needs to be standardized. International Standards only address shared challenges and the things that matter most.
So What matters to you? Is it sustainability? Is it growing your business? Or keeping customers happy? On the next ISO Show we’ll look at the 5 most popular standards and why they matter most. Until, then if you’d like to find out more about ISO Standards and the benefits, check out our website www.blackmoresuk.com To help out the ISO Show:
Our 7 Steps to Success
The Blackmores ISO Roadmap is a proven path to go from idea to launching your ISO Management System.
Whether you choose to work with one of our isologist consultants or work your own way through the process on our isology Hub, we’re certain you’ll achieve certification in no time!
What our clients have to say
Trusted by leading organisations across all sectors, we support companies of all sizes in any location.
Listen to our Podcast
Welcome to the ISO Show podcast, dispelling myths and sharing tips for success to improve your business with ISO Standards. Join us to hear interviews with successful business leaders as they share their ISO journey with you.
Get top tips via audio master classes “ISO Steps to Success” on the most popular ISO Standards.