FEATURE
CERTIFIABLE STANDARDS
ISO 9001, Quality Management Systems, and ISO 14001, Environmental Management Systems are becoming increasingly important for PQQs, tenders and demonstrating compliance. Dr Gavin Jordan, of Interface-NRM Ltd, provides the context and explains the benefits of certification.
Business and Commercial Cleaning are becoming more demanding, not least with regard to winning the work in the first place. Public sector clients, large companies, and, increasingly, smaller companies, are tendering for their sub-contracted cleaning services. This often involves a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire or Supplier Evaluation, where quality and environmental questions are asked, or ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accreditations required. As a UKAS accredited Certification Body, we are seeing a significant increase in the number of cleaning companies asking us for certification services. We have supported a lot of cleaning companies through the process of obtaining certification, and because of this, I thought it might be useful to share some of our experiences.
What Are ISO 9001 And ISO 14001? ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are both ‘Management System Standards’ focusing on quality and environmental management respectively. They are both compliance standards: meaning that if you pass an external audit by a UKAS accredited Certification Body you meet international standards. This provides reassurance to existing and potential customers and clients that you provide a good level of service and, most importantly, represent a low level of risk to them.
56 | Tomorrow’s Cleaning March 2016
Both of these standards use a similar ‘Management System’ structure, which puts in place appropriate management tools. Typically, these involve setting measurable targets for objectives, putting in control procedures, and developing processes for continual improvement, usually in service provision, customer support and care, and environmental compliance.
What Are The Advantages Of ISO
9001 And 14001? ISO 9001 and 14001 are often regarded as necessary evils for the PQQ and tendering processes. We regularly see clients who just want the certificate on the wall or in the tender submission. However, there is much more to these standards, which if applied properly will more than cover the cost of certification. These standards are designed to deliver continual improvement. The key advantages of ISO 9001 are to provide management with clearer and defined objectives, and the internal information to know if these are being achieved, and if not, why not. It also provides a better understanding of clients, their needs and satisfaction. ISO 14001 helps ensure full legal compliance, and reduces waste in all forms in the organisation, bringing about monetary savings.
In summary, certified companies have outperformed the market by a
twitter.com/TomoCleaning
staggering 100%, which to me, is the key clincher.
So, How Difficult Is It To Obtain
ISO 9001 And 14001? Changes to ISO 9001 and 14001 in 2015 have made it much easier to integrate these systems together, simplifying both the management of the systems, and the certification process. Later this year the Health and Safety Standard OHSAS 18001 is being replaced by ISO 45001, which is also designed to fit in seamlessly with ISO 9001 and 14001.
We have developed a simple approach to UKAS approved ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification for cleaning organisations. This helps you to implement a compliant system, and improve your business at the same time. It also allows us to reduce the usual cost associated with UKAS certification. In fact, our costs for ISO 9001 and 14001 UKAS certification or certificate transfer start at under £1,000 for being certified to the latest 2015 Standard.
For more information, contact Gavin directly at
gavin@interface-nrm.co.uk
www.interface-nrm.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84