Conformance to an ISO Standard refers to a set of documented policies, procedures and processes needed for the planning and production, development, and service delivery within an organisation to meet client quality requirements. Quality Management Systems is not just the group of documents. Instead, it is a system and the documents just form the written description of the Quality Management System that integrates the internal processes of the organisation, to ensure that the process approach can be followed in the execution phase. This allows for proper identification, measurement, control, and improvement of the various processes, to ensure optimal and ongoing improved business performance in accordance with the requirements of ISO Standard.

Innovative Quality Solutions is a company that specialise in:

• Conduct Internal Quality Management System Audits
• Quality Management System Implementation
• Ensure ISO Accreditation readiness
• Ensure ISO Compliance with International best practise
• System re-engineering
• System Management & Maintenance Service
• Developing a Quality Management System specifically for your operations
• Draft a Quality Manual
• Develop Quality Control Policies & Procedures
• Conduct Supplier / Third Party Audits
• Advice & Consultancy Service for
  • Laboratory – Calibration ISO/IEC 17025:2017
  • Laboratory – Testing ISO/IEC 17025:2017
  • Inspection Activities ISO/IEC 17020:2012
  • Manufacturing Process ISO/IEC 9001:2015

These standards provide companies operating in countries, such as South Africa, with the necessary framework and tools for improvement of quality, consistency in meeting client requirements and improvement in processes. Compliance is not a once-off process, but rather an ongoing improvement.

The Quality Management System is intended to recognise the quality needs relevant to the customer, the regulatory requirements of the trade, and specific requirements of international standards. Every requirement must be documented. The employees should undergo relevant training and performance processes must be outlined. As part of the Quality Management System, there must be records to show that the system requirements have been met and where not, which corrective steps have been taken. Ongoing monitoring of changes to various requirements and meeting of such is essential. Internal and external audits are essential to ensure that the system processes operate correctly and that requirements have been met.

ISO standards are also relevant to South Africa. It focuses on the requirements of a Quality Management System (QMS) and although certification is not compulsory, it is recommended for the following reasons:

• Documented proof of your company’s compliance with ISO standard requirements.
• Ongoing improvements in quality of product, service, and satisfaction.
• Credibility with customers, investors, suppliers, and trade partners regarding quality.
• Consistency in quality of service and product delivery.
• Improved employee morale, as specific guidelines exist for quality.
• Improved management involvement to ensure ongoing quality.
• Competitive edge in the marketplace.
• Cost savings, as fewer items are returned.

The Principles of the ISO Standard are follows:

• ISO standards is based on several quality management principles, such as customer satisfaction, motivation of employees, involvement of management, ongoing improvement and following of the process approach to quality management.
• Measurement Compliance should be measured, as this forms an integral part of quality management. Internal audits are thus essential to check whether the organisation’s QMS is indeed working as it should. External audits, like those provided by Innovative Quality Solutions (Pty) Ltd, provide extra credibility.

Implementation of a Quality Management System

If you are at the stage where you have realized the importance of getting ISO certified, these are the following steps you should take to be on your way to a more successful and fruitful business.

Firstly, it is imperative to discuss the importance of being ISO certified with all management at your company. This is the most important step, as you should know that the directors are supporting the idea and will make sure it is management in the correct way.

Secondly, appoint one of top management to make sure that the ISO 9001 certification, once implemented, will be successfully managed, and kept running at optimal level. You will find that maintenance will be the true feature of success for your business in the long term. Innovative Quality Solutions (Pty) Ltd offer a service where we can fulfil this position until you have been able to make an appointment within your organization.

Thirdly, make sure that you have appointed a reputable consultant to take matters from here. Innovative Quality Solutions (Pty) Ltd reputable expertise representatives will be able to perform the following steps on your behalf, guaranteeing the success of your reputation and therefore success of your company.

A gap analysis will be done on your company’s functioning where important areas will be analysed such as the general success and level of operation as opposed to the level at what you would have liked to be. This gap analysis will point out areas where more focus and attention should be placed, and this is where Innovative Quality Solutions (Pty) Ltd will assist. With our development, implementation and improvement plan, we will assist you to bring your company up to the required service delivery standards as set by the conditions of the ISO Standard certification and keep it up on a long term basis by constant assessment, improvement and implementation of the latest in trends throughout your industry.

An important audit function is evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of an organizations control processes. These control processes include:

• Policies
• Procedures
• Activities in place with an organization for managing risk and achieving organizational objectives

Independent audits on Quality Management Systems

At Innovative Quality Solutions (Pty) Ltd we offer independent auditing service on quality Management Systems that conforms to the management requirements as defined in ISO / IEC 9001:2012 Quality Management System as well as quality management systems based on ISO/IEC 9001 and adequate to specific sectors in industries that include, but not limited to:

• Laboratory – Calibration ISO/IEC 17025:2017
• Laboratory – Testing ISO/IEC 17025:2017
• Inspection Activities ISO/IEC 17020:2012
• Manufacturing Process ISO/IEC 9001:2015

As business operations have become increasingly complex, establishing control processes has become critical for all organizations. Equally important is establishing vigorous audit programs for assessing the effectiveness of these control processes in managing risk and achieving your organizations objectives.

Innovative Quality Solutions (Pty) Ltd is based in Germiston, Gauteng. The City is an industrial centre with steel manufacturing and distribution being the largest industries. Due to our location we are ideally situated to meet, supply, and deliver customers’ requirements of fuel within South Africa. We will deliver fuel directly to customers premises.

Our vision is to assist companies with the implementation, maintenance, accreditation readiness, ensure compliance to ISO Standard, System Management & Maintenance, System re-engineering, Developing of a Quality Management System, Draft of Quality Manuals, Develop Quality control policies & procedures, conduct internal audits along with supplier & third party audits and provide advice and a consultancy service.