With such a rough playing field, it is essential that startup personnel take the efforts necessary to secure the longevity of their company. One helpful addition: ISO 9001:2015 – Quality management systems – Requirements.
Are Start Ups Prone to Failure?
Startup companies have become a major trend in recent years, giving hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs the ability to bring their innovative and modern ideas into fruition. Founders of startups are generally young, with 34% beginning their companies in their 20s, and 40% starting in their 30s. However, while these companies serve as venues for opportunity for the ideas of young minds, 25% fail in their first year, and within just a short period afterwards, 90% of all startups are doomed to fail in their infancy.
What is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001:2015 – Quality management systems – Requirements is the standard that specifies the requirements for establishing a quality management system within an organization. ISO 9001 is applicable to any organization that needs to demonstrate its consistent ability to provide products and/or services that meet customer and statutory requirements in a system that ultimately strives to enhance customer satisfaction. This document places an emphasis on the role of leadership in quality management and the importance of risk management. The standard itself is held in high regard, as there are certification bodies that can brand organizations as ISO 9001 certified.
What Does a Startup Need?
Basically all startups are born from a person or group of people and an idea. According to an article by Inc.com on things that a successful startup needs, young organizations require customers, a product, timing, competition, finance, and a team. Many of these pillars of a startup company are benefited by the presence of a sound quality management system.
Why Should Startups Consider ISO 9001?
A sound quality management system allows quality to permeate throughout an organization. This is important for both the day-to-day operations of the company, but also enhances the outcome of the product or service itself. Adherence to a quality management system helps limit the amount of mistakes made by an organization, effectively enhancing its general performance.
ISO 9001 Certification
A new organization can also gain a great deal of benefits that come from being ISO 9001 certified. Since building a strong customer base is a much-needed requirement of companies in their early days of operation, anything that can attract customers or convince them to make use of the company’s products or services is incredibly helpful. Some companies also require ISO 9001 certification as a requirement of any organization that they do business with, so choosing to not follow the guidelines set in ISO 9001 can actually be limiting the growth of a business.
From these benefits, it is clear that adherence to ISO 9001 benefits not only the internal processes of an organization, but also the external status and image. Similarly, the image of the certification bodies is just as important can can be assured to a level of trust through accreditation.
The ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accredits management systems certification bodies, like those that issue certifications to ISO 9001. This demonstrates a level of credibility and trust, which is then passed down to the organizations that receive certification, whether they be start up companies or major corporations.
You can search for credible ISO 9001 certification bodies accredited by ANAB here.
ISO 9000 – Quality Management Systems – Fundamentals and Vocabulary
ISO 9000:2015 – Quality management systems – Fundamentals and vocabulary acts as a companion standard to ISO 9001, giving the vocabulary and fundamental concepts necessary for understanding the content in the quality management system requirements standard. This foundational document is available paired with ISO 9001 through the ISO 9001 and ISO 9000 Quality Management Set.
It is also important to remember that ISO 9001 is applicable to organizations of any size, whether they be small startups or major corporations.
If you’d like to learn more about ISO 9001, please refer to our post, ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems Standard.
