With the wonders of search engines, choosing an ISO 9001 Consultant can literally be a minefield. Where on earth do you start? Doing a quick search, as I write this article for you, brings up 10 pages of consultants all claiming to provide you with the service that you are looking for, spread across the depth and breadth of the country.
In some instances, choosing the right ISO 9001 Consultant can be a subjective matter because you just basically like the person (one important aspect of course, but they must be able to deliver) but I’d like to think that when choosing the right Consultant, you consider factual information to make sure they are the right fit for you and your business.
Let’s consider the following –
1. Relevant knowledge and expertise
It’s impossible to find one Consultant that is fully competent in the thousands of ISO standards published, neither would you want to! What is important is to find the one that has the expertise and knowledge of the ISO that you want implementing, in this instance possibly ISO 9001.
As well as understanding ISO 9001, you want them to have current knowledge and understanding of your industry too.
2. References
Looking for an ISO 9001 Consultant who takes an active approach in obtaining regular feedback from their current clients. This indicates that they are doing something right and want to promote their excellent services.
Clients will always be honest when asked for feedback, so look out for their Google or TripAdvisor reviews.
3. Communication
Good communication is crucial when choosing your ISO 9001 Consultant. You want to make sure you know exactly what is going on every step of the way. The last thing you want is to get to the end of the project and you are not fully prepared for your Stage 1 audit. That means a clear rapport needs to be established between you both, as well as regular updates.
4. A customised service
Every business is different and a competent ISO 9001 Consultant will understand the need to adapt to your business requirements. The entire ISO 9001 system that they develop should reflect your own business. I’d recommend running a mile or two (more if you want to) from anyone that just provides you with a system that does not reflect your own business.
5. Results driven
A successful competent ISO 9001 Consultant will be one who is driven to get the best results for you. You should expect to see implementation timelines, KPIs and more from your consultant that relates specifically to your business. In summary, you want an ISO 9001 Consultant who will guarantee that you are given the results that you are paying for and takes pride in their achievements.
6. Cost & time
Implementing an ISO 9001 system is a long-term investment, the success of which is driven by results. You need to be confident that every pound you spend on the process has a return.
Cheap doesn’t always mean quality but top dollar doesn’t always signify quality either. You want an ISO Consultant that provides value for money and can justify their fees and time supporting you to get your intended results.
In summary
Choosing an ISO 9001 Consultant can be straight forward when you consider the points covered. Remember the right ISO Consultant will be part of your team so you want to make sure they are the right fit and ultimately can deliver what you are paying for, so it is important that you choose wisely.
How can we help you?
If you’re in need of assistance with any aspect of ISO 9001 certification, here at Synergos we’d be delighted to discuss this with you. Whether you have questions about the path to certification or are looking for advice and support to maintain an existing standard call 01484 666160 or email team@synergosconsultancy.co.uk and we’ll be happy to talk it over with you.
