ISO Consulting, Training, Certification | D'Ardenne Associates, Ltd. | Making the Most of Management

New survey shows ISO 9001 value

Posted on August 26, 2011 by D'Ardenne Associates, Ltd.

Like everything else these days, businesses are constantly evaluating their return on investment to validate their expenses.

I often talk about how management system standards make the most of management. But it’s not always easy for companies to understand the benefits until they get started. Only then will they see results.

A recent BSI survey found that an investment in ISO 9001 led to:

83% improving operational performance
77% being able to sell to new customers and retain existing ones
62% achieving cost savings

ISO 9001 is an internationally adopted quality system standard. It is the only quality management system to which any organization can be certified by an outside party, one which is totally independent from the organization being examined.

Learn how to elevate your company to world-class status and join the ranks of companies and organizations profiting from ISO certification.

Posted in Benefits of ISO Certification, Improve Your Business Practices, ISO 9000 | Leave a comment

Are you keeping up with maturing ISO standards?

Posted on August 2, 2011 by D'Ardenne Associates, Ltd.

Back in the early days of ISO, with the introduction of ISO 9001 in 1987, management system standards changed the way companies operate.

With the advent of its 2008 version, ISO now requires that companies demonstrate that the system is being used to add value to their organization.

In performing third-party certification audits and conducting training, we’re seeing organizations that have implemented their system more than a decade ago but haven’t been able to fully take advantage of ISO’s ability to drive bottom-line improvements. Many companies haven’t kept up with ISO’s maturation and don’t see how much more the newer standards can make a significant difference in their businesses.

There are companies in industries such as aerospace, automobiles, defense and manufacturing that have recognized that for years but many companies have been content to be stagnant or to not take advantage of the changed direction of the standard.

Perhaps it’s time to get your company out of the “good enough” mentality and take the initiative to achieve world-class standards in productivity and profit.

Posted in Changes to ISO Standards, ISO Audits | Leave a comment

ISO standards good for everyone

Posted on July 25, 2011 by D'Ardenne Associates, Ltd.

Many companies and organizations may not have a “system.” They may just have their way of doing things. Chances are, processes may not even be written down – or worse, they’re all in the heads of the owner.

Needless to say, this is not a good way to run a business.

The larger the organization, the more the likelihood that written procedures, instructions, forms or records are in place to keep things running smoothly. These help ensure that business is orderly and structured so time, money and other resources are being used as efficiently as possible.

To be an effective organization – of any size – you really have to have systems and processes in place so everyone is clear about who is responsible for doing what, when, how, why and where.

Large organizations or those with complicated processes could not function without management systems. Companies in such industries as aerospace, automobiles, defense and manufacturing have been operating management systems for years.

ISO’s management system standards make good management practice available to organizations of all sizes, in all sectors, anywhere in the world.

So get your business out of the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality and get the training and consulting you need to achieve world-class standards.

Posted in Benefits of ISO Certification | Leave a comment

Eight quality management principles for your business

Posted on July 8, 2011 by D'Ardenne Associates, Ltd.

Businesses of any size should think big. You don’t have to be a multi-national conglomerate to have world-class quality processes and systems in place to grow your company.

As experts in ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, we’re big believers in putting the right framework in place for your future success. These eight quality management principles from ISO are worth sharing as you build and refine your business:

Customer focus: Organizations depend on their customers and therefore should understand current and future customer needs, should meet customer requirements and strive to exceed customer expectations.

Leadership: Leaders establish unity of purpose and direction of the organization. They should create and maintain the internal environment in which people can become fully involved in achieving the organization’s objectives.

Involvement of people: People at all levels are the essence of an organization and their full involvement enables their abilities to be used for the organization’s benefit.

Process approach: A desired result is achieved more efficiently when activities and related resources are managed as a process.

System approach to management: Identifying, understanding and managing interrelated processes as a system contributes to the organization’s effectiveness and efficiency in achieving its objectives.

Continual improvement: Continual improvement of the organization’s overall performance should be a permanent objective of the organization.

Factual approach to decision-making: Effective decisions are based on the analysis of data and information.

Mutually beneficial supplier relationships: An organization and its suppliers are interdependent and a mutually beneficial relationship enhances the ability of both to create value.

Think about these eight principles as you grow your business. Then learn more about how to apply quality management principles to positively affect (impact) the day-to-day operations of your and other organizations in any industry. Our upcoming courses are a great place to start.

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ISO audits make a difference

Posted on June 24, 2011 by D'Ardenne Associates, Ltd.

We’re often asked how third-party ISO audits contribute to a company’s bottom line.

After all, it takes a commitment of time, energy and money to move quality systems to world-class levels. The results will show – eventually. This is not about instant-gratification savings.

To help illustrate how third-party ISO audits can help a company, we’re asked one of our clients to share some examples.

Adaptive Technologies Inc. of Blacksburg is a research and development company that tackles problems associated with noise control, hearing protection and signal processing. Though not a manufacturer, which typically requires some sort of ISO registration to do business, Adaptive Technologies (ATI) understands the many ways ISO certification can enhance efficiencies and streamline operations.

ISO-certified companies face routine audits as a way to grow their business. Jon Hager and his team at ATI tell us they used to have 12-17 ISO audits every year. Now they’re down to just 6-8 a year, saving valuable time by being better prepared for audits, conducting fewer audits and enjoying improved results.

We helped them cut the number of procedures they had to maintain by a third and reduced their quality manual by nearly 70 percent. How? By simplifying their previous processes and procedures. Now, leaner in their operations, they’re focusing on growth.

So while eking out efficiencies with streamlined processes is always nice, ISO education really pays off when a trusted advisor helps to steer their future direction.

Posted in Benefits of ISO Certification, Improve Your Business Practices, ISO Audits | Leave a comment

Four ways to gain efficiency

Posted on June 10, 2011 by D'Ardenne Associates, Ltd.

Every business owner is looking to be more efficient. The recession has forced businesses to take a hard look at processes and people – making sure the right people are doing the right things at the right time with limited resources.

As someone who has provided strategic counseling to companies in multiple industries around the nation, I’m often asked how companies can gain efficiencies. Here’s what I tell them:

Analyze the current situation. It’s amazing how few businesses take the time to research their situation to identify strengths and weaknesses. Without knowing where you are you won’t know where you’re going. Measuring and improving performance begins by benchmarking operational efficiencies, assessing the efficiency of work processes and developing solutions to increase performance.

Optimize business processes. Optimizing and streamlining existing operations and business processes is the key to improving performance and customer satisfaction. Where are the weak spots? What changes need to be made to increase efficiency? Are adequate processes in place? This is the time to make fixes.

Embrace technology. The right software and hardware can improve any business. Look at ways to provide the needed technology resources so your business can improve. Whether it’s cloud computing, social networking or automating data gathering and analysis, it may be time to reassess how you’re using today’s tools to build your future. Quite often high-priced employees spend a lot of their time performing clerical-level activities on their computers. Is your staff equipped to avoid this?

Plan ahead. Do you have a long-range plan? How do you plan to grow in one, three or five years? Creating a plan for tomorrow will help you become more focused and efficient today. So you can optimally improve your processes now, it’s better to align them with your vision for tomorrow.

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ISO a key part of business around the world

Posted on May 27, 2011 by D'Ardenne Associates, Ltd.

“ISO” can seem a bit dry at first. Just another bureaucratic acronym, perhaps. Or another example of corporate-speak.

The term stands for the International Organization for Standardization. That’s the non-governmental standard-setting body founded in 1947 comprised of representatives from various national standards organizations.

For many companies around the world, ISO standards define who they are – the way processes are created and followed, the way they work, the way they achieve excellence every day.

No matter what the industry, being ISO certified is more than a plaque on the wall. It’s a necessity of doing business with tangible results.

Having international standards in place ensures people, products, systems and equipment work more efficiently and safely. ISO standards also enhance quality, drive innovation, facilitate global trade, solve problems and safeguard employees. For some industries, being ISO certified is as much a need for business as people and capital. They wouldn’t survive.

Just think – without having ISO standards in place, businesses and organizations may not reach their full potential. Quality could suffer. There might be fewer business opportunities. Profitability might suffer.

ISO doesn’t seem so boring now, does it?

Learn more about the benefits of ISO certification.

Posted in Benefits of ISO Certification | Leave a comment

Business continuity: Are you prepared?

Posted on May 13, 2011 by D'Ardenne Associates, Ltd.

Many organizations think they’re prepared for a business disruption.

Oh, sure, you may have thought about what to do in case of a natural disaster, power outage or sudden incapacitation of company leadership. But are you really prepared?

As the latest flooding along the Mississippi River demonstrates, business continuity issues arise (sometimes literally) when you least expect them.

Business continuity management is so critical that it’s part of ISO, the International Organization for Standardization. Business continuity management is defined as a management process that identifies potential impacts that threaten an organization and provides a framework for building resilience and the capability for an effective response that safeguards the interests of its key stake holders, reputation, brand and value-creating activities.

Like any process, there’s the right way to plan, train and execute issues related to business continuity. One of the best ways to prepare for the inevitable crisis is training. Our BS 25999 course is an excellent way to become immersed in the myriad issues and concerns pertaining to business continuity.

So, think about what can go wrong in your business. What if key people leave, are poached by a rival, fall ill or die? What if freak weather means you must find new office space for three weeks? What would you do if you suffer a catastrophic power failure? What if all your computers are infected by a virus?

The list goes on. But your worries should not. Get educated and trained – then stay cool under pressure to keep your business moving forward.

Posted in BS 25999, Improve Your Business Practices | Leave a comment

Is your information security up to snuff?

Posted on April 29, 2011 by D'Ardenne Associates, Ltd.

Two recent information security breaches show there’s a lot on the line when proper management standards aren’t in place.

First, a database at Epsilon, which manages email databases for leading brands, was breached, releasing names and email addresses of millions of consumers. And in Texas, unencrypted personal records of 3.5 million residents were exposed for more than a year after they were copied onto a server accessible by the public over the web.

Imagine having to explain those mix-ups to your stakeholders!

The best way to avoid a fate endured by the likes of Epsilon and the State of Texas is to first recognize the many potential pitfalls of information security. Just think about all the guarded information you need to run your business – customer data, employee information, sales contacts, competitive intelligence. The list goes on.

No matter the size of your company, a data breach can have far-reaching implications, including loss of time, money, productivity and client confidence.

But with the right processes and controls in place you can avoid pitfalls that are making headlines.

Be sure to get help. Our upcoming ISO 27001:2005 courses are a great way to bring some security to your vital information.

Posted in ISO 27000 | Leave a comment