In manufacturing, quality products and services make a difference in the level of success a company can experience. For many manufacturing operations, seeking out a quality certification is a way to not only hold themselves to a quality standard but also to let their customers know about the quality level at which they operate. There are many reasons why quality certifications matter to manufacturers.
For starters, what is a quality manufacturing certification?
A quality manufacturing certification is a certification that manufacturing companies can receive, typically through third parties, that certifies that the company is keeping up with the industry’s quality standards. In most cases, an organization will set the standard and will then accredit certain companies to be able to give out the quality certifications. It is rare that an organization will both create standards and issue certifications. These certifications vary in specificity, some being broad and others being specific to an industry.
Quality certifications are beneficial to manufacturing companies for a variety of reasons. Manufacturing certifications instill a sense of trust in a company from customers or potential customers. They ensure that the company is serious about meeting or exceeding regulations and the industry standard.
Regarding the industry standard, these certifications are all about setting a standard. They are an easy way for customers to find potential suppliers. Certifications make it easier for customers to pick a supplier because they require less research or investigation of a company’s trustworthiness or reliability. In fact, quality certifications are one of the top factors that B2B buyers take into consideration when looking at suppliers.
Quality certifications can also help a company’s operational efficiency. Common improvements within an organization can include consistency, better focus, waste reduction, and cost savings. Working on achieving a quality certification will have a positive impact on company culture as well. The process brings everyone in an organization together to meet common goals. It is a team effort to go through the steps it takes for an organization to achieve a quality certification. By working together, the process of quality certifications can build a stronger and more focused team.
Because of these benefits, after a company is certified, it is important to present the certification in a way that is easily found by customers. What’s the point of having the certification if no one can see it? An easy way to do this is to include it on the company website or to have a page dedicated to certifications. These quality certifications are sought out by customers, so having them be easily accessible is crucial.
There are many different quality certifications available to manufacturing operations globally. Each of these certifications has value depending upon the type of operations. One of the more prominent certifications is ISO.
ISO is a well-known quality certification. ISO’s goal is to ensure a company will provide high level of consistency in their product and service quality. ISO, like many other certifications, has benefits both internally and externally for a company. When a customer is getting a product from an ISO certified company, they know exactly what they are getting. When a company follows ISO guidelines, they can improve the way their company runs overall.
What is the benefit of a quality certification, such as ISO, to manufacturing operations? Tom Foy, Global Director Training & Process Management at Radwell International, has a lot of experience with ISO certification. He has spearheaded and managed ISO Certifications for all Radwell’s locations worldwide. He believes that certifications are beneficial because “when you have a quality certification it means that you really focus on your customers and that is first and foremost why you’d want one. But the other part that is underlying is when you have a quality certification it means you are also looking at all of your internal processes, and if you’re doing that, you’re always trying to improve them. So, you’re trying to improve them for who? Well, for your customers.”
Quality certifications are not easy to obtain. They require a huge commitment from management and employees within and organization. They are also a goal to be proud of when quality certification is achieved. When it comes to quality certifications, the benefits can be invaluable for not only growing a business but establishing trust and credibility with current and future customers.
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