As an ISO consultant, I frequently encounter businesses that believe a gap analysis is essential before starting an ISO project. But in my experience, traditional gap analyses often provide little real value, and sometimes, they even distract from what really matters.     Gap Analyses: Who Are They Really For? Most businesses operate with one goal in mind: making money. ISO compliance is important, but it isn’t the driver of daily decisions. Companies already manage operation

Internal audits are a core requirement across ISO standards, but many businesses treat them as a formality. If you're preparing for an external audit or just trying to make your internal audits more effective, watch out for these common pitfalls: 1. Auditing Your Own Work Even in small teams, audits must be objective. If independence isn’t possible, introduce peer review or rotate roles. 2. Using the Same Checklist Every Time Audits should evolve. Static checklists miss emer

When organisations approach ISO certification, one of the most overlooked but vital requirements is the setting of quality, environmental, or health & safety objectives. Too often, these are written once and filed away — rather than used to drive real operational improvements. In fact, ISO 9001:2015 (Clause 6.2) is clear: objectives should be measurable, monitored, communicated, and updated as appropriate. But what does this mean in practice? Good Objectives Are: Aligned wit

ISO 17012, which was published in July 2024, provides useful guidance on the application of remote methods in auditing management systems, and is applicable to other types of audit and assessment. It is intended for use by 1st, 2nd and 3rd party auditors, and supplements the guidance provided in ISO 19011 and the requirements in ISO 17021 Part 1 for certification bodies. The document fulfils two primary functions, firstly in providing guidance as to how to get the most from t

In 2025, the world of business is faster, more connected, and more competitive than ever. Keeping customers happy and staying ahead of the curve is no small feat. That’s where ISO 9001 comes in—a framework that helps businesses stay on track, adapt, and deliver consistent quality. What Makes ISO 9001 So Important? ISO 9001:2015 isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about building a culture of quality—making sure customers get what they need, when they need it, and how they exp

A question we're asked a lot when we use the term 'IMS'..... This blog should hopefully provide you with an overview and understanding of an Integrated Management System (IMS). An Integrated Management System (IMS) is a comprehensive approach that combines multiple management systems into a unified framework within an organisation. It aims to streamline and harmonise various management systems to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance. Traditionally, org

The Phase 2 Report of the public inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people, was published earlier last month and is expected to have a significant impact on the construction industry.   The report concluded that the fire resulted from decades of failures by central government and other bodies in positions of responsibility in the construction industry to thoroughly assess the risks of using combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise resi

We've been in this situation many times where we find ourselves competing against pre-written document toolkits. This month we decided to outline some of the benefits and pitfalls of toolkits vs using consultants. The benefits/pitfalls include: As consultants, we do 95% of the work involved in building the system v the client sifting through a mass of policies, procedures, forms etc We do not over-write systems i.e. we don’t make them more complex for what the business needs,

ISO Systems UK are a registered provider for NBSL’s North East Business Support Fund helping businesses to improve their competitiveness. Find out more at https://nbsl.org.uk/nebsf   Process Summary  -  The below image provides an overview of the Client Journey and highlights what NBSL need from you as the providers of the services. This can also be downloaded here: download here If you would like to speak with us prior to applying for funding, you can contact us via our dedi

Hiring a consultant to assist with an ISO 9001 project can provide several benefits to an organisation. Here are some key advantages : Expertise and Knowledge: ISO 9001 is a complex standard that requires a deep understanding of its requirements and implementation best practices. A consultant specialising in ISO 9001 can bring valuable expertise and knowledge to the project. They are familiar with the standard's intricacies, interpretation, and practical application, which c

ISO management standards are a series of internationally recognised frameworks that can assist you to manage your business processes more effectively. Independent third-party certification to ISO Standards is evidence that you conform to the ISO management standard(s) that you wish to adopt. ISO certification can give your organisation local, regional, national & international credibility. Is ISO certification right for you? - This is quite a simple Process...    If you answe

ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System What is ISO 9001? I SO 9001   was the very first universally recognised management system standard adopted by over one million organisations in one hundred and seventy countries around the world.    The standard has been successfully implemented organisations large and small, in manufacturing and services in business and public sectors. In industrialised, developing and transitional economies.       ISO 9001 certification can easily b

Assisting the world's largest pure-play contract logistics provider with 3 standards – ISO 9001:2015 | ISO 14001:2015 | ISO 13485:2016 Back in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic we were tasked with implementing 3 x ISO standards into the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider Clipper Logistics (Now part of GXO), those standards were ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and the stringent regulatory standard for medical devices, ISO 13485. The organisation successfully passed

Any tender will be measured on price and on various aspects of service delivery and quality, so it is easy to envisage the positive impact that having ISO 9001 can have on your business’ chances to win a tender. ISO 9001 is the international standard for a quality management system (“QMS”) to demonstrate your ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements and to demonstrate continuous improvement. So here’s a few reasons w

We spend a lot of time researching and listening to our clients and so called 'experts' in the field of ISO Standards and thought, well hoped that we could clarify a few things and help dispel many common miss-conceptions associated with the perception of auditing management systems. Myth 1; "The auditor is only interested in our procedures." Buster 1; A good auditor will be more interested in the process behind the procedures, how effective these are and how they have been

I spend a lot of time researching and listening to clients and so-called 'experts' in the field of ISO Standards and thought, well hoped that I could clarify a few things and help dispel many common miss-conceptions associated with the ISO Standards. Here a few of my favourite picks: Myth 1; "We need to write procedures for everything that we do for ISO 9001" Buster 1; No, the ISO 9001:2015 standard no longer requires any documented procedures. Where a procedure may benefit,