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Founded in 1994, IMSM adds value to businesses
by raising the standards of their quality and environmental
management systems. For an affordable fixed fee, IMSM
provides flexible and fully-integrated solutions using
ISO international standards – from initial consultation,
through to production of appropriate management systems
and documentation manuals.
Certification and independent assessment can be provided
through IMSM’s sister company, QAS International
Limited. Together, they make obtaining and retaining
ISO certification simple and straightforward and have
helped more than 5,000 small- to medium-sized businesses
around the world achieve ISO certification.
The improvements that these systems make to business
operations are significant and affect every aspect of
an organisation – raising standards, improving
effectiveness and enhancing business performance.
The main standards that IMSM helps businesses to implement
are:
- ISO9001–Quality
- ISO14001–Environment
- OHSAS 18001 & 18002–Occupational Health
& Safety
- ISO/IEC 17799–IT Security
Why are standards important?
Every business works to a system, according to the needs
of the organisation. By examining the system objectively,
and carefully documenting the process, making efficiencies
where identified, and doing this against an international
standard framework, a company can gain significant improvements
on both increased profit, and lower operating costs.
Once certified, the company is more likely to win additional
business, and will generally be running a much “tighter
ship”.
In a recent survey commissioned by IMSM, an analysis
of the main problems facing businesses revealed that
over 80% of these were in areas where certified management
systems can help. These included poor quality control,
staffing problems, purchasing policy problems, process
management and cost control.
What are the standards?
ISO9001:2000 is an internationally-recognised quality
management system that adds value through improved efficiency
and less waste. Holding the standard, especially over
several years, results in increased efficiency, flexibility
of skills within the organisation, and gives access
to more valuable customers.
ISO14001–Enlightened business owners are taking
the view that implementing sensible environmental management
systems not only saves valuable resources, but can actually
reduce costs by enabling the businesses, large and small,
to run more efficiently. The benefits include lower
distribution costs, control of waste management, and
savings in consumption of energy and materials. Additionally,
companies which hold this standard enjoy a positive
corporate image among regulators, customers and the
public.
ISO/IEC17799:2000 is a management system which identifies,
manages and minimises a range of threats to business
information. It provides guidelines for implementing
a constructive risk management process, setting up policies,
and ensuring a secure infrastructure is in place. This
standard shows that a business has taken preventative
measures to protect clients’ confidential data,
and demonstrates to customers and prospects that the
business is observing a duty of care.
OHSAS 18001 works on the same principle as the ISO
standards. It shows that the company has taken all reasonable
measures to minimise risks and prevent accidents. By
reducing and eliminating the likelihood of minor incidents,
which cause disruption and delays, substantial savings
can be made. Taking preventative measures to protect
employees helps recruitment in a competitive world.
The standard provides a framework for legal responsibilities,
and insurance companies recognise it as a means of reducing
risk, and hence premiums. Prospective customers and
supply chains also value responsible suppliers.
Supporting businesses
IMSM supports thousands of businesses around the world
to achieve these and other industry-specific standards.
Here are two examples:
WCS Environmental
WCS Environmental Ltd was formed in 1987 and offers
a diverse range of products and services, including
water treatment, air monitoring and waste management
– incorporating everything from bacteria tests
on vending machine water to the installation of high-quality
water plant for manufacturers of computer components;
and from toxic fume analysis to the provision of new
ventilation system installations.
In 2002, WCS Environmental merged with Gower Chemicals
Ltd and they now manufacture specialist water treatment
chemicals at a newly commissioned treatment facility
in Swansea. With health and safety, microbiological,
engineering and chemical skills at their disposal, WCS
Environmental offers wide-ranging expertise. Their customers
include major PLCs, health authorities, building operation
and mechanical maintenance companies.
It was therefore important for WCS Environmental not
only to be ISO9001 registered, but also to gain certification
for ISO14001 Environmental Management. As Mike Sullivan
explains: “By achieving certification to ISO 14001
Environmental Management Systems, the company ensures
they are in total control of all aspects of their own
Environmental Management, and fully compliant with current
legislation requirements. As we had already achieved
ISO9002, the certification process was relatively easy,
allowing several of the ISO14001 requirements to be
integrated with existing procedures. The help and support
given by IMSM in helping WCS was excellent.”
Slide Products
Originally founded in 1953 by Percy Harms to provide
mold release solutions for the plastic manufacturing
industry, Slide Products has been based at its current
location in Wheeling, Illinois, since 1974. Today, a
network of 200 fully-trained local distributors provides
customers with on-site technical support and standard
one-day shipping to nearly any point within the US.
Slide Products remains dedicated to formulating high-quality
industrial products and processing aids that make manufacturing
tools and equipment more productive. And they are as
focused on delivering the highest level of customer
service as they always were. In April 2004, the company
further demonstrated its commitment to quality when
it achieved ISO9001 certification with the help of IMSM.
Slide Products’ Sales Manager, Michael Muth, explains:
“Many of our customers are Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive
suppliers. Consequently we have been asked more and
more often whether we have ISO9001:2000 certification.
We saw ISO as an opportunity to gain a leg up on our
competition.
“Additionally, Slide Products was the classic
case of a company that did things for the sole reason
that we had always done them that way. The ISO programme
gave Slide a reason for and a means to change our methods.
We have used ISO as a tool to increase departmental
communication and to enact procedural change in all
departments from production to shipping to order processing.”
Mr Muth continues: “The ISO certificate has
also opened up sales doors. Cost savings from increased
efficiencies, reduced scrap, and reduced rework volume
has helped to offset the commodity price increases we
have experienced. IMSM’s ISO program was much
faster than we expected, taking just six months from
start to certificate. The programme was also turnkey
with very easy document preparation.”
For more information, visit: Website:
www.imsm.com
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