Most businesses agree that quality is important, but they don't all take the necessary action to make it part of their everyday processes. They may implement the basics but they fail to provide adequate quality management system training.
Whilst your staff may understand what's involved in theory, they have no clear guidance on what you expect from them. That, in turn, leads to confusion, fear, dissatisfaction and reduced productivity.
Quality Management System ISO 9001
If you are planning to implement Quality Management System ISO 9001, it is vital you include sufficient training. The best way to achieve all that is to work with management consultants who specialise in ISO management systems.
So why is quality so important? Couldn't you get away with selling inferior products at a lower price and still make a profit? Not so much these days. As well as competing with similar businesses on your own turf, you are also battling with cheap overseas imports.
And while consumers expect some imports to be of an inferior nature, they expect nothing less than top quality from Australian businesses. In fact, they will pay extra for that.
Cheap vs Value
True! We are starting to see this trend in Australia. It doesn't apply to every customer, of course. But many are willing to pay a few extra dollars if it means the product will last longer. They understand that the words 'cheap' and 'value' are not the same thing.
The USA is ahead of us on this, so it provides a useful model. For nearly a decade now US shoppers have put quality above price. This is particularly relevant in the food industry. A study by IBM showed more than 70% of shoppers considered quality more important than price when they were food shopping.
By contrast, 80% of British shoppers identified value, quality and price as deciders when choosing products.
Quality Management System Training
It's important to remember that it is a buyer's market now. They have plenty of choice and will vote with their feet if they don't like what you're offering. The best way to avoid that is by implementing Quality Management System ISO 9001.
It's all about meeting your customers' expectations. They expect quality products, that are fit for purpose, and excellent customer service. Putting your team through quality management system training will ensure the latter.
The advantage of working with management system consultants is that they have up-to-date knowledge and expertise in those areas, while you may not. But it definitely pays to shop around. A plethora of management consultants have popped up over the last couple of years, so look for one that's been around for longer.
Increase Productivity
If you are planning to take Quality Management System ISO 9001 all the way, and achieve certification, it's advisable to choose a consultancy run by qualified management system auditors. That way you will achieve the best results faster.
Quality management system training offers your organisation many benefits. Empowering your employees with the knowledge they need will boost productivity and help you retain good people. Both the quality of your products and customer service will improve, which will lead to more customers.
It's a simple formula, and one you can easily implement with a little professional help.