May 28, 2024
Popular ISO standards for the manufacturing industry
If you are a manufacturing company looking to adopt ISO certification, it can be challenging to know which standard is right for you. Ultimately, it depends on what you are trying to achieve. To help you make that decision, we share the most popular ISO standards with our existing manufacturing clients.
How can ISO certification help your manufacturing company?
ISO certification brings a whole host of benefits, and each ISO standard will have its own key focus, whether it’s focusing on the quality of your products and services, reducing your environmental impact or improving health and safety in your organisation. However, some common benefits across all ISO standards that manufacturers can expect to see include:
- Enhanced credibility and reputation in the marketplace
- Regulatory compliance
- Improved operational efficiency
- Cost savings
- Risk mitigation
- Improved customer satisfaction and loyalty
- Improved employee engagement and retention
- Access to new markets and business opportunities
- Facilitates continuous improvement and innovation efforts
Popular ISO standards within the manufacturing industry
Here are the three most popular standards amongst our existing manufacturing clients:
ISO 9001 Quality Management StandardÂ
There is no doubt that if you are new to the world of ISO certification, ISO 9001 is a great place to start. Not only is it the world’s most popular Standard, but it is also the foundation which many others are built upon. This makes integrating multiple ISO standards easy, meaning you can boost the benefits seen from ISO certification. With this in mind, it is of no surprise that 85% of our manufacturing clients have adopted ISO 9001, and around half have done so alongside another ISO standard.
Quality control is essential for any manufacturing business, and ISO 9001 is just the standard to help you consistently deliver high-quality products and services to your customers. The Standard looks beyond your organisation, ensuring consistency and reliability throughout your entire supply chain through a focus on building strong supplier relationships. Not only will this improve your customer satisfaction and loyalty, but it will enhance your credibility and widen your market potential. ISO 9001 also takes a proactive approach to risk management, helping manufacturers to identify and mitigate risks quickly. Not only will this enhance your operational efficiency, but it will reduce waste in the process.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard​
Over recent years, sustainability has been a hot topic which will only continue to increase over the next few years. Currently, 40% of our manufacturing clients have already adopted ISO 14001, and we expect to see this grow with the increased focus on environmental issues and the UK’s ambitious plans to hit net zero by 2050.
Manufacturers play a key role in supporting net zero targets, which is why the Government plans to cut emissions from manufacturing by around two-thirds by 2035. ISO 14001 will help you stay ahead of regulatory requirements and provides a structured framework for managing your environmental responsibilities. With ISO 14001, you will identify the aspects of your business which impact the environment and take positive steps to reduce this. As customers become more environmentally conscious, you’ll also enhance your reputation in new and existing markets, particularly with customers who are prioritising responsible suppliers.
ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Standard
According to the HSEs 2023 report on manufacturing, 2.9 million working days are lost each year in the manufacturing industry due to workplace injury (20%) and work-related illness (80%). That’s equivalent to 1.1 working days lost per worker! When it comes to reducing incidents like these, 20% of our manufacturing clients have created safer working environments with the help of ISO 45001.
ISO 45001Â provides a framework for improving occupational health and safety and promotes a safety culture within your organisation. Not only will this demonstrate your commitment to employee wellbeing, but it will help you comply with legal and regulatory requirements too. This will ultimately save you time and money by reducing the number of incidents related to workplace injuries and illnesses.Â
Want to learn more?
If you are interested in learning more about how ISO can help your business, we recommend booking a discovery call with a member of our team. Alternatively, you can contact our team directly on 0330 058 5551 or by completing our online contact form.
