9 mins read
More and more market-leading businesses are recognising the importance of management systems to key business functions and understand the significance of certification – it’s their proof point that gives them the competitive edge.
There has been a considerable increase in management systems certifications recently, reinforcing their importance in the market.
In this blog, we will uncover:
- What is Driving an Increase in Management Systems Certifications?
- The Importance of Management Systems
- How Certification Works
- 8 Step Implementation Plan
Download these free, supportive resources:
- 5 Steps to Certification – 1 Step Closer to Winning
- Guide to Understanding Management Systems
- Four Steps to Implement an ISO Management System
What is Driving an Increase in Management Systems Certifications?
The 2020 ISO Survey of Management System Standards has revealed a 17% increase in certifications from the previous year. Almost a quarter of a million additional certificates were reported in the period of the survey, with over 1.5 million valid certificates for management systems standards recorded in total.
So Why the Increase In Uptake?
SAI Global’s Australian Business Survey revealed some insights into how businesses have responded to the various challenges they’ve had to navigate since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Of the more than 300 Australian executives surveyed, over 75% of them had implemented make-or-break decisions for the survival of their business.
According to that survey, “businesses are currently struggling to meet customer expectations and as a result, are experiencing reduced business opportunities (14%), poor internal culture (11%) and high staff turnover (11%).” Those results reflect uncertain times but are also encouraging in their demonstration of action shown by businesses to stabilise and secure their future.
In times of vulnerability, implementing measures that ensure stability and consistency should always be considered as best practice. This approach is most certainly what fuelled the recent increased uptake of certifications. When reviewing the statistics of certification adoptions, it’s easy to see where businesses’ key challenges lay.
Cybersecurity concerns have increased considerably in the more vulnerable post-COVID environment – a reality reflected in a 22% increase in ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems certifications.
Environmental Management, and quality management also got increased attention for obvious reasons in a pandemic, with a 12% increase of ISO 14001 certifications and 4% increase on ISO 9001 respectively. The ongoing discussions around climate change would certainly be motivating this, as well as a drive for a stronger and more sustainable future for their business.
The most notable result however was a 393% increase of businesses certifying to ISO 45001 to improve and standardise their Occupational Health and Safety systems. The main driver for this increase was the deadline for organisations globally to migrate from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001 by September 2021.
5 Steps to Certification – 1 Step Closer to Winning
Management systems are important tools for supporting competitive organisations that must adhere to legal and tender requirements for production, services and business activities. Savvy companies adopt standards to gain a competitive edge, manage and optimise risks, improve performance & transparency and fuel a culture of continuous improvement. What Management Systems are
The benefits of a Management System
Certifying your Integrated Management System
The 5 steps to certification
The four most popular ISO Standards
Download this whitepaper to get an introduction to management systems and certification, and more specifically understand:
The Importance of Management Systems?
A management system is a key tool in helping to streamline your business processes and build-in efficiency. Implementation of the appropriate management system and certifying to the appropriate standard to your business improves business performance and embeds safe and sustainable practices into your operations. On a practical level, it demonstrates your capability to meet the needs of your customers and in doing so, empowers your business to improve its relationships with them too. An effective management system looks at managing and optimising risks, improving performance and transparency, and fuelling a culture of continual improvement. Implementation of the standard for that system is often the key driver to customer’s expectations being met around the quality or trustworthiness of a business.
This can be achieved by adopting management system standards and getting ISO certified. Taking this approach is not just about box ticking either – for many businesses adopting management standards is a fundamental part of their growth strategy. By ensuring consistent improvement to their products and services as well as efficiency and performance, they secure a more robust and sustainable business, which in turn achieves the goal of meeting or exceeding customer expectations.
Below is a list of the most common standards adopted by businesses looking to align with international best practices, and accelerate business growth:
ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems
An Environmental Management System is a set of business processes and documentation that control the conditions and factors that affect, or could affect the environment (including; air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, human, and their relationship) to protect the environment and respond to change in environment.
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
A Quality Management System based on the ISO 9001 principles is a set of business processes and documentation that focuses on the enhancement of customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.
ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
OH&S Management System is a set of business processes and documentation that control the conditions and factors that affect or could affect the health and safety of workers (including temporary workers and contractor personnel), visitors, or any other person in the workplace, to avoid their ill health and/or injury.
ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems
Organisations and their information systems are at risk of security threats from sources including; fraud, espionage, sabotage, and natural causes. ISO 27001 enables organisations to align with global best-practice for information security management. It offers organisations a robust and practical framework to assist with the improvement of information security, focusing on the preservation of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
Step 1: Getting Started
- Purchase the relevant management systems Standard
- Appoint an internal business champion to oversee implementation
- Undertake optional training or engage an experienced external consultant for effective implementation
- Build and start to implement your management system Standard
Step 2: Applying for Certification
- Contact SAI Global and discuss your requirements
- We work with you to build a proposal and appropriate timeline
- Perform a self-evaluation in preparation for establishing your system documentation
Step 3: Certification
- A Stage 1 Audit or readiness review of your management system is performed within 3-6 months from your Gap Analysis
- A Stage 2 Audit is performed to verify the implementation across all sites, is conducted 3-6 months from your Stage 1 audit
- Upon successful completion, SAI Global will complete a submission and application with JAS-ANZ and provide you with a certificate.
Step 4: Maintenance
- Ongoing organisational improvement and maintenance needs to be evaluated through periodic internal audits and reviews
- SAI Global will conduct a shorter Surveillance audit periodically to ensure ongoing compliance
- A Recertification Audit is conducted every three years to ensure your full system is compliant
Step 5: Maximising Certification
- Show off your success!
- Market your certification for brand and promotional benefits
- Compete in Defence and Defence Primes’ tenders
- Share with Stakeholders and Shareholders
8 Step Implementation Plan
Once you have adopted the appropriate Standards for your organisation, you should follow a structured and systematic approach to implement your management systems. This includes developing documentation to meet business and standards requirements, training staff and implement systems in the business, conducting internal audits, and management review meetings.
Effective Management Systems focus on the organisation’s performance, where key priorities and objectives are clear, and the system compliments business processes.
Below is an 8 step guide to assist with this process:
- Provide awareness and training
- Define strategic objectives
- Design and document processes
- Implement the new processes
- Conduct a gap analysis
- Assign corrective action to any gaps identified in the previous step
- Have a certification audit via your chosen Certification Body
- Continually measure, monitor and review
Why SAI Global
We’re here to help you build a world-class, globally competitive and sustainable Australian Industry today.
With over 25 years of experience and a global reputation built on first-class delivery and technical support. SAI Global continues to successfully partner with industry, including suppliers and contractors, throughout their assessment and certification process – while making the process as seamless and simple as possible.
Adding value is at the core of our business and our processes. Let us show you how assessment and certification can add value to your business.
Australia-wide, delivering over 60,000 audits each year, your local SAI Global team is equipped to support your unique requirements.