ISO 9001 Certification: Benefits for Businesses in Bangladesh

ISO 9001 is a globally accepted standard for Quality Management Systems or QMS. It provides a framework for organizations to ensure that they constantly deliver goods and services that satisfy customer requirements.

For businesses in Bangladesh, achieving ISO 9001 certification is highly beneficial because it enhances their operational effectiveness, product quality, and international reputation. Here is more detail on the objectives of ISO 9001 certification for businesses in Bangladesh and those who benefit from it.

The Purposes of ISO 9001 Certification for Businesses in Bangladesh

Improved Quality: Improving the quality of products and services is one of ISO 9001’s primary goals. This means that companies must implement a quality management system (QMS) that systematically controls and monitors all quality-related processes. By adhering to these recommendations, businesses can significantly reduce errors, improve product dependability, and ensure customer satisfaction. And these are very important in today’s competitive market.

Increased Efficiency: ISO 9001 fosters operational optimization by utilizing resource efficiency and streamlined procedures. This covers everything, from improved personnel training to improved supply chain management. These improvements can result in significant savings on expenses and more flexible operations for Bangladeshi businesses. These also allow them to react quickly to changes in the market and demands from customers.

Global Recognition: Being ISO 9001 certified can open doors to new markets and clients, both domestically and internationally. This certification is a mark of quality and reliability, which can be a factor in procurement decisions. For businesses in Bangladesh looking to expand their footprint, ISO 9001 can provide the necessary credibility to compete on a global scale.

Who Can Benefit from ISO 9001?

In Bangladesh and globally, the most popular ISO is 9001. ISO 9001 certification applies to companies of all sizes operating in a variety of areas and is not limited to any one industry. For example,

Manufacturing: Manufacturing companies can improve their production processes, maintain product quality, and satisfy customer demands with the support of ISO 9001. It includes a wide range of manufacturing industries, such as consumer goods, electronics, and the automobile and aerospace sectors.

Service Industry: ISO 9001 can be used by service-oriented businesses to improve customer satisfaction, service delivery, and operational efficiency. Some of these businesses include healthcare, hotels, IT services, education, and financial services.

SMEs: The ISO 9001 certification can provide SMEs, particularly, with a competitive edge. It enables not only process simplification but also customer trust-building and market access.

Government Agency: Government organizations stand to gain a great deal from this standard since it offers a systematic framework for quality management and increases public service delivery’s effectiveness, accountability, and transparency.

ISO 9001 Certification Process in Bangladesh

There are several steps to achieving ISO 9001 in Bangladesh. Here is a brief overview of the steps in the ISO certification process.

1. Gap Analysis: First of all, your organization should go through a thorough gap analysis to identify your current business practices. Also, it includes whether there is any gap between your existing systems and ISO requirements. If there is any gap, take corrective action to comply with standard requirements.
2. Documentation: The next step is to document all your existing policies, procedures, and processes. For proof that the standards have been adhered to, documentation must be kept, criteria for quality must be established, and a quality manual must be prepared.
3. Implementation: After completing the documentation, you put the changes and improvements identified during the gap analysis into action. This involves integrating the QMS into your daily business operations and ensuring that every employee is aware of and obedient to the established protocols.
4. Audit: A series of audits is conducted to verify the efficiency of the implemented QMS. Generally, 3 types of audits are mandatory:
   1. Internal Audit: Internal audits are carried out to ensure compliance is maintained and pinpoint areas that still need improvement. If any issue is found during this phase, it must be solved.
   2. External Audit I: External audits are conducted by A certification body in two stages. At first, the authority will review your submitted documentation and certification readiness.
   3. External Audit II: After reviewing the documentation, the certification body will perform a more comprehensive on-site audit of your business. If your organization passes this phase, the certificate will be provided, otherwise, feedback will be provided containing corrective actions that must be fulfilled.

This is just a short note on the ISO certification process. You can contact HMS Universal for a detailed outline and consultation. For your kind information, let us know how we will assist you in each step of the ISO certification process.

• Gap Analysis: Our professional and expert team will conduct a thorough gap analysis of your current business activities. We also offer pre-assessment audits.
• Documentation: We offer our clients guidelines and document templates to ensure that your documentation meets all standards.
• Implementation: HMS provides consulting services, including staff training on new procedures, to help you smoothly integrate the QMS into your operations and to provide ongoing support throughout this phase.
• Audit: Our experts and professionals can help you navigate the internal audit procedure and get ready for the external audit.

ISO 9001 Certification Services We Offer

Hermitage of Management & Standards, the best ISO consultancy company in Bangladesh, provides several ISO certification services, including:

• Consultancy: Our expert professionals provide you with in-depth knowledge of ISO standards, which standards best suit your organization, requirements for certificates, and answers to your questions. These will help you understand the ISO well.
• Gap Analysis: This in-depth gap analysis service helps your organization understand its current position and its lack of meeting ISO criteria. The gap analysis also reduces costs and problems in the ISO certification process.
• Documentation Support: We provide guidance on how to prepare and develop QMS documents and document templates so that you don’t need to worry.
• Training on Implementation: We have a dedicated expert team to assist your organization with implementing the necessary changes identified in the gap analysis. Our team also guides and trains your employees and helps integrate the QMS into your day-to-day operations.
• Audit preparation: HMS offers its clients pre-assessment and internal audit support. This helps your organization verify whether everything is on track or if anything needs to be changed to align with the ISO requirements.

Cost of ISO 9001 Certification in Bangladesh

The cost of ISO 9001 certification in Bangladesh may vary depending on several factors, such as the organization’s size, number of sites, types of certificates, complexity, etc. The cost may be between 1.5 lakh and 3.5 lakh BDT.

We suggest you please book a free consultation with us (+880 1731-727172) to learn more about the specific costs according to your organization’s position and requirements.

Why You Choose Us for ISO 9001 Certification?

Some other companies offer ISO 9001 certification services in Bangladesh. But why should you choose HMS limited? Without a doubt, we are the best ISO consulting firm in Bangladesh, with an expert team and reputation in the industry.

Since our formation, we have successfully completed many projects with the country’s leading organizations, such as Walton, Mobil, First Security Islami Bank, GSRM, Akij Flour Mills, Summit Group, Mercantile Bank, etc. Learn more here.

We have a team that is very capable of handling ISO 9001 issues and complexities. Our team members have been serving the industry for more than a decade with great expertise and prominent customer support.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long does it take to get certified?

Answer: This differs from organization to organization, depending on the organization’s size and complexity. Normally, it takes 3-6 months to get ISO 9001 certified.

2. What documents are required?

Answer: The documents required for ISO 9001 certification are a trade license, export-import licenses, other legal licenses, a quality manual, procedures and policies documentation, etc. These vary depending on the standards.

3. Can a small company benefit from ISO 9001?

Answer: Yes, ISO 9001 certification has significant benefits for small companies. It increases productivity, enhances customer satisfaction, and streamlines processes. It provides an edge over competitors, increasing customer trust and business growth.