Originally published on October 5, 2020; updated on September 22, 2022
Would you like to know how you can increase your company's competitiveness? Find out what a quality certificate is and how you can get one.
Quality Certification: Boost Your Company's Competitiveness
One might think that the quality of a product or service is a rather ambiguous—or at the very least subjective—concept. And, certainly, it can be, since it depends on the criteria used to measure it. For this reason, there is the quality certificate which makes it possible to standardize the criteria so that we can evaluate the quality of a service or product.
Globally, the most widely recognized organization in this regard is ISO International Organization for Standardization, which in turn is made up of organizations in more than 160 countries. ISO's goal is to facilitate, at the international levell, the exchange of all kinds of products and services, and is responsible for issue quality certificates for this purpose.
Although it may not seem so at first glance, the ability of a company or organization to certify the quality of its products, allows you to expand your customer base and increase your competitiveness in the market. And, from the consumers' perspective, it helps to build trust in the product you are about to purchase or the service you intend to receive; plus, these certifications generally place a high priority on customer satisfaction. Next, we'll find out What are quality certificates?, how to get them, and what they're used for.
Photo: eqssa.com
What are quality certificates?
To understand the importance of quality certificates, first, it's important to know exactly what they mean. Well, it's a document that guarantees and certifies a company's quality when it comes to to manufacture a product or provide a service. This certification confirms that quality standards are met at all times and that the products are suitable for sale to consumers.
How do you obtain the quality certificate?
To obtain the document that certifies certification It is essential to have a certification body to verify that the company in question meet the standards of the ISO standard. Specifically, the process consists of three phases: documentation, evaluation, and grading. In the final phase, when the result is obtained the grade, if this is suitable, the quality certificate. Otherwise, the institution offers a detailed report listing the errors that have been found.
Once you've passed, you enter a cycle of periodic renewal, as provided for in certification regulations. Typically, quality certificates are issued on an annual basis, with audits conducted as needed, and the quality certificate may be revoked. During these audits, various aspects will be re-evaluated such as customer satisfaction, leadership, and future growth and improvement goals.
Photo: sgmconsultores.com.mx
What is the purpose of quality certificates?
Nowadays, having a quality certification for a company is almost essential, since it serves to enhance prestige and reputation of the company in the eyes of its potential customers or other businesses. The requirement to renew certification ensures that the following are carried out: improvement procedures which has a direct impact on the quality of the final product or service.
To summarize, it can be said that quality certifications They are used for:
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Ensuring Internal Organization This establishes the tools and processes necessary to maintain quality.
- Secure contracts with large companies or multinational corporations, since most of them require companies to hold ISO 9001 certification or certifications specific to the product or service.
- Bidding Processes with Government Agencies since in the Contracts Act For the public sector, the requirements include the need to have “certification of compliance with quality assurance standards” and “certification of compliance with environmental management standards”—that is, the certificates ISO 9001 y ISO 14001.
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Create brand prestige for potential customers. Having a quality certification instills confidence in prospective customers a sense of security and prestige.
Expand knowledge about the quality certificate It's possible with the Master's Degree in Quality, Environment, and Safety in Construction from Structuralia through which students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill the roles of quality, environmental, and occupational safety and health manager through the application of standards ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 widely used and recognized.
