ISO 9001 Basics: Complete Beginner’s Guide to ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems — Requirements

ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) is an international standard that helps organizations ensure they meet customers and other stakeholder needs within statutory and regulatory requirements related to a product or service. ISO 9001 is held by thousands of businesses in Australia, we’ve helped them get Certified with minimal disruption, reducing project costs and raising revenues.

In this guide to ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) for beginners, you’ll learn:

·       What is ISO 9001 and why it is important?

·       Reasons for use?

·       ISO 9001 QMS Policy Best Practices

·       ISO 9001 Certification Best Practices   

·       How to best Prepare for ISO 9001 : 2015 Certification

·       Common Technical ISO 9001 QMS Issues

·       How to Track & Measure ISO 9001 QMS Performance Evaluation, Compliance Evaluations and Report Results at Management Review Meetings.

·       Additional ISO 9001 Considerations (such as industry specific applications of the standard and ISO Best Practices)

What is ISO 9001 and why it is important?

Over one million organizations worldwide are independently certified to ISO 9001, making it one of the most widely used management tools globally.

Contents of ISO 9001:2015 are as follows:

·       Section 1: Scope

·       Section 2: Normative references

·       Section 3: Terms and definitions

·       Section 4: Context of the organization

·       Section 5: Leadership

·       Section 6: Planning

·       Section 7: Support

·       Section 8: Operation

·       Section 9: Performance evaluation

·       Section 10: Continual Improvement

Similar to its predecessor, ISO 9001:2008, the layout of the current version of the standard follows PDCA (plan–do–check–act or plan–do–check–adjust) principles. PDCA is an iterative four-step management method used in business for the control and continuous improvement of processes and products.

The ISO 9001:2015 management system standard helps ensure that consumers get reliable, desired quality goods and services. This further increases benefits for a business.

Over time, various industry sectors have wanted to standardise their interpretations of the guidelines within their own marketplace. This is partly to ensure that their versions of ISO 9000 have their specific requirements, but also to try and ensure that more appropriately trained and experienced auditors are sent to assess them. Some examples include:

·       The TickIT guidelines

·       AS9000 is the Aerospace Basic Quality System Standard

·       PS 9000, QS 9000, ISO/TS 16949 now referred to as IATF 16949:2016 are the various Automotive Quality Management Systems

·       TL 9000 is the Telecom Quality Management and Measurement System Standard

·       ISO 13485:2016 Medical devices

·       ISO/IEC 90003:2014 Software engineering

·       ISO/TS 29001 is quality management system requirements for the design, development, production, installation, and service of products for the petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas industries

·       ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems

·       ISO 17025:2017 is the Quality Management System applicable only to Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Reasons for use?

Proper quality management can improve business, often having a positive effect on investment, market share, sales growth, sales margins, competitive advantage, and avoidance of litigation.

We've got the answers - Call our ISO 9001 Certification helpline now

ISO 9001 QMS Policy Best Practices

The ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems standard requires the development a Quality Policy. A Quality Policy is a document developed by management to express the commitment of top management with respect to quality.

Section 5.2 of the ISO 9001:2015 standard requires a written, well-defined quality policy that is communicated and understood by all stakeholders and interested parties. Need help developing a Quality Policy for your business? Call ISOsafe 1300 789 132.

ISO 9001 Certification Best Practices

Before the certification body can issue or renew a certificate, the auditor must be satisfied that the company being assessed has implemented the requirements of sections 4 to 10. Sections 1 to 3 are not directly audited against, but because they provide context and definitions for the rest of the standard, not that of the organization, their contents must be taken into account.

Common Technical ISO 9001 QMS Issues

An organization applying for ISO 9001 certification is audited based on an extensive sample of its sites, functions, products, services, and processes. The auditor presents a list of problems (defined as "non-conformities", "observations", or "opportunities for improvement") to management. If there are no major non-conformities, the certification body issues a certificate. Where major non-conformities are identified, the organization presents an improvement plan to the certification body (e.g. corrective action reports showing how the problems will be resolved); once the certification body is satisfied that the organization has carried out sufficient corrective action, it issues a certificate. The certificate is limited by a certain scope (e.g., production of golf balls) and displays the addresses to which the certificate refers.

How to Track & Measure ISO 9001 QMS Performance Evaluation, Compliance Evaluations and Report Results at Management Review Meetings.

The organization should determine the methods and frequency for monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation of Performance Evaluation. Does this all sound like too much work? Call ISOsafe now to get help with your ISO 9001 accreditation.

Additional ISO 9001 Considerations (such as industry specific applications of the standard and ISO Best Practices)

So if you’ve gotten this far, you should know a lot of information about how ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems.

What should you do next? Call ISOsafe on 1300 789 132 to get started on your ISO 9001 Certification.

Construction Supplier Register (CSR) – Supplier of Construction Works Pre-qualification Help

We help businesses and employers register with the Department of Treasury and Finance, Construction Supplier Register Prequal. Call ISOsafe to get started today - 1300 789 132

The Construction Supplier Register (CSR) pre-qualification scheme gives businesses and employers access to Victorian government building and construction projects.

To be an eligible contractor/supplier businesses and employers must be suitably qualified and experienced. This means you will be required to hold current Architects Registration Board registration or Victorian Building Authority practitioner registration.

The Buying for Victoria Contractor/Supplier Registration involves considering eligibility for many categories. Each category may be further divided into sub-categories that may define areas of expertise or competency. Some categories may include a project limit defining the highest project value an applicant may perform.

Categories for suppliers of construction services include:

·       Acoustics

·       Architectural

·       Building Condition Assessment

·       Building Surveying

·       Civil Engineering

·       Communications

·       Construction Management

·       Contamination Testing

·       Contract Management

·       Drafting Services (Architectural)

·       Electrical Engineering

·       Energy Management

·       Fire Protection

·       Fire Safety Engineer

·       Geotechnical

·       Interior Design

·       Landscape Architects

·       Mechanical Engineering

·       Project Management

·       Quantity Surveying

·       Structural Engineering

Help and Support

ISOsafe provide assistance to businesses and employers looking to become CSR Approved Contractors/Suppliers. We have assisted many businesses just like yours gain Supplier of Construction Works Pre-qualification, in Victoria.

The Construction Supplier Register has a long list of requirements. ISOsafe understand this can be time consuming and sometimes confusing for businesses and employers. This is where we help you.

We can assist in the preparation of your Construction Supplier Register (CSR) Application, leaving you to do what you do best – running your business.

We can assist with the following areas of your Buying for Victoria Construction Supplier Registration

·       The identification and selection of pre-qualification category or categories;

·       Gathering and preparing information, including:

o   General information: Business name, contact person, address, Australian Business Number (ABN) and Australian Company Number (ACN) (where applicable) and size

o   Details of registrations such as Registered Building Practitioner, where applicable

o   Architects only – details of Architects Registration Board of Victoria registration

o   Examples of current and past projects undertaken and reference checks

o   Occupational health and safety documents. Where your current documents may be insufficient, we can prepare a complete Occupational health and safety management system for your business to help you comply

o   Insurance information

o   Financial information

o   Industrial Relations (IR) and Employment issues

Don’t get left behind. We provide you with the support and guidance needed to get your business Construction Supplier Register (CSR) accredited.

Call ISOsafe on 1300 789 132 to get started today with your CSR Application.

iCare (NSW Workers Compensation) Employers Quick Reference Guide

If there has been a serious Workplace injury, illness, dangerous incident or death, contact SafeWork immediately.

Notify iCare of an injury or make a Claim

As an employer, you need to notify your claims service provider within 48 hours of becoming aware of a work-related injury or illness.

EML is icare's default provider.

iCare’s Lodgement Form can be accessed here.

Immediately after becoming aware of a Workplace Injury

When you receive a notification of a workplace injury, there are some things you must do as an employer, including:

    provide first aid and make sure the injured person gets the right care

    notify us of any injury or illness within 48 hours

    record the injury in the register of injuries

    maintain contact with your employee and support the injured person to recover at work

Notifiable Incidents

If a notifiable incident occurs, you must notify SafeWork NSW immediately. Significant penalties apply if you fail to notify an incident.

A ‘notifiable incident’ relates to:

    a fatality

    a serious injury or illness

    a dangerous incident

Keep an Incident Register

Even if an injury doesn’t result in a workers compensation claim, you need to keep a record of what happened. ISOsafe call this the “Incident Register”. The register must be kept in a readily accessible place in the workplace.

We also recommend recording ‘near misses’ as a means of injury prevention. While this is not required under the legislation, it’s considered best practice for worker health and safety.

The register must include the following details of each injury:

    name of the injured worker

    the worker's address

    the worker's age at the time of injury

    the worker's occupation at the time of injury

    the industry in which the worker was engaged at the time of injury

    the time and date of injury

    the nature of the injury

    the cause of the injury

The register of injuries can be kept in writing or on a computer. A record of each notifiable incident must also be kept. Call ISOsafe to setup your Incident Register today – 1300 789 132.

There are penalties for failing to keep a record of injuries.

NSW Workers Compensation Lookup Tool - iCare Verification of Cover

If you want to lookup an employer’s Workers Compensation Registration, iCare offer a handy online tool. All you need is the employers ABN or ACN to access the current Verification of Cover. The iCare lookup tool can be accessed here.

NDIS Provider Support – Fast-Track Your Registration, Free Initial Advice

Free help for business owners with your NDIS questions.

NDIS Registration Help

We help new businesses gain NDIS Registration. We can help with all Steps from NDIS Application through to managing ongoing Compliance with NDIS Audit requirements.

Call Us Today to get started – 1300 789 132

We assist business of all sizes – from sole traders to large companies employing many staff.

Call our NDIS Provider helpline. We offer free initial advice to business owners about the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission regulations to help you get back to business.

We help you better understand The NDIS Rules and Practice Standards.

3 steps to access ISOsafe’s specialist advice:

·       Call our NDIS Helpline.

·       Describe your problem and we'll help solve it with straightforward, general advice.

·       We can also meet with you at your workplace to discuss how ISOsafe’s services can help you navigate complex NDIS requirements.

ISOsafe helps NDIS Providers thrive.

We can help with all NDIS Standards, Registration Groups and Modules.

The Core Standards:

·       Rights of participants and responsibilities of providers

·       Provider governance and operational management

·       Provision of Supports

·       Support provision environment

Registration Groups with specific Modules:

·       Module 1: High intensity daily personal activities

·       Module 2: Specialist behaviour support

·       Module 2A: Implementing behaviour support plans

·       Module 3: Early childhood supports

·       Module 4: Specialised support coordination

·       Module 5: Specialist disability accommodation

We offer complete NDIS Policy Management and Compliance. Call us today - 1300 789 132

JobKeeper Payment for Employers and Employees - JobKeeper Application Extension

The Australian governments $1500 per fortnight wage subsidy eligibility has been announced, but first, a little background:

The JobKeeper payment is intended to assist businesses affected by COVID-19 with the costs of employee wages.

The JobKeeper scheme ends on 27 September 2020.

Eligible employers will receive $1500 per employee, per fortnight, but only if they have paid wages of at least that amount in the fortnight.

Employers must register for the scheme to participate. Applications open on 20 April and close on 31 May – get started today call ISOsafe on 1300 789 132.

Employer Frequently Asked Questions

Does your organisation qualify?

Your business will qualify for the scheme if:

·       On 1 March 2020 you, operated in Australia; and

·       Your business satisfies the decline in turnover test

Additional information can be found on the ATO website.

As an employer you will be eligible for JobKeeper scheme if you can demonstrate ‘decline in turnover’:

·       The businesses projected turnover for a turnover test period is lower than the actual turnover recorded in the comparative period; and

·       The shortfall, expressed as a percentage, equals or exceeds the percentage fall thresholds.

Alternatively, if the business falls short of the edibility criteria for the ‘basic’ test, there is a second test. This test does not have any specific thresholds but does state that if there is not an appropriate relevant comparative period, the Commissioner, who administers the scheme, can determine an alternative decline in turnover test that is appropriate for the business and can be applied.

Will the test require recalculation for each month to remain eligible?

No. If you work out that you qualify in the initial reference period then you do not need to apply the test again. You will be eligible to participate for the duration of the JobKeeper package.

So if my business does qualify for JobKeeper how much will I receive?

If you can demonstrate that you are paying your employees more than $1500 per fortnight payment prior to JobKeeper going live you will be able to apply and receive $1500 per employee per fortnight.

So which employees are actually eligible? Who can I claim for?

An employee is deemed eligible if:

·       They are employed at any time in the fortnight period

·       They are over 16 years old

·       They are permanent or permanent part time employees or casuals for more than one year

·       They are an Australian resident or a resident for tax purposes and a Subclass 444 visa holder

There are some instances where team members are deemed not eligible. These include where parental leave pay is payable to an individual in the fortnight, or if any time in the fortnight the individual is paid partner pay or they are incapacitated for work and due to receive workers compensation payments and the amount payable overlaps with a JobKeeper fortnight.

Also any employee that you employed after 1 March 2020 and any employee that left your employment before 1 March 2020 would not be eligible.

Additional information can be found on the ATO website.

Is there anything I need to do with my employees before I enrol to receive JobKeeper?

Yes, employers need to notify each eligible employee that you intend to nominate them for JobKeeper and they must agree to be nominated. The employees agreement is received by them completing the employee nomination form which can be found on the ATO website. The filled form is to be kept on each employee file by the employer – there is no need to return this into the ATO.

How do I enrol my business to receive JobKeeper?

Use the ATO Business Portal to submit your application from 20 April 2020 by:

·       notifying the ATO your business intends to participate in the JobKeeper scheme; and

·       providing the employee details that are being claimed for.

Detailed step-by-step information can be found on the ATO website.

Do I continue paying my employees?

For employees that are currently being paid, they need to continue to be paid at least $1500 a fortnight for you to claim the $1500 from JobKeeper.

For employees that were terminated and have been reinstated, or employees that have been stood down and reinstated you need to pay them at least $1500 per fortnight for the duration of the scheme.

The amounts that you pay your staff members will be matched by receipts of funds from the Government.

How to remain eligible for JobKeeper?

The business must report, via a form on the ATO website, what the business’s actual revenue was for the reporting month and their expectation for the next month. This must be done within 7 calendar days after the end of the reporting month. The business is also required to update their eligible employee numbers at the end of each JobKeeper fortnight.

When will I start receiving JobKeeper payments?

The ATO has committed to paying the JobKeeper payments no later than 14 days after the relevant fortnight ends.