John Butler Law

ISO 9001 Accreditation: Selecting a Supplier

The purpose of ISO 9001 accreditation is to be able to ensure that only suppliers with an acceptable level of quality are selected to provide the organisation the quality goods and services. The standard also provides guidelines on how to select an appropriate supplier.

Here ISO 9001 sets requirements in respect of the information that suppliers should receive in order to understand the organisation’s (as a customer) needs. It also provides guidelines as to which products offered by suppliers should be verified as meeting the needs of the customers of the organisation.

The standard points out that the supplier should be aware of the organisation’s quality requirements and suggests that both parties consider working together to make sure that these requirements are met. In order to do this, there are several questions that should be asked:

  • What are the specific goods and services that the organisation is purchasing?

  • What will the impact that these products and services have on your organisation be?

  • What risks does the organisation face if there were to be problems with the product / service?

  • Do you have a guarantee that the product / service that you receive will actually meet your requirements?

  • Do you know the performance history and reputation of the supplier?

  • Do you have confidence in the supplier’s ability to provide the organisation with quality assured products and goods consistently?

  • Is ISO 9001 conformity important to the organisation? If so, how can the organisation ensure that the supplier implements a QMS that conforms to the ISO 9001 requirements?

  • Does the supplier’s QMS cover the supplier’s products and services? It may be necessary to request a copy of the original certificate to determine this.

Once all the questions have been answered, the organisation has a better idea of the extent of quality assurance that the supplier can provide. If the organisation is committed to quality, the supplier can be asked to provide a declaration of conformity or the original certificate of ISO 9001 accreditation to assure the organisation of their dedication to quality.

Of course this also works the other way around. It the organisation is a supplier of goods and services, the organisation will be required to meet the requirements of the standard to obtain ISO 9001 accreditation.

All consumers demand some or other level of quality from their suppliers. Even though they may not always ask for proof of the ISO 9001 accreditation, it is always advisable to be committed to quality and obtain the accreditation for future reference.