Obtaining International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification is imperative to showcase the company’s commitment. It sets benchmarks and guidelines that help businesses achieve worldwide consistency, efficiency, and operational excellence. Studies have shown that profits can rise by as much as 5% through implementing these standards.
When choosing a third-party logistics (3PL) provider for your fulfillment and logistics requirements, it is essential to consider various factors. An important criterion to prioritise is ISO 9001 Certification, which signifies adherence to operational standardisation and quality within the industry. Seeking this certification before delving into further inquiries is a wise approach to ensure the fulfillment provider meets the necessary standards.
The ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organisation responsible for developing standards that guarantee products, services, and systems’ quality, safety, and efficiency. ISO certification signifies that a management system, manufacturing process, service, or documentation procedure meets all standardisation and quality assurance requirements.
The organisation must conduct regular internal audits to obtain and retain ISO certification annually. These audits are a mandatory requirement of the ISO standards and play a vital role in ensuring the effective implementation of processes within the organisation’s management system.
For instance, the ISO certification we currently hold at I-Fulfilment are
ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001.
ISO certification covers a broad range of standards and requirements. Here are some of the common types of ISO certification:
The ISO 9001 certification ensures the organisation’s adherence to a robust Quality Management System (QMS). ISO auditors review and verify the completeness of documented information related to departmental activities in delivering quality products and services. It is a widely adopted standard applicable to all industries seeking to enforce quality in their offerings.
The ISO 14001 certification verifies that your organisation’s Environmental Management System (EMS) aligns with applicable environmental regulations. Organisations can demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable practices, fostering trust among stakeholders and enhancing their environmental performance.
The ISO 45001 certification ensures compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) management system. It helps organisations proactively mitigate risks, prevent accidents, and promote the safety of employees and stakeholders.
ISO 27001 confirms the organisation’s Information Security Management System (ISMS). It focuses on ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information handled by the organisation.
The most reliable source for learning about new, revised, or updated ISO standards is directly from ISO itself. Being the organisation responsible for setting these standards, ISO is the authoritative and most credible source of information.
Being certified by the ISO signifies that the business has undergone an audit conducted by an independent third party, confirming that they comply with the latest quality process standards established by the ISO. This certification demonstrates that the processes operate efficiently, effectively and align with international best practices, commonly referred to as “The Standard.”
ISO industry standards will bring these advantages to your business:
The requirements of a QMS are designed to establish efficient and scalable procedures. This guarantees that the system consistently processes orders precisely and punctually regardless of the order volume. This aspect holds particular significance for sellers encountering rapid growth or seasonal spike.
A crucial aspect of ISO 9001 certification is enhancing the overall quality and efficiency of an organisation’s operations. Standardising processes ensures that the same steps are followed consistently across different fulfillment centers or operational units within the 3PL organisation. This consistency minimises errors, reduces confusion, and improves coordination between teams working in different locations.
Quality checkpoints are established during the fulfillment process, and any detected errors are logged into a system. A separate Quality Team reviews these errors, develops corrective action reports (CARCs), and ensures the implementation of corrective measures across all fulfillment centers.
This feedback loop helps improve operational processes continually. Shipping time is also crucial, with predefined deadlines for order fulfillment and shipment agreed upon in customer contracts. Real-time order management systems allow tracking and transparency, ensuring the fulfillment company meets its contractual obligations.
The QMS mandates that every outcome, whether positive or negative, must be documented by the 3PL. It ensures that sellers can measure the efficiency and accuracy of their 3PL and have confidence in the data, which adheres to the highest standards. Service level agreements (SLAs) between sellers and 3PLs often include performance metrics such as order accuracy and shipping times.
ISO emphasises a corrective feedback system, enabling error visibility and operational corrective actions to address documented errors. This mechanism fosters continuous improvement, maintaining a high-quality standard and providing a means to measure error rates.
Obtaining ISO certification establishes confidence from customers and throughout all departments of a 3PL organisation. The certification ensures that each department adheres to rigorous quality standards while being adaptable to accommodate clients’ evolving business needs.
Successful 3PLs are those that strike a balance between meeting the specific requirements of their customers and complying with the ISO process standards. This approach fosters excellence and enables the organisation to deliver high-quality services while maintaining flexibility in a dynamic business environment.
I-Fulfilment takes great pride in holding ISO certification. Our strict adherence to ISO standards enables us to consistently deliver high-quality products and services to our valued clients. Through this certification, we establish a robust quality management system that allows us to continually assess and enhance our performance in all areas of operation.
We remain devoted to surpassing customer expectations, and our ISO certification constantly reminds us of our mission to provide nothing short of excellence. At I-Fulfilment, we are committed to sustaining this quality and look forward to continually enhancing our services to better serve our clients.
You can explore the I-Fulfilment range of services to learn more or look at the numerous companies we collaborate with to provide excellent logistics support. Contact us to discuss how we can help and contribute to your company’s growth and success.