• remove waste (cost) from their operations
• reduce their business risk
• streamline/get more value from their ISO Systems

Although many Clients of ISO Support Group are "ISO 9001 or ISO 14001" registered companies... is not as important as the fact that they are all trying to run a profitable business.  They need to drive out waste and improve all of their processes... from Strategic Planning to frontline Problem Solving.  They are typically small to medium sized companies (with some multinationals as well) that sell a broad range of both products and services in various markets.  They tend to be market leaders in their respective industries with strong management teams driving their business strategies, and who understand that using disciplined processes helps them "out-execute" their competition.

Our Clients recognize the value of employing proven tools as a way to improve processes, but struggle with:

Misunderstanding of Management System Models (such as ISO and Malcolm Baldrige) and the requirements within them:
Wrong assumptions and misinterpretations of what is really required results in an overbuilt, overly complex management system that narrowly focuses on only the core operations of the business, with a piecemeal approach used in the other functional areas.

Ineffective Problem Solving/Root Cause Analysis:
Problem Solving is documented using a standard form Management Review meetings that provide only a one-way flow of information to the Management Team, turning it into a history lesson rather than an interactive discussion where critical business decisions are made. 

Unproductive Management Review meetings:
Management Review meetings that provide only a one-way flow of information to the Management Team, turning it into a history lesson rather than an interactive discussion where critical business decisions are made. 

Internal Audits that use a lot of resources:
Internal Audits that pull key people away for extended periods of time, generating results of questionable business value.  Findings from audits identify gaps that initiate time consuming corrective actions that have minimal impact on improving business performance... in fact business performance can actually suffer in many instances.

Too much paperwork and record keeping:
Excessive quantities and increasing levels of detail have crept into the management system documentation, resulting in unproductive activities, reduced flexibility in how the business operates, and growing resistance from employees.

Disconnect between ISO and how they run their business:
Buy-in for ISO varies widely across the organization.  Lack of understanding of what this tool is and why it's needed, causes fear and resistance to using it.  The end result is two sets of books being kept describing how the business operates, with an unclear connection between the two.

Waste (and as a result... costs) have crept into your business processes:
Producing or preparing materials before they are needed, waiting on other activities before the process can function, excessive handling and movement of materials and information between processes, equipment and technology overkill for the task at hand, excess inventory, excess motion, defective products/services and under utilization of employee skills, are examples of waste that has crept into your business operations.  It has been there so long that no one questions why it exists and rarely is it viewed as "waste" that could be eliminated.  The costs associated with these "wastes" are accepted by everyone and even built right into the financial formulas/reports that have evolved over time.

Continual improvement is stated but not really practiced:
Continual improvement is a critical ingredient in the strategy of the company, but putting words into action has been difficult to practice.  There isn't alignment between the priorities of the company and what each employee is focused on.  There is a lack of a framework or process to follow, with everyone working hard in their respective areas but showing little in the way of tangible movement towards the destination.  

Next... learn more about how ISO Support Group works to address these challenges...

Below is a partial listing of our Clients: