Three ISO 9001 myths that stop small firms even trying

Mountains of paperwork, big companies only, must hire a consultant. None of them are true.

Plenty of small manufacturers would benefit from ISO 9001 but never start because of what they've heard about it. Here are the three myths we hear most.

Myth 1: You need a mountain of procedures

You don't. The standard asks for very little in the way of written procedures. It asks you to keep the documents you need to work consistently, and the records that prove you did. If your team can make the product right every time without a written instruction, you may not need one.

Myth 2: It's only for big companies

A ten-person workshop can be certified. The system scales down: fewer people, fewer processes, a shorter audit. Certification bodies price by headcount, so small firms pay less too.

Myth 3: You have to hire a consultant

Plenty of small firms do it themselves. What you need is a clear explanation of what each clause is asking for, an honest look at how you already work, and some templates so you're not starting from a blank page.

A consultant can save time, but you're the expert on your own business. The best systems are written by the people who run the work.

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