Date: November, 2017 | Category: Compliance | Author: Marvin Magasura
One way companies can ensure high-quality standards is by demonstrating to accredited organizations that they can fulfill specific QMS requirements.
Founded in 1947, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is in charge of promoting and setting worldwide guidelines for propriety, commercial, and industrial standards.
Currently working with over 160 countries, ISO has become the world’s largest promoter of international standards and a reference in almost every sector of the manufacturing industry.
Created in 1994, the ISO 9000 family is a series of QMS standards designed to help companies meet both customers’ and stakeholders’ needs while at the same time meeting specific product statutory and regulatory requirements.
Specifically, ISO 9000 lays down the fundamentals for every QMS, including the seven fundamental quality principles upon which the whole family is based. However, only ISO 9001 exposes the requirements that companies wishing to fulfill the standard must meet.
Looking for Process Change? Think ISO 9000
Every company needs change, but in the midst of implementing it, only a few of them think about ISO 9000. It is mostly perceived as a purely technical standard that only specific industries have to deal with. But for the experienced business owner, the Geneva-based International Standards Organization (ISO) occupies a prominent place within the company’s strategies and policies, especially when those policies involve process changes.
The strict guidelines provided in the ISO 9000 standards help companies develop a quality management system (QMS) that fits their particular situation. Basically, ISO demands strict adherence to its quality system model coupled with thorough documentation of certain processes. Independent internal audits are also held regularly in order to review the company’s system, and if everything checks out, the certification is issued.
Highlights of ISO 9000
The ISO 9000 family has become one of the world’s largest promoters of quality standards in almost every sector of the industry.
Here are some of its leading traits:
- ISO 9000 guidelines focus mainly on quality but can be applied to all types of organizations.
- They are widely adopted in more than 100 countries.
- They have global recognition with more than 1 million company certifications worldwide.
- ISO 9000 helps all types of companies, no matter their size.
- Since they come from previous standards that have been replaced, they are the true form of evolution in the industry.
- The first step in becoming certified is to decide to create an effective QMS that complies with ISO criteria.
- Companies have to set specific objectives based on ISO guidelines and then make the necessary adjustments.
- Once all ISO requirements are satisfied, the company is held to independent audits for verification.
- The process is done once the company passes the audit, but certification only lasts three years, and in that time the company must go through additional inspections to ensure compliance.
How to Get Started
Companies wishing to be certified have to deeply examine their quality management system – or even create a new one – to make sure it meets the criteria of the ISO. This mission shows the company’s desire to satisfy its customers, reduce costs, and enter a more competitive market while also adhering to government regulations.
If you’re still not sure whether you want to implement a new system or just improve the one you already have, there are countless benchmarking tools that can help you decide. Most companies will also seek advice from specialized firms that help businesses fulfill ISO 9000 requirements.
One frequently asked question a lot of first-time companies raise is how to determine if a given standard actually complies with ISO criteria. You can consult with the World Standard Services Network, a publicly accessible site for standard organizations, to answer these types of questions.
Most newbie companies are also unclear about the existence of any regional standards that are equivalent to ISO 9000. Although the ISO doesn’t publish this type of information, an ISO member in your country will likely be able to give you this information.
Structure Your Quality Management System
ISO 9000 requires certain documentation regarding all processes that could affect the quality of your product or service. It also demands keeping records of specific activities as evidence of compliance and contrasting the actual results with what was planned. Finally, it requires the integration of a program that deals with any identified inefficiencies in your processes.
At first sight, it can all seem a bit confusing and time-consuming, but with a lot of organization, any company can get ISO 9000 certification. One of the best approaches to structure your QMS is to use the step system:
- First Step: Develop a Quality Manual, e.g., create and document policies that aim to satisfy all the standard requirements. This manual should describe your entire quality policy, including your mission, organization, specific policies, and responsibilities for each part of your company. Well-written quality manuals can also provide the benefit of acting as an advertisement for the quality of your services or products.
- Second Step: Document all of your processes. It includes their purpose, what will be done, when, how, where, and by who. Additional descriptions can also include the equipment used.
- Third Step: In this final step, you have to identify the word instructions, specific forms, procedures, inspections, records, test plans, and quality plans.
With a proper QMS in place, adequate documentation, and an eventual ISO 9000 certification, any company can be confident that all processes will be made following specific requirements and meet the highest quality standards.
The Future of ISO 9000
As industries change, so do the standards that have shaped them. In fact, this is particularly true when it comes to ISO standards, which undergo periodic revisions. Special analysts state that, while it’s true ISO 9000 standards are continually evolving, recent changes are pointing in the same direction: a standardized format. The main reason behind this comes from the need to align all of the QMS together so they can handle many different standards.
On the other hand, recent ISO 9000 changes are moving toward more impartiality, competence, and consistency. The International Standardization Organization is currently trying to come up with standards where businesses and organizations practice those three principles in all their processes. The final goal is to create an industry where all companies across the globe use and recognize the same quality standards. By doing so, they assure everyone is playing on a more level field.
For instance, ISO 9001 is now one of the most prominent quality management standards in the globe that has been continually changed and revised over the years. The 9001 has moved from being a prescriptive, documentation-heavy guideline to embracing more measurement and increasingly subjective terms. Its revisions enable companies in any sector to adopt it, making it a gold standard for other ISO guidelines and an indicator of how they will evolve in the future.
By integrating the so-called ‘process approach’ – a method the ISO community has embraced in which company tasks are measured alongside coordinated goals – organizations can thoroughly evaluate the efficiency of all their processes by identifying the “weak link” in a sequence of activities. Because the ISO 9001 standard shifted toward the process approach, all of the requirements imposed on a company are now going into each and every one of its processes.
What the ISO 9001:2008 Standard Represents
The 2008 update made to the ISO 9001 standard, commonly referred to as ISO 9001:2008, outlines the main modern quality management principles and requirements companies must meet to emphasize customer satisfaction, including business motivation and continual improvement. Using ISO 9001:2008, companies focus on providing high-quality services and products to their customers, and with over 1 million certifications worldwide, it is currently one of the most broadly used QMS tools available.
The first step to becoming ISO 9001:2008 certified involves initial assessments of the company’s quality system, defining the areas that comply and those in which improvements need to be made. Once that’s been resolved, and everything has been set by the standard, a certification body will then conduct a number of audits to ensure conformance with the requirements.
If approved, the company then has to be subject to a three-year surveillance cycle. As you can see, the certification process can take as long as over a year, yet any company that understands its value knows it is worth enduring this process.
Don’t be Afraid of Internal Audits
Internal audits can be a real nightmare for most companies; however, they’re essential in order to truly examine how quality management systems perform. Because of this, they are also a considerable part of the ISO 9001:2008 certification process.
While some may be reluctant to them, it’s important to keep in mind not only what they can provide to your business, but what it says about it if you avoid them. A few benefits of internal QMS audits include:
- Increase in your business’ revenue
- Valuable feedback that strengthens your QMS
- Promotion of a positive company culture
- Greater product quality
- Better communication and consistency of your company’s processes
- Boost in workplace morale
- Increase your reputation as a company
- Achieve international quality recognition
Why do Businesses Opt for ISO 9001:2008 Certified Companies?
Imagine you’re choosing a new supplier. You will likely look for someone with the following traits:
- Delivers results consistently
- Possess great problem-solving abilities
- Provides a significant return on investment (ROI)
Companies that become ISO 9001:2008 certified already have voluntarily proven all these traits by actively being held accountable for the quality of their processes and operations. The certification also tells future clients they can expect the same high-quality results each and every time. To expand on this, here are the main benefits of working with an ISO 9001:2008 certified company:
Consistency
ISO 9001:2008 certified companies ensure a consistent workflow process every time you choose to work with them. You can even evaluate this by taking a look at the low variation rates these companies offer, which directly translates to product and ordering consistency.
Fast Problem Resolution
Be sure that if any problem arises while collaborating with an ISO 9001: 2008 certified company, the policies, and processes integrated into their QMS will quickly enable a fast resolution of the issue. But the ISO standard doesn’t end with that, it also makes sure the QMS includes a way of collecting and analyzing customer feedback and initiating effective corrective actions. Rather than waiting months for a resolution, an ISO 9001:2008 certified company would already have procedures in place to manage any potential problem that may arise.
Meeting Customers’ Expectations
As we stated before, this is the primary focus of the ISO 9001 standards. Certified companies will know the importance of adopting a QMS that ensures continued quality through the application of preventative measures. When implemented correctly, a good QMS is able to ensure every customer is satisfied while also complying with any regulatory requirements.
Maintaining Certification
An ISO certification is not a lifetime membership. Each ISO 9001:2008 certified company is regularly audited to ensure compliance with the QMS standards. This ongoing process of continued scrutiny actually increases their effectiveness and helps improve final product quality, making these companies an incredible option to work with.
Continual Improvement
By assuring regular audits, the ISO 9001:2008 standard also guarantees that companies evolve and find new ways of addressing different types of issues in order to improve over time. Continual improvement means that all processes must be run efficiently, all policies must be monitored continually, and results must always get better and better.
GlobalVision is an ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company
The ISO 9001:2008 Certification is only given to businesses capable of proving efficient management systems, therefore, companies who work hard on achieving this certification show prospective clients that all of their services and products meet and exceed the highest level of international standards.
To run a business in today’s world not only means that you have to deal with a high degree of competition but also with sky-high customer demands. That’s why complying with ISO 9001 standards has become such a huge advantage right now it can actually make or break the future of your company.
GlobalVision can proudly say it belongs in this group of organizations that offers products specifically built to endure the highest quality standards. We implement and maintain ISO guidelines as a testament to our commitment to our customers and the quality with which we develop all of our systems.
Our ISO 9001:2008 certification provides worldwide recognition for our products, and it’s a testament to our commitment to providing only the best services to our customers.
Are you ready to implement only the best quality management systems into your workflows? Start by requesting a demo of GlobalVision here or try our web-based proofreading software, Verify, for free!
Understanding the Impacts of a Great Label in Marketing
Date: January, 2018 | Category: Proofreading | Author: Marvin Magasura
In a world where consumers have become more discerning of the products they buy, we can’t emphasize enough the importance of marketing labels. Shopping is a process that every business owner needs to understand and the discovery of a product or service starts with an effective marketing strategy.
Marketing efforts must be holistic and all-encompassing. While we are all familiar with conventional marketing methods like print and TV ads, it is essential to understand that a great marketing label is in itself an excellent way to advertise your business.
The Importance of a Marketing Label
Consumers don’t merely shop for an item; they are also buying the brand. If you have been using a brand of detergent for more than a decade now, you must remember that this journey of brand loyalty started somewhere. It could be that you’ve heard of the brand’s radio ads or came across it while flipping through a home improvement magazine. That marks the discovery of the product.
Marketing Labels Breed Familiarity
When a consumer goes to the store, shops for a detergent, and comes across that specific brand they first encountered in that magazine or radio ad, he probably won’t choose to purchase it right away. Instead, the shopper takes out the product, looks, and reads the label. A label reinforces familiarity to consumers, making them feel as if they’ve known this product before.
Marketing Labels Breed Awareness
What if the product is new on the market and doesn’t have any form of advertisement before a consumer goes on a shopping trip? Marketing labels are essential in such a way that they make the first impression on them. It visually connects with consumers, making them aware of what the product is all about. Marketing labels carry vital information about the product such as ingredients, instructions, and warnings regarding the use of the item.
Marketing Labels Can Make a Product Stand Out
Similar products are typically grouped together on the same shelves. When there are so many brands out there, standing out can prove to be a real challenge. Different brands compete and vie for the shoppers’ attention, but those with creative, appealing packaging will ultimately win the battle. It is vital for brands to carefully consider the color, design, fonts, graphics, and all the other elements used in their marketing labels.
Labels Are Onsite Marketing Tools
The goal of your business is to make people buy your goods. They need to think that your product is the solution to their problem and that it is worth the money. Effective labeling pumps your marketing game by being the product’s biggest promotional tool.
Creating Marketing Labels that Sell
Brands go to extreme lengths when it comes to producing labels and packages that make a profound impact on the market. There are no hard and fast rules in making labels that sell, but there are specific fundamental concepts many brands follow when creating useful tags that will ultimately aid their marketing efforts.
Follow these concepts to ensure successful marketing labels:
Give Useful Information More Space:
You want people to instantly see what your product is and what it can do. These are two essential pieces of information in your label that must receive a big chunk of space in the packaging. Make sure that the brand name, product name, and its purpose are prominently visible on the label. You want shoppers to figure out how the product can help them instantly, so make sure that these contents are spot on and concise.
Complement the Aesthetics of the Product:
There are instances when a label needs to be smaller or larger, depending on the aesthetic quality of the product. If you’re showing off fine jewelry, you want the product to stand out right away so make sure that the label doesn’t cover the beauty of the item. On the other hand, if the product is less than pleasing, you can opt for a larger-sized label.
Harmonize Your Design Elements:
Plenty of elements come into play when creating an effective label: the texture of the material, color combinations, fonts, and graphics. Opt for a label that easily stands out among its sea of competitors on the shelf. If most cheese products are using orange and cow images, you won’t do that too because that doesn’t make your product any different. Consumers tend to notice what looks unique, so make sure that your design elements work in harmony together so that the label is easy to spot.
Product Labels for Small Businesses
Start-up businesses may not have as many funds to invest in high-end labels, but tags are a must, even if you need to procure them on a budget. Fortunately, small business owners can still take advantage of what an excellent label has to offer despite their limited finance.
First, labels are easy to come by if you are quite savvy with editing software like Photoshop. Using this program, you can create custom labels that fit in with your variety of products. You can edit sizes and fonts, pick colors, and layout.
Additionally, you will need to create multiple copies of these custom labels. Instead of going to a third-party printing service provider, a reliable advanced business copier can produce high-quality copies of your labels in just a fraction of the time and more than half of the printing costs.
In fact, any small business owner who’s willing to put in the time and effort can save a lot of money from potential labor and material costs by creating their own product labels
Marketing Label Inspection is Crucial
As mentioned before, labels play a vital role in your brand’s reputation and overall success. Therefore, labeling errors can do a great deal of damage to your company, and the inspection of all their components – from text and artwork to regulatory compliance rules – must be a priority.
Fortunately, there’s been a lot of advances in the automated quality control industry. For instance, Globalvision’s all-in-one platform allows companies to prevent any kind of artwork, Braille, barcode, or text errors from the copy document to the final product, no matter the format.
Conclusion
There’s a lot of thought that goes toward even the smallest pieces of a label. Labels can create profound impacts on the brand’s overall marketing efforts and can gravely affect a potential buyer’s decision to purchase. Meanwhile, business owners need to ensure that their product labels cater to what the market needs and prefers. Overall, we have to keep in mind that labels are an integral part of the shopper’s buying journey and you need to make sure that your label makes this process, not break it.
*A Guest Post from Advanced Business Copier
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An Overview of ISO 9000 and ISO 9001 and Why They are Vital for Companies
Date: November, 2017 | Category: Compliance | Author: Marvin Magasura
One way companies can ensure high-quality standards is by demonstrating to accredited organizations that they can fulfill specific QMS requirements.
Founded in 1947, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is in charge of promoting and setting worldwide guidelines for propriety, commercial, and industrial standards.
Currently working with over 160 countries, ISO has become the world’s largest promoter of international standards and a reference in almost every sector of the manufacturing industry.
Created in 1994, the ISO 9000 family is a series of QMS standards designed to help companies meet both customers’ and stakeholders’ needs while at the same time meeting specific product statutory and regulatory requirements.
Specifically, ISO 9000 lays down the fundamentals for every QMS, including the seven fundamental quality principles upon which the whole family is based. However, only ISO 9001 exposes the requirements that companies wishing to fulfill the standard must meet.
Looking for Process Change? Think ISO 9000
Every company needs change, but in the midst of implementing it, only a few of them think about ISO 9000. It is mostly perceived as a purely technical standard that only specific industries have to deal with. But for the experienced business owner, the Geneva-based International Standards Organization (ISO) occupies a prominent place within the company’s strategies and policies, especially when those policies involve process changes.
The strict guidelines provided in the ISO 9000 standards help companies develop a quality management system (QMS) that fits their particular situation. Basically, ISO demands strict adherence to its quality system model coupled with thorough documentation of certain processes. Independent internal audits are also held regularly in order to review the company’s system, and if everything checks out, the certification is issued.
Highlights of ISO 9000
The ISO 9000 family has become one of the world’s largest promoters of quality standards in almost every sector of the industry.
Here are some of its leading traits:
How to Get Started
Companies wishing to be certified have to deeply examine their quality management system – or even create a new one – to make sure it meets the criteria of the ISO. This mission shows the company’s desire to satisfy its customers, reduce costs, and enter a more competitive market while also adhering to government regulations.
If you’re still not sure whether you want to implement a new system or just improve the one you already have, there are countless benchmarking tools that can help you decide. Most companies will also seek advice from specialized firms that help businesses fulfill ISO 9000 requirements.
One frequently asked question a lot of first-time companies raise is how to determine if a given standard actually complies with ISO criteria. You can consult with the World Standard Services Network, a publicly accessible site for standard organizations, to answer these types of questions.
Most newbie companies are also unclear about the existence of any regional standards that are equivalent to ISO 9000. Although the ISO doesn’t publish this type of information, an ISO member in your country will likely be able to give you this information.
Structure Your Quality Management System
ISO 9000 requires certain documentation regarding all processes that could affect the quality of your product or service. It also demands keeping records of specific activities as evidence of compliance and contrasting the actual results with what was planned. Finally, it requires the integration of a program that deals with any identified inefficiencies in your processes.
At first sight, it can all seem a bit confusing and time-consuming, but with a lot of organization, any company can get ISO 9000 certification. One of the best approaches to structure your QMS is to use the step system:
With a proper QMS in place, adequate documentation, and an eventual ISO 9000 certification, any company can be confident that all processes will be made following specific requirements and meet the highest quality standards.
The Future of ISO 9000
As industries change, so do the standards that have shaped them. In fact, this is particularly true when it comes to ISO standards, which undergo periodic revisions. Special analysts state that, while it’s true ISO 9000 standards are continually evolving, recent changes are pointing in the same direction: a standardized format. The main reason behind this comes from the need to align all of the QMS together so they can handle many different standards.
On the other hand, recent ISO 9000 changes are moving toward more impartiality, competence, and consistency. The International Standardization Organization is currently trying to come up with standards where businesses and organizations practice those three principles in all their processes. The final goal is to create an industry where all companies across the globe use and recognize the same quality standards. By doing so, they assure everyone is playing on a more level field.
For instance, ISO 9001 is now one of the most prominent quality management standards in the globe that has been continually changed and revised over the years. The 9001 has moved from being a prescriptive, documentation-heavy guideline to embracing more measurement and increasingly subjective terms. Its revisions enable companies in any sector to adopt it, making it a gold standard for other ISO guidelines and an indicator of how they will evolve in the future.
By integrating the so-called ‘process approach’ – a method the ISO community has embraced in which company tasks are measured alongside coordinated goals – organizations can thoroughly evaluate the efficiency of all their processes by identifying the “weak link” in a sequence of activities. Because the ISO 9001 standard shifted toward the process approach, all of the requirements imposed on a company are now going into each and every one of its processes.
What the ISO 9001:2008 Standard Represents
The 2008 update made to the ISO 9001 standard, commonly referred to as ISO 9001:2008, outlines the main modern quality management principles and requirements companies must meet to emphasize customer satisfaction, including business motivation and continual improvement. Using ISO 9001:2008, companies focus on providing high-quality services and products to their customers, and with over 1 million certifications worldwide, it is currently one of the most broadly used QMS tools available.
The first step to becoming ISO 9001:2008 certified involves initial assessments of the company’s quality system, defining the areas that comply and those in which improvements need to be made. Once that’s been resolved, and everything has been set by the standard, a certification body will then conduct a number of audits to ensure conformance with the requirements.
If approved, the company then has to be subject to a three-year surveillance cycle. As you can see, the certification process can take as long as over a year, yet any company that understands its value knows it is worth enduring this process.
Don’t be Afraid of Internal Audits
Internal audits can be a real nightmare for most companies; however, they’re essential in order to truly examine how quality management systems perform. Because of this, they are also a considerable part of the ISO 9001:2008 certification process.
While some may be reluctant to them, it’s important to keep in mind not only what they can provide to your business, but what it says about it if you avoid them. A few benefits of internal QMS audits include:
Why do Businesses Opt for ISO 9001:2008 Certified Companies?
Imagine you’re choosing a new supplier. You will likely look for someone with the following traits:
Companies that become ISO 9001:2008 certified already have voluntarily proven all these traits by actively being held accountable for the quality of their processes and operations. The certification also tells future clients they can expect the same high-quality results each and every time. To expand on this, here are the main benefits of working with an ISO 9001:2008 certified company:
Consistency
ISO 9001:2008 certified companies ensure a consistent workflow process every time you choose to work with them. You can even evaluate this by taking a look at the low variation rates these companies offer, which directly translates to product and ordering consistency.
Fast Problem Resolution
Be sure that if any problem arises while collaborating with an ISO 9001: 2008 certified company, the policies, and processes integrated into their QMS will quickly enable a fast resolution of the issue. But the ISO standard doesn’t end with that, it also makes sure the QMS includes a way of collecting and analyzing customer feedback and initiating effective corrective actions. Rather than waiting months for a resolution, an ISO 9001:2008 certified company would already have procedures in place to manage any potential problem that may arise.
Meeting Customers’ Expectations
As we stated before, this is the primary focus of the ISO 9001 standards. Certified companies will know the importance of adopting a QMS that ensures continued quality through the application of preventative measures. When implemented correctly, a good QMS is able to ensure every customer is satisfied while also complying with any regulatory requirements.
Maintaining Certification
An ISO certification is not a lifetime membership. Each ISO 9001:2008 certified company is regularly audited to ensure compliance with the QMS standards. This ongoing process of continued scrutiny actually increases their effectiveness and helps improve final product quality, making these companies an incredible option to work with.
Continual Improvement
By assuring regular audits, the ISO 9001:2008 standard also guarantees that companies evolve and find new ways of addressing different types of issues in order to improve over time. Continual improvement means that all processes must be run efficiently, all policies must be monitored continually, and results must always get better and better.
GlobalVision is an ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company
The ISO 9001:2008 Certification is only given to businesses capable of proving efficient management systems, therefore, companies who work hard on achieving this certification show prospective clients that all of their services and products meet and exceed the highest level of international standards.
To run a business in today’s world not only means that you have to deal with a high degree of competition but also with sky-high customer demands. That’s why complying with ISO 9001 standards has become such a huge advantage right now it can actually make or break the future of your company.
GlobalVision can proudly say it belongs in this group of organizations that offers products specifically built to endure the highest quality standards. We implement and maintain ISO guidelines as a testament to our commitment to our customers and the quality with which we develop all of our systems.
Our ISO 9001:2008 certification provides worldwide recognition for our products, and it’s a testament to our commitment to providing only the best services to our customers.
Are you ready to implement only the best quality management systems into your workflows? Start by requesting a demo of GlobalVision here or try our web-based proofreading software, Verify, for free!
Looking for Process Change? Think ISO 9000
Every company needs change, but in the midst of implementing it, only a few of them think about ISO 9000. It is mostly perceived as a purely technical standard that only specific industries have to deal with. But for the experienced business owner, the Geneva-based International Standards Organization (ISO) occupies a prominent place within the company’s strategies and policies, especially when those policies involve process changes.
The strict guidelines provided in the ISO 9000 standards help companies develop a quality management system (QMS) that fits their particular situation. Basically, ISO demands strict adherence to their quality system model coupled with thorough documentation of certain processes. Independent internal audits are also held regularly in order to review the company’s system, and if everything checks out, the certification is issued.
Highlights of ISO 9000
Since their first release in the 80s, the ISO 9000 family has become one of the world’s largest promoters for quality standards in almost every sector of the industry. Here are some of its leading traits:
How to Get Started
Companies wishing to be certified have to deeply examine their quality management system – or even create a new one – to make sure it meets the criteria of the ISO. This mission shows the company’s desire to satisfy its customers, reduce costs, and enter a more competitive market while also adhering to government regulations.
If you’re still not sure whether you want to implement a new system or just improve the one you already have, there are countless benchmarking tools that can help you decide. Most companies will also seek advice from specialized firms that help businesses fulfill ISO 9000 requirements.
One frequently asked question a lot of first-time companies raise is how to determine if a given standard actually complies with ISO criteria. You can consult with the World Standard Services Network, a publicly accessible site for standard organizations, to answer these types of questions.
Most newbie companies are also unclear about the existence of any regional standards that are equivalent to ISO 9000. Although the ISO doesn’t publish this type of information, an ISO member in your country will likely be able to give you this information.
Structure Your Quality Management System
ISO 9000 requires certain documentation regarding all processes that could affect the quality of your product or service. It also demands to keep records of specific activities as evidence of compliance and to contrast the actual results with what was planned. Finally, it requires the integration of a program that deals with any identified inefficiencies in your processes.
At first sight, it can all seem a bit confusing and time-consuming, but with a lot of organization, any company can get ISO 9000 certification. One of the best approaches to structure your QMS is to use the step system:
With a proper QMS in place, adequate documentation and an eventual ISO 9000 certification, any company can be confident that all processes will be made following specific requirements and meet the highest quality standards.
The Future of ISO 9000
As industries change, so do the standards that have shaped them. In fact, this is particularly true when it comes to ISO standards, which undergo periodic revisions. Special analysts state that, while it’s true ISO 9000 standards are continually evolving, recent changes are pointing to the same direction: a standardized format. The main reason behind this comes from the need to align all of the QMS together so they can handle many different standards.
On the other hand, recent ISO 9000 changes are moving toward more impartiality, competence, and consistency. The International Standardization Organization is currently trying to come up with standards where businesses and organizations practice those three principles in all their processes. The final goal is to create an industry where all companies across the globe use and recognize the same quality standards. By doing so, they assure everyone is playing on a more level field.
For instance, ISO 9001 is now one of the most prominent quality management standards in the globe that has been continually changed and revised over the years. The 9001 has moved from being a prescriptive, documentation-heavy guideline to embracing more measurement and increasingly subjective terms. Its revisions enable companies in any sector to adopt it, making it a gold standard for other ISO guidelines and an indicator of how they will evolve in the future.
By integrating the so-called ‘process approach’ – a method the ISO community has embraced in which company tasks are measured alongside coordinated goals – organizations can thoroughly evaluate the efficiency of all their processes by identifying the “weak link” in a sequence of activities. Because the ISO 9001 standard shifted toward the process approach, all of the requirements imposed on a company are now going into each and every one of their processes.
GlobalVision is an ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company
Since its foundation, companies like GlobalVision have been strong advocates for quality control in the packaging world, offering products that are specifically designed, built and released complying with the highest quality standards in the industry. Its ISO 9001:2008 certification provides worldwide recognition to their products, and it’s a testament to their commitment to providing only the best services to their customers.
The Role of Packaging in Supply Chain Management
Date: November, 2017 | Category: Proofreading | Author: Marvin Magasura
The packaging industry is evolving.
We now know that packaging no longer refers to a box or a carton, but rather to a coordinated system of preparing goods for safe, cost-effective, and efficient movement throughout the whole supply chain that eventually leads to maximizing consumer value, sales, and hence profits.
This means packaging also plays an integral role in supply chain management. It protects products from damage, allows for their efficient distribution, communicates to the consumers, and is one of the major product promoters in a competitive marketplace.
In fact, packaging design has recently developed into a mature communication discipline on its own – and clients now realize that packaging is a critical and central element in the creation of an effective brand identity.
Read more
How Your Business Can Benefit from the Sustainable Working Methods that are Changing the Packaging Industry Landscape
As the packaging industry moves towards more responsible ways of working, our team at Bonus Trading, a packaging supplier based in the UK, decided to interview one of the leaders in our industry, UPM Raflatac.
UPM Raflatac works hard to create sustainable practice within their workforce and ensure responsible working methods, and by discussing some of the ways they do this, you can learn how to improve your business too, to offer a better service for your customers and even save money.
For packaging suppliers all over the world, including ourselves, we think looking at the way UPM Raflatac work is key to developing the industry in the right way so that we have a sustainable future, but these concepts and sustainable business practices are applicable to a nearly all industries.
Want to improve your business and turnover? These highlights from some of UPM Raflatac’s best practise will help you learn how those on a small business scale, such as ourselves, can emulate their conduct.
Find out how you can do the same to make your business not only more responsible, but more efficient and cost-effective too.
UPM Raflatac began by explaining some of the main ways they work sustainably and therefore responsibly:
Whilst smaller label and packaging suppliers such as ourselves may not be able to offer a similar service and give new life to our waste and our customers’, we can certainly aim to limit waste production and resource usage, also thus making our process more efficient and cost-effective.
For instance, we can work to make more innovative products, utilising resources more efficiently and improving the production process all along the management line. Along with this, we can also make usage of the following more efficient:
Not only is this responsibility to the environment part of a good work ethic, efficiency just makes business sense – and sustainable working is fast becoming a core trend in the packaging industry as others realize the power of its potential.
In addition to better working methods, there is also a move to create recyclable packaging, to once more reduce waste wherever possible.
But their sustainable working doesn’t just benefit the company:
Bonus Trading spoke to the Senior Sustainability Specialist at UPM Raflatac, Noora Markkanen about the value she has seen the sustainable working methods have on the business:
Noora encourages others in the industry to promote and share sustainable working methods to help improve the quality of business to come. That way, we can look forward to a future where businesses work with the world in a way that means we will be able to produce and reuse for hundreds if not thousands of years to come.
We’ll end on one final comment from the team at UPM Raflatac, on how we as small businesses need to move forward in sustainable working:
Learn More about Sustainable Packaging
Presenting GlobalVision 4.1 for Desktop: New Workflows for Print Production
Having previously pulled out all the stops unifying our apps into a single platform, we’re going further and adding to that all-in-one offering. Presenting our latest desktop release: GlobalVision 4.1. Users can now take advantage of the brand-new Job Wizard and other exciting features to streamline inspections to an even greater degree.
A New Workflow for Easy Inspections
We created the new Job Wizard workflow specifically with users in mind. It’s front and center here and promises to simplify inspections for print production and press operators among many others. It’s just a matter of creating a new profile or selecting one of the default options. Essentially individual collections of pre-set parameters, the profiles enable jobs—possibly comprising multiple inspections at once—to be run more efficiently. The Wizard can be set to launch right when the platform loads. It then guides users step by step through inspections, ensuring everyone in the organization follows set processes and standards.
Faster, Stronger, Bigger, and Better
There’s also the matter of file-loading speeds, which have been improved. With specific regard to PDFs, the PDF Viewer functionality from Version 4.0 has been integrated into the new and improved interface. PDFs are now loaded directly into either the Master or Sample panel. You can then make desired separation and layer adjustments right there instead of in a separate window. It’s that easy!
Quality Control with All the Fixin’s
One of our ultimate goals has been to reduce users’ time spent switching between applications. Previously unifying all our apps was a giant leap forward. The integration of the PDF Viewer in this latest version is now following suit. Furthermore, in Version 4.1, you also have the option to scan in files at the push of a button, without a scanner interface popping up. And, when generating and viewing inspection reports, you can launch the platform’s very own Report Viewer instead of your system’s default PDF reader.
Additional updates include:
GlobalVision is consistently looking for more and more ways to improve users’ efficiency. These are just a select few. Overall, GlobalVision 4.1 can best be summarized as another step in the right direction, with more inevitably to come. Have something you want to see in a future update? Let us know here.
Join the GlobalVision 4.1 Webinar
We have recently released GlobalVision 4.1 for Desktop, and invite you to join our webinar to learn how this new release can help streamline your quality control process.
Out Now: Artwork Creation Guide Standardization for Digital Files
To catch errors, you first need to see them.
Before using GlobalVision to check for mistakes on your files, make sure they’re created the same way. Our Artwork Creation Guide contains insights and easy-to-follow steps to improving the efficiency of your proofreading process.
The second edition of what was known as the standard practice, the guide has been updated and revamped with new best practices to guarantee consistency throughout the file-creation process, right up to the point your product goes to market.
The Gold Standard Practice
The new Artwork Creation Guide has expanded on what made its predecessor so effective. The industry’s best practices have been compiled, based on the first-hand experiences of those who make their livings within it: graphic designers, marketers, packaging specialists, and printers, among others.
Consisting of 11 sections, the guide covers a wide range of topics, including:
A New Resource
The Artwork Creation Guide is available for purchase now in hardcover or as a digital download PDF. It is also included with every GlobalVision support plan. Contact Support for more details.
For quality control to work, the way the product is made should stay the same every time. It’s a generally accepted practice that extends to the above areas and packaging in general. In essence, automation has come to enter into the equation from the get-go.
Proofreading solutions like GlobalVision are quickly becoming the new standard themselves. They are essential to protecting brand integrity, improving time-to-market, and saving company resources. The Artwork Creation Guide is an additional resource at your disposal to help you get the most out of your quality control, and your GlobalVision system. Get your copy today.
Tweet: “For #quality control to work, the way the product is made should stay the same every time #GVBlog”
Preview a Few Chapters for Free
The second edition of what was known as the StandardPractice, the guide has been updated and revamped with new best practices to guarantee consistency throughout the file-creation process, right up to the point your product goes to market.
Learn More about Sustainable Packaging
What to Do When You Find Spelling Errors in Your Print Job
Date: October, 2017 | Category: Proofreading | Author: Reuben Malz
Errors in packaging components arise all the time and are part of the game. They are unavoidable, but, what is a surprise to most people, is that spelling mistakes are the most common.
The largest investment in error avoidance includes expensive inline web inspection systems, cameras, scanners, and most of all, countless hours of manual proofreading time to painstakingly inspect the job. Almost no investment dollars are ever invested to ensure the text copy is free of spelling mistakes. As well, there is hardly any manual proofreading time spent on spellchecking.
Spelling Mistakes in Print Jobs
If this wasn’t bad enough, just ask whose responsibility it is.
The customer may be contracting out the development of the copy, and assume spellchecking is done at that time. Internally, no one will be raising their hand.
Why? Because there are so many companies and their professionals in the downstream supply chain, that surely spellchecking must be done by someone.
The truth is, spellchecking is an orphan in most organizations. This actually should not be surprising at all for the obvious reasons.
This is why spelling mistakes plague so many printed packaging materials.
Misconception #1 – Spelling errors, is part one in a five-part series about the misconceptions in packaging quality control. Visit our blog next week for Misconception #2 – The Printer’s Proof.
Learn More about the Importance of Spellchecking in Technical Writing
What does GlobalVision do?
GlobalVision’s mission is to build software that standardizes quality approvals for product packaging and critical content. Our goal is to eliminate errors and automate inspections so companies can release products with confidence. Helping Businesses Bring Confidence to Quality Control. Learn more about GlobalVision.
What is GlobalVision Quality Control?
Automate Quality Inspections for Fast and Consistent Results. Speed up the proofreading process while improving the accuracy of your work by running digital checks with GlobalVision’s automated quality control tools. Learn more about Automated Quality Control.
File Comparison Software Continues to Be the Gold Standard for Packaging Inspection
Date: September, 2017 | Category: Quality | Author: Marvin Magasura
Business owners and manufacturers know that flawed packages carry a negative message for their brands. An imperfect package is an imperfect business, especially living in a world with customers that have lofty expectations. A simple crooked label can transform people’s views of your brand and possibly change their purchasing decision forever.
Companies around the world place great value on packaging inspection. These quality control regimes must be set in motion in order to spot and reject printing errors, wrinkled labels, or crooked caps before they see the light of day.
Given the fast-paced packaging and manufacturing environment we live in, file comparison software is the ultimate tool that will quickly pay for itself by decreasing your business’ labor costs while also reducing liability due to complete recalls. More importantly, they are unflagging, communicative solutions that can adapt immediately to changing inspection parameters.
What makes file comparison software so effective is the technology and algorithms that allow them to “see” products and inspect them for flaws – all done at high-speed, with near-perfect accuracy. The brain of this solution is the analytic software in charge of processing what the software captures, and comparing it to the stored “ideal” file.
Today’s file comparison technology and other automated systems are so advanced that these solutions can quickly and accurately tally every item, contrast them with ideal images, point to printing errors, and verify barcodes in a matter of seconds.
However, one of the biggest benefits provided by these systems is user isolation. Users don’t need to understand its complex algorithms in order to use them. Through their HMI (human-machine interface), users just have to choose their inspection target, set the parameters, and press “Go”.
File Comparison Software for Complete Packaging Inspection
Besides letting you inspect packaging and products more easily, modern file comparison software can also proof and verify barcodes, alphanumeric codes, and data matrix images.
If you need it, these systems will also check the quality of incoming materials and ensure all steps and processes are done correctly. They can even take care of the quality of your pallet loads before shipping them to a customer. Therefore, because of this complete integration, your whole packaging line will be optimized.
In addition to the increase in inspection accuracy, which will boost your presence in the market, file comparison software can communicate with your business’s computer system and update your production, inventory, and maintenance records. It also provides reports on the total flaws detected. So, if these are higher than your threshold, it will shut down your entire production line until you make the necessary adjustments.
Of course, this level of efficiency in packaging automation varies depending on your needs and the amount of money you wish to invest. The market is filled with different systems that offer a wide arrange of features, from the described above to mere label inspections or barcode reading from the run sheet of the day. The best part is that the majority of them are quite adaptive; You can accommodate them to new products that require different parameters and adjustments.
Key Advantages
User-Friendly
Most, once installed, are very easy to use and require minimal maintenance.
Tech Support
Reputable file comparison software providers usually offer training programs for operators and ensure technical support in case anything goes wrong.
Market Diversity
The current file comparison software market provides a wide range of alternatives, meaning you can choose whichever best fits your needs.
Adaptability
Less-sophisticated solutions do not offer the ability to automate inspection changeovers, but modern high-tech systems can. So, if you run a diverse packaging line with a large variety of products, you can rest assured that you won’t be losing time doing manual changes every time a new product comes along.
The Cost of File Comparison Software
Like any new technology, especially when it comes to file comparison software, a certain initial investment is required. The actual amount depends on many elements, the main one being system complexity. File comparison technology ranges from a simple cloud-based application to physical scanners that use lights, cameras, lenses, and many other parts like servo motors and conveyors that allow for system adjustment to different targets, shapes, and sizes.
However, keep in mind that with any new investment, the words “cost” and “value” don’t mean the same thing. Focusing only on the financial expense of these systems will skew your assessment. Any prospective buyer of a file comparison software needs to weigh in a variety of factors:
● What are the system’s benefits/ features?
● Will I have to rearrange my entire production line?
● Does the software allow for simple in-house modifications in case any new product has to be checked?
● Do I get technical support from the manufacturer?
Add everything up and you’ll get the rough amount you need to spend. Now it’s time to include the prospective savings into the equation:
● Will I have to reduce the number of inspectors and operators?
● If so, will I reassign them to other areas?
● How much will automated packaging inspection boost my productivity?
And, most importantly, but often ignored:
● What will be my company’s financial value be if I get rid of customer complaints and complete recalls due to packaging mislabeling?
One word of advice before you make any decision: Erase any preconceived ideas from your mind. High technology is no longer a luxury that only big companies can obtain. File comparison software has evolved and the market is full of different choices, making packaging automation a gold standard and sophisticated practice available for small and medium companies alike.
Return on Investment for File Comparison Software
Due to the market’s wide diversification, prospective buyers now have a lot to evaluate. Every company considering crossing over to file comparison software should contemplate the implementation costs and possible completeness of their power supply along with its capability to adapt to new products and materials.
In addition, these systems typically provide quick ROIs, mostly because you’ll cut down on staff for manual inspection, not to mention all the savings related to fewer product recalls and fines from delivering flawed products.
Cutting down on staff is a tangible action. Therefore, you’ll get immediate results on your ROI. Decreasing fines and complete recalls are a lot harder to estimate accurately because the incidence of these events usually varies depending on the company, though. As a result, they usually are not considered at all when calculating the ROI for file comparison software. In spite of this, always keep in mind that, in the long run, these intangible forces can positively enhance your brand’s reputation and boost your profits.
The Future of File Comparison Software
In the future, file comparison software will probably advance in several areas. Current trends are drifting towards cost-efficient solutions suitable for all types of companies, but especially for packaging inspection. Advances will include, among others, a boost in system flexibility, an increase in smart technology, and greater software and hardware alternatives.
Just a few years ago we saw how smart cameras began to challenge PC-based vision systems by getting rid of the need for a separate processor. Although they’ve been available for over 20 years, they only just recently became small and affordable enough to justify an investment.
The quality of image sensors is getting better every year too. So, camera manufacturers are spending less time dealing with these types of defects and more on image processing. With the rise of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS), image sensors are also getting smaller, leaving room for developing further processing features, like color-processing, digital zoom, image enhancement, rotation, and much more.
With such high levels of integration and processing capacity, this all-in-one technology was once an emerging trend but now has started to dominate in the market. We are likely to witness more evolution of smart technology in the years to come.
When it comes to the packaging industry, advances in user-friendliness are likely to simplify the setup and usage of these systems even more. Ease of use will no longer imply a point-and-click graphical user interface, but a comprehensive approach with access to all features.
Less training will be needed and people with very different skill sets will be working with these machines, eliminating the need for time-consuming and pricey training programs.
Although prospective users might want to wait for what the future holds, the current file comparison technology developments mentioned throughout this article imply that the future is now. It’s an exciting time, and one for manufacturers and packaging companies to jump on board with packaging inspection automation.
File Comparision Software for Packaging
GlobalVision also has a wide range of packaging scanners available to suit different packaging line needs. They include non-contact scanners for wet-ink press sheets to cylindrical scanners for cans, jars, bottles, and any other type of cylindrical container.
Above all else, GlobalVision offers its Print Inspection tool, which allows for file comparison of printed packaging vs. approved digital artwork. This tool is the perfect solution to avoid reprints and reworks of any kind, due to printing errors like blemishes, smudges, and unwanted marks in general.
Learn More about Quality Management System
Get our guide to learn more about how to stay FDA-compliant with regulatory labeling obligations
Learn how some of the world’s top pharma companies have cracked the efficiency code with automation
The Ultimate Layman’s Guide to Barcode Types and Printing
Date: September, 2017 | Category: Quality | Author: Marvin Magasura
The use of barcodes dates back to the early 1960s, initially deployed within the automotive and railroad industry. In the early 1970’s they were implemented within the retail industry, mainly in grocery stores.
The 1980s marked the period of barcode rules and regulations establishment and they officially became a necessity in all industries. Since then, barcodes have become much more advanced.
What Is a Barcode?
A barcode is an optical, machine-readable, and graphically presented image of a set of product-related data.
The standards, types, and symbologies of barcodes are defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO).
Major industries have a defined set of standards for barcodes. For uncommon industries, which still don’t have defined standards, there are different symbologies to choose from. The choice will depend on the barcode’s purpose and the amount of data that it should contain.
A barcode may contain small to large amounts of data, mapped by basic computer programming languages such as COBOL, QBasic, and Fortran.
The size of the data a barcode can contain depends on the type and the symbology of a barcode. More about that will be mentioned further in this guide.
Generating Barcodes
There are a number of ways to generate barcodes. The way a barcode is produced and printed will largely depend on the available resources of a company and the purpose of the barcodes.
A company may choose to encode and generate its own barcodes, but this requires advanced programming knowledge, advanced software, and an in-house developer.
There is a great online technical in-depth barcode guide with all of the advanced technical information for businesses that choose to create their own barcodes.
Barcode applications vary accordingly to different variables, such as:
● Industry specifics
● Amount of data being encoded
● Purpose of the barcode
● Printing methods
Other ways of generating and printing barcodes are:
• Specialized licensed software for creating and printing barcodes (comprehensive solution for companies that require high-quality barcodes, barcodes with large amounts of data, and industries with strict rules and regulations)
• Free barcode generators (a good option only if the required barcodes have basic requirements)
• All-in-one software for creating and verifying barcodes and labels (best solution for companies looking to automate packaging quality control process, increase time efficiency, reduce errors and risk)
Verifying Barcodes
The verification or inspection of barcodes is carried out through specialized barcode inspection software. This type of software either comes in the form of device-specific barcode verifiers or online barcode verifiers. It’s important to remember that a barcode verifier must comply with the ISO/IEC 15426-1 packaging quality control standards.
Barcode Printing
The way a barcode is printed will depend on the way a barcode is generated and also on the purpose of the barcode.
Some businesses will require barcodes to be internet-compatible.
So, as well as being able to print error-free barcodes, which are physically readable by scanners, barcodes should also be server-compliant, web-page and web-application compatible, compatible with mobile devices, and of high-quality resolution.
Some of the most common barcode printing methods in a trading process are:
• Printing labels with barcodes
• Printing the barcode with the label artwork directly onto the packaging
• Printing directly onto packaging during the packaging process
Barcode Industry Standards
Below are the established barcode standards for the most-common large industries. These standards define the way barcode readers and barcode verifiers scan, read, and test a barcode and are crucial in the process of generating barcodes.
healthcare products, etc.
ISBT 128
goods worldwide
GTIN and GS1
EAN-14
sensitive data
LOGMARS
MIL-STD-130
USPS
ISSN
Bookland
Barcode Types and Symbologies
It’s important to note that a barcode standard doesn’t necessarily have to match the barcode symbology and type when choosing the best barcode for a product.
However, if there is an established standard for a barcode type and symbology a certain business belongs to, then only that barcode can be used. A choice isn’t available.
The main types of barcodes are 1D (1-dimensional) or Linear Barcodes and 2D (2-dimensional) barcodes, which can contain much more data than the former. Both have subtypes.
Additional types such as the QR Code and PDS417, are the newest and most advanced types and look different to the general form of barcodes. They’re also known as data matrixes.
The table below covers the most common industry-specific barcode types and symbologies:
& Healthcare
USD-4
NW-7
2 of 7 Code
UPC-eEAN-13
EAN-8CODE 39GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional, Truncated, Stacked, Stacked-Omnidirectional, Expanded, Expanded Stacked, Coupon Code, Limited
UCC12ISBN
ISSN
Bookland
JANHIBC LIC
LOGMARS
MIL-STD-1189B
MIL-STD-129
MIL-STD-2073-1C
MIL-STD-129NMSI Code
Pulse Width Modulated Barcode
USPS
ISBT 128
USS Code 128
ISS Code 128HIBC LIC
LOGMARS
MIL-STD-1189B
MIL-STD-129
MIL-STD-2073-1C
MIL-STD-129NRationalized Codabar
USD-4
NW-7
2 of 7 Code
LOGMARS
MIL-STD-1189B
MIL-STD-129
MIL-STD-2073-1C
MIL-STD-129N
LOGMARS
MIL-STD-1189B
MIL-STD-129
MIL-STD-2073-1C
MIL-STD-129N
4CB or 4-CB
OneCode Solution Barcode
USPS4CBZip
Zip + 4
DPBCUSPS CONFIRM
ISSN
Bookland
EAN-14
SCC-14
GTIN
DUN14
USPS
How to Choose the Best Barcode?
Some of the most common concerns many businesses face are the space available for a barcode on a product label and the accuracy of a barcode so that the risks of time and money loss are minimized.
The most efficient barcodes, in terms of area coverage and error reduction, are:
– DataMatrix
– UPC
– Code 128
– Code 39
– PDF417
As mentioned at the beginning, the best barcode is the one defined within the industry, which has established a set of standards for creating and reading barcode types and symbologies.
However, if a company doesn’t belong to one of these industries then the barcode can be chosen depending on the purpose, the amount of data to be encoded, and the printing method being used.
GlobalVision is the leading developer of proofreading technologies for retail and consumer packaged goods. Learn how GlobalVision has helped Consumer Goods companies of all sizes in quality control.
Request a free trial for GlobalVision Digital Inspection Solution
Learn More about How to Manage Barcodes in Packaging Quality Control
Get our guide to learn more about how to stay FDA-compliant with regulatory labeling obligations
Learn how some of the world’s top pharma companies have cracked the efficiency code with automation