Future Forward with ISO 9001: 2026
Thanks to the Organizations i was with, was amongst the earliest Adopters of ISO as a Management System. Despite being long associated, i always wonder about the task & tussle in adherence to the Systems, let alone the visible benefits the Organization reaps from having an ISO Certified Management System. Many a times, i have noticed that Management Systems survive in isolation even with the supposedly strong commitment by the Top Management.
At shop level, People to a considerable extent, have found ISO Management Systems more an interruption than a savior. Due to which, in Majority of the Organizations ISO remains a fad than a realistic Management Tool. Having certified for ISO is widely believed to have its advantages – from Market and Customer perspective, as a Tool to Attract and sometimes, a Tool to Retain.
Personally and Professionally, I have always believed, and ofcourse demonstrated as well, that any System adopted with conviction by the Top Management and promulgated all across the Organization brings in highly desirable results, consistently. Key is the holistic absorption as part of DRMs, and certainly not in parallel. Success of any Management Tool in an Organization, I strongly attribute to Top Down Approach.
The Genesis:
India emerging as a Manufacturing Hub and a Bankable Market necessitated a common platform for people to assess capability and capacity of Organizations for collaborative working, Branding apart. Any Good Organization Run Professionally certainly had documented system for their own Monitoring, Control and Management, even prior to introduction of ISO. It was easier for such Organizations to quickly convert to ISO Systems and Procedures. What started as a Privileged
Tool, over the Years ISO became a common platform, facilitated by proliferation of Certifying Bodies. From Manufacturing, ISO as a Standard, moved across Industries including Educational Institutions. More than a Quality Management System, ISO is now considered to be an Effective Organization Management System, beyond that of Process Management.
Transitions:
Certain industries looked at ISO quite critically, identified certain insufficiencies as a common tool. Starting with Automotive Sector, every Sector aspired to bring in more stringent requirements specific to their sectors in the name of User Protection and Safety. Those remain specific due to both Cost and Convenience of universalization across Industries.
Over the years, evolution of consumer aspirations and consumer protection movement called for further strengthening of ISO. As an Organization, ISO picked up the good and practicable necessities from those of Industry Specific standards. Periodical Changes were made in Standards and imposed through various clauses. From mundane paper work, ISO became an Operational Tool and in the process, evolved from being a Reactive to a Proactive Tool.
Evolutions:
As an Intrapreneur, I have always enforced an Integrated Working, focused on Effectiveness beyond Efficiencies. Silos are certainly needed to bring focus and efficiency, without which may result in Organizational disarray – meaning fixing of Responsibility & Accountability.
In more than a decade that passed, impact of Businesses on the Stake Holders necessitated a System beyond that of Organization. ISO recognized this need and included as part of the standards calling for ESG Focus and Risk Mitigation, both for the benefit of the Organization and the Stake Holders. As we move into the future, the changes envisaged alongside AI evolution leaves no choice but for the ISO and its Constituent Organizations to be prepared for.
As a result, expect ISO to move ahead of Monitor and Control to that of Leadership and Performance. Built on the fundamental framework Resilience, Sustainability, Digitalization and Value Creation, Culture Building and Business Process Transformation will be the salient aspects. ISO may thus becomes a Strategic Tool, whether it provides a Long Run Sustainable Unique Advantage or not.
Remarks:
ESG induced 3P (People – Planet – Profits) approach has forced upon Businesses to demonstrate Sustainability by way of Consistent Performance. While it is a choice now until the new ISO standard becomes effective, it will be more a compulsion to retain the Certification.
People, Processes & Systems should synergize for Organizational Effectiveness. Success of any Tool will continue to remain People Determined. In my experience, though the Auditors and Assessors play a key role in successful implementation at a Client, Tools have always been beneficial to the Organization, even if there are No Sayers.
It is a debate for another time – whether ISO assures success and helps to improve Profitability. Such a question arises with very many ISO Certified Organizations unable to sustain Businesses, resulting in Closures. But one thing is for sure – if ISO is adopted whole heartedly, it will atleast help us to be prepared at appropriate time and take course corrections. Its worth the investment – interms of Time, Money and Efforts.
About the Author :
Dr. NITHYANANDAN DEVARAAJ (NITHIN) BE., MBA., Ph.D
Independent Board Member, Business Excellence Expert, Technical Due Diligence & Capability Assessor.
Managing Partner – SAAE Enterprises
President – Coimbatore Management Association
Past National Secretary – The Institute of Indian Foundrymen.
Former MD / CEO of a German & Japanese MNC
Chairman – Shri Avinashiappar Trust
Past Managing Director & CEO – Flow Link Systems (P) Ltd ( a Voith Group Company )
Dr. Nithin has about 35 + Years of Experience in Engineering Manufacturing organizations. He has worked for LMW Group, L&T, Hitachi & CRI Group. He is considered to be a Professional with a rare blend of Intrapreneurial Orientation, having been a Business Head across Engineering Manufacturing Organisations / Industries.
Dr. Nithin is a Member in Governing Council / Board Of Studies of Universities and Management Institutions as a Management Expert.
Dr. Nithin is part of various industrial associations and professional bodies; he is credited with playing a leading role in bringing land mark changes in Export Incentives, Classification of MSMEs, CPCB Norms, Waste & Disposal Management. He also plays a pivotal role in training and development of educated Youth seeking employment opportunities.
Dr. Nithin Leads a team that turned around a division and a Company, and in establishing large scale projects as bench marks in industry (This Business has won several awards at National & Regional Level which includes – Indian Foundry of the Year, Young Foundryman and Foundryman Awards, 4Star Award from CII, Green Award & Safety Award from Tamil Nadu Government & at National Level from IIF, First Indian Foundry in the segment to get OHSAS 18001 & ISO 50001 Certification and Many Kaizen awards.)
Dr. Nithin is a Managing Trustee of a Family Managed Trust involved in activities like rendering Food, Shelter, Education and Medicare. Noted for rendering services during Chennai, Kerala, Tanjore & Nilgiris Floods.
Dr. Nithin’s Academics:
- Ph.D in Management Sciences
- MBA in Finance & Marketing – Gold Medalist and University Topper
- BE Mechanical Engineer with Distinction
- An IRCA certified lead auditor and assessor for ISO 9001.
- A qualified auditor for EMS, OHSAS & EnMS
- L&T Future Leaders Training at IIM – C
Dr. Nithin’s Professional Associations:
- Member & Industry Nominee, Coimbatore Disaster Management Council
- A Guest Faculty to Premier Management Institutes & Was Visiting Faculty to IIM – Calicut
- An examiner for Management Qualifications & Assessor for Management Teachers
- An acknowledged management trainer and consultant
- Is a regular Business Column Writer.
Dr. Nithin is a Member of:
- Foundry Development Council, Ministry of Commerce & Industries, India.
- Institution of Engineers, All India and Coimbatore Management Association
- Board of Studies in Universities & Premier Management Institutes
Dr. Nithin is Winner of:
- The Outstanding Alumni & Distinguished Alumni Awards from PSG Institutions & Bharathiar University.
- The CMA Golden Jubilee Year Best Manager award for the region.
- The Best Management Student award and many accolades at National Level.
- The Mother Teresa Award of Excellence for Young Business Managers.
Dr. Nithin’s Management Interests:
- Management of Innovation, Corporate Strategic Planning and Manufacturing Management, Green Supply Chain
Dr. Nithin can be contacted at :
Mobile : +91 94879 46900 , +91 99653 11288
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Also read Dr. NITHYANANDAN DEVARAAJ’s earlier articles:
