BUSINESS STANDARDS
is the quarterly magazine of BSI Group, highlighting the vital role that standards play in today's business environment. Regular features include interviews with leading business figures, as well as news on the latest developments in management systems and standards.
Quality control in Cabot Financial
07 Mar 2008
Topics: Quality management, ISO 9001
Cabot Financial Group, market leader in consumer debt purchase in the UK, has achieved certification to the Quality Management Systems (QMS) standard ISO 9001:2000 from BSI.
"Our company wanted to ensure that we had systems and procedures in place that were robust and consistent with that of continual improvement," says Chris Bowyer, COO of Cabot Financial. "We have many processes that always need improving alongside a fast moving industry where there are many new challenges that require a systematic approach to their introduction into the business.
"Cabot is constantly looking for new opportunities in the market place and we believe that this certification provides our vendors and potential vendors additional comfort and confidence that we operate, follow and maintain a recognized international QMS.
"The regular bi-annual assessments also help to keep us looking for and achieving improvements on a continual basis."
According to Bowyer, the company worked with an experienced consultant who assisted in the preparation for the auditing process.
"The auditing was painless and simple with a large number of staff and management being interviewed at their work stations to ascertain exactly what they did and how it fitted in with the overall company strategy," he says. "The whole process was conducted in such a way that the BSI assessor fully understood how we operated and how we went about our regular activities in the desire to satisfy our customers."
Bowyer adds: "This certification is a clear endorsement of the quality of our management systems and illustrates our commitment to understanding and fulfilling the needs of our customers. We are delighted to have achieved this standard and will continue to exceed the expectations of our clients."
"We would recommend that any company looking for certification seeks the advice and assistance of an experienced consultant," he continues. "The ISO standard helps to build, instill and most importantly enforce a structured approach. If you adhere to the principles of ISO, they [the principles] will help focus on customer satisfaction which is key to any organization's survival.
"Customers, both internally and externally, and the satisfying of them is a vital element of our business," according to Bowyer. "This can only be driven by sustainable success and emanates from an effective QMS continually looking to improve itself. The certification of an ISO standard helps to maintain direction, transparency and a focus on all that contributes to a successful company."
For more information, visit www.bsigroup.co.uk/quality
Business Standards © 2008. Editorial produced by Caspian Publishing in association with the British Standards Institution. Editorial opinions expressed on are not necessarily those of BSI Group or Caspian Publishing. Neither Caspian Publishing nor BSI Group accept responsibility for advertising or editorial content, nor for that appearing on linked third-party websites. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without written permission from BSI Group or Caspian Publishing.
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