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Membership will help you save money, with discounts on a global range of standards, including:
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Standards can help to:
1. Improve your products or services
The application of a standard can lead to an improvement in the quality of your products or services. An increase in sales could result; high quality is always a very powerful selling proposition. Customers are seldom tempted to buy goods that are of poor or questionable quality.
2. Attract new customers
Generating the right perception of your business and its products or services is vital when you want to attract new customers. Standards are an effective way to convince potential customers that you meet the highest and most widely respected levels of quality, safety and reliability.
3. Increase your competitive edge
Complying with standards will enhance your reputation for being a business that is committed to achieving excellence. This can provide you with an important advantage over competitors that do not apply standards – maybe even helping you to win business from them.
4. Inspire trust in your business
Faith in the quality of your products or services is probably one of the key reasons why existing customers buy from you. In addition, adopting certain standards (for example, ISO 14001 environmental-waste management) can be very good for your public image.
5. Lessen the likelihood of mistakes
Following a technical standard involves matching specifications that have been tried and tested by experts. This means you are much less likely to waste time and money on products that fall short of required levels of quality and performance.
6. Reduce your business costs
Adopting a technical standard could cut your spending on research and development, and reduce the need to develop parts or tools that are already available.
7. Make your products compatible
By applying relevant technical standards, you can ensure that your products or services are compatible (or interoperable) with those manufactured or provided by others.
8. Comply with regulations
All standards are voluntary. You are not legally obliged to introduce them and you have other options. However, compliance can help you to meet your mandatory legal obligations regarding such matters as product safety and environmental protection.
9. Make exporting easier
Many goods have to meet specifications outlined by EU directives before they can be sold in the EU. Such products usually bear the CE mark. Achieving this will make it possible for you to sell your goods in EU markets - including the UK.
10. Improve your chances of success
Including standards as part of your marketing strategy can give your product a much greater chance of success. That’s because standardization – through its collaborative nature – can help you to build up a better knowledge of customer and market needs.
Learn how three very different companies found standards central to their success.
Case Study 1: Medical Devices
Using BS EN ISO 13485 to build market trust
MCS Medical is a Worcestershire-based business that manufactures surgical implants and medical components such as bone screws and pins. Sales director Warren Gray explains why BS EN ISO 13485:2003 continues to be important in gaining credibility in the marketplace.
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Case Study 2: ISO 9001
ISO 9000 improves customer satisfaction
Anglo Felt Industries, based in Rochdale, manufactures a range of products made from recycled and waste fibres. The company was founded in 1939 and has 30 full-time employees. Managing director Simon Macaulay explains how the implementation of ISO 9000 has helped the business achieve better customer satisfaction and other business benefits:
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Case Study 3: OHSAS 18001
Using OHSAS 18001 to work with greater consistency
Celtic Technologies, based in Cardiff, is a remediation contractor for brownfield sites and has 47 full time employees. Simon Aubrey-Smith, systems manager of Celtic Technologies, explains the benefits experienced since implementing OHSAS 18001, the occupational health and safety specification, a few years ago.
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