ISO 9001 is a certification based on a standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) titled “Quality systems-Model for quality assurance in design, development, production, installation and servicing”. The accreditation is done by UKAS, certificate is issued by a third party certification body, Bureau Veritas Certification India, then known as Bureau Veritas Quality International.
We, at USS started the process of readying ourselves for the standardization way back in 2000, with the following goals in mind
- Better internal management
- Increase in efficiency, productivity and profit
- Improved customer satisfaction and relations
- Consistent and continuous growth; measured and monitored
- Globally recognized comparable standard
A team was formed under the guidance of President Mr. Jayesh Choksi and the then Principal Mrs. Abha Dharam Pal, now CEO, After numerous sessions of brain storming, the Vision, Mission and Quality policy were finalized. All Departments were listed and internal processes, job profiles, work instructions and SOP’s were documented. All staff members underwent many rounds of trainings.
We were the first school in India to get certified in 2001 with the ISO 9001:1994 standard. Our USP was that the curriculum for a host of subjects like HRD (Human Resource Development), Dance, Drama and Music was conceptualized and developed in house.
The standard has undergone many revisions since, with the staff being trained and equipped to make the transition smooth. The first revision was in 2007 when ISO 9001:1994 was revised to ISO 9001:2000. The second revision was in 2011 when ISO 9001:2000 was revised to ISO 9001:2008. The latest revision was in 2015, where ISO 9001:2008 was revised to its current version i.e. 9001:2015.
There is continual improvement and our processes are reviewed regularly with internal audits every other month and an annual external surveillance to keep the system robust. All departments are audited thrice a year to ensure they comply with the systems in place. As a result, we run like well-oiled machinery, with our systems and processes in place. More importantly, we are proud to say that as a result of this process oriented approach, we are not person dependent, which in the long run allows sustainability and growth. After all, our aim is not to be mediocre, but exceptional!To sum it up, the benefits of ISO 9001 can be encapsulated in the catchphrase “Great things happen when the world agrees.”
