Ensure Your Quality Management Is in Place for Your Cannabusiness

Cannabis production in the U.S. is growing at a fast pace and continuing to expand as most of the states have laws in place permitting and regulating the use of cannabis for medical, health, and in some cases recreational purposes.

However, much like in the pharmaceutical industry, manufacturers and suppliers of cannabis must commit to the highest levels of quality processes and be able to validate these practices. ISO 9001 certification deals with critical elements that are involved in the cannabis production industry:

• Manufacturing
• Processing
• Distribution
• Packaging
• Security
• Safety
• Environmental requirements
• Lab Testing
• Customer Service

ISO 9001 is an internationally recognized quality management standard that works equally well for small and large businesses. As such, it's a logical choice for cannabis, CBD, and hemp production or distribution.

What is ISO 9001 Certification?

ISO 9001 is an international standard that outlines how a well-organized company should run its quality management system. Essentially, the ISO 9001 standard provides a framework for running a successful business. Adhering to it can improve customer satisfaction, mitigate risk and improve overall business performance. ISO 9001 certification occurs when a 3rd-Party Certification Bodies, like Smithers, perform quality management system audits to verify that it meets the requirements ISO 9001 lays out.

There are 10 clauses in ISO 9001 standard, 3 of which are not auditable as they are primarily information based, so that leaves 7 left at which an audit for ISO 9001 certification would look at: 

• Context of the organization — processes, procedures and instructions
• Leadership —top management's responsibilities and commitment to quality
• Planning —organizational opportunities, risks, changes and quality objectives
• Support —resources needed for the quality management system (QMS) and necessary documentation
• Operation —creating products, including design, external providers, the release of services and products and nonconforming outputs
• Performance —monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation of your quality management system
• Improvement — continual improvement 

Additionally, there are hundreds of sub-clauses and passages that detail ISO 9001 certification requirements. The standard is written in a way that lets you create a QMS that makes sense for your business, even if it has unique needs or elements like those found in cannabusiness.

ISO 9001 Certification Benefits

ISO 9001 certification is formal recognition that a company’s quality management system is in compliance with ISO 9001 requirements. Beyond the global recognition and the stamp of approval for quality management that it brings, ISO 9001 certification can provide other benefits for your company like improvements in:

• Waste management
• Efficiency
• Productivity
• Organizational risk
• Profit
• Customer acquisition and retention

The foundation of ISO 9001 promotes organizations to prioritize organization, and company-wide organization leads to improvements in efficiency, cost-savings, production potential and customer experience. Ultimately, these factors lead to healthy businesses and scalable growth.

Smithers and the ISO 9001 Certification Process

Smithers has years of experience helping thousands of companies through the ISO 9001 certification process. We also have a multifaceted expertise in the cannabis cultivation and distribution industry, as we offer cannabis testing services in both, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Contact our experts today to guide you through the ISO 9001 certification process.

Our high-touch approach to ISO 9001 audits and certification means we offer transparency throughout the process. We get to know your business from the initial planning stages to certification, ensuring your team plays a vital role throughout the process. At the same time, you get complete access to our experts and materials.

Trust Your ISO 9001 Certification for Cannabis Needs to Smithers

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