Businesses that thrive are the ones that place their focus on quality assurance measures that exceed industry standards. One of the most commonly used and robust tools for this purpose is what is known as a Quality Management System (QMS). 

The concepts of quality management and continuous improvement have been around for decades. However, the concepts have only recently been applied successfully in logistics environments. 

Today, more and more companies are finding that they can control costs, improve visibility, increase speed to market and strengthen their businesses by implementing quality management systems as part of their logistics operations.

Why do logistics organizations need quality management?

It’s no surprise that logistics is the most important aspect of facilitating a supply chain, no matter what industry.

When it comes to transporting perishable goods, food spoilage is one of the main roadblocks logistics companies deal with when it comes to transporting perishable items throughout the supply chain. Pharmaceutical companies also need utmost quality assurance when it comes to transportation and en-route storage. Many different types of medications require storage at a certain temperature to maintain potency. If a truck is not properly air-conditioned, massive batches of medications could be rendered useless.

To protect their business, logistics companies need to start considering how they can improve the overall management of quality for perishable cargo and the brands that produce them.

To discover more about the topic of supply chain management in the transport and logistics sector, click here.

BS EN ISO 9001: The key quality management standard 

All businesses operating within the Logistics sector should implement a quality management system. These standards not only assure design, product, and/or service output but also mandate processes of capable management oversight that are proactive.  

The most common quality management standard applied in the Logistics sector is BS EN ISO 9001. This quality management standard is in addition to the regulatory requirements applied to the business, and when incorporated as part of the business’s conditions for regulatory approval they carry the same authority as those regulatory requirements. 

BS EN ISO 9001 sets out what’s needed to implement a quality management system – the purpose of which is to improve overall performance and provide a sound basis for sustainable development initiatives.

The benefit of implementing quality management standards

Certification and training to globally recognized standards will help mitigate the risks of failure in a supply chain, boost customer satisfaction and make your business resilient to change. Implementation of quality management requirements is also necessary to help businesses with the following:

• Facilitate continual improvement

• Increase market opportunities

• Demonstrate traceability throughout the supply chain

• Increase efficiency to save time, money, and resources

• Ensure compliance with a system supported by regulatory authorities

• Motivate, engage and involve staff

Other important logistics standards

There are lots of other key logistics standards that can help logistics organizations ensure quality in other areas of their business. These include: 

BS EN ISO 45001: Along with offering a reliable service, logistics companies must constantly strive to provide their workers and visitors with a safe and healthy business environment. With the goal of providing businesses with a framework for controlling and eliminating factors that can lead to illness and injuries, implementing the BS EN ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management system standard is a prudent move for any organization’s senior management to support.

Business benefit: This standard will help you to protect and enhance your most important asset, your people, to drive business excellence. It helps your business demonstrate brand responsibility by committing to a safe, healthy, and sustainable work environment.

BS EN ISO 14001: As the international standard for environmental management systems (EMS), this standard has been implemented by more than 250,000 organizations around the world. This best-selling standard maps out a framework that a company or organization can follow to set up an effective environmental management system (EMS).

Business benefit: As the global standard for any business that wants to manage and positively control all aspects of its environmental impact. It is a proven way to demonstrate that you’re serious about your business’s environmental and economic sustainability.

BS EN ISO/IEC 27001: This standard provides an excellent framework that helps logistics organizations manage and protect their information assets so that they remain safe and secure. 

Business benefit: Implementing this standard helps businesses reduce the risk associated with storing commercially sensitive information and improve their compliance with data regulations. This leads to increased trust from customers and protects your reputation.

Experience the benefits of managing quality effectively by adding these key logistic standards to your collection today.

Discover BSI Knowledge

BS EN ISO 9001 and over 100,000 more internationally recognized standards are available for simple and flexible access with a BSI Knowledge subscription. Our tailored subscription service puts the control in your hands, with traceability to monitor and demonstrate your business's access to standards. Build your own custom collection of standards, or opt for access to our GBM04 Management, Law & Quality module and keep up-to-date with any relevant changes to your standards strategy. Request to learn more.