Considering that a culture of quality, which can increase employee engagement and communication, results in more consistent outcomes and profits, South African business Thandela Group highlights the importance of quality management, which it says will enable businesses to improve risk management and enhance customer satisfaction.

In addition to this, businesses will also be able to increase efficiency, reduce waste and differentiate their products or services from competitors.

Successful quality management, however, comprises numerous aspects that need to be managed and maintained including environmental management, occupational health and safety, and the standardisation of processes.

Environmental management, for example, supports businesses in minimising their impact on the environment and complying with regulations. “Effective environmental management can lead to increased efficiency and cost savings, and improved employee morale, as well as a positive image with the public, regulators and investors,” Thandela Group explains.

Despite the benefits, businesses can still face challenges when trying to protect the environment.

These can include lack of resources, knowledge and skills, as well as difficulty in obtaining buy-in from stakeholders.

“However, by implementing standards and best practices, businesses can mitigate their impact on the environment and work towards sustainable operations,” the company states.

Meanwhile, occupational health and safety management “promotes a safe and healthy work environment, which can lead to higher productivity, decreased absenteeism, lower insurance claims, and an overall investment in employees, who are a company's most important asset”.

Additionally, a safe work environment can enhance a company's brand value and help it win and retain clients.

The standardisation of processes can also be beneficial to businesses, which Thandela Group says “can lead to faster and more efficient processes, simpler workflows, clearer guidelines, and easier onboarding and training”.

Standardisation can also boost productivity and output and assist in facilitating quality trade around the world through conformity assessments that can help goods pass through borders more quickly and efficiently, reduce the likelihood of goods being rejected at the border, and cut trading costs, making businesses more sustainable.

Certification services, such as ISO 9001, meanwhile, can also improve employee performance and job satisfaction.

“Through the implementation of a quality management system, employees can increase productivity, improve transparency, engage with the company's goals, and eliminate workflow redundancies,” Thandela Group urges, noting that this, in turn, can result in faster product or service delivery, subsequently resulting in increased customer satisfaction.

Thandela Group is a South Africa-based company that has Thandela Certification Services and Thandela Proficiency Testing as subsidiaries. The two legal entities are South African National Accreditation System accredited in proficiency testing scheme and management system certifications.