Cryoniss Reflects on ISO 9001

As both of our facilities in Alderley Park and The Heath Business and Technical Park have become ISO9001 certified, now seems like a good time to reflect on the international standard, which is truly at the core of our business.

It seems an age since we finished our journey to ISO 9001.  Both our facilities in Alderley Park and The Heath Business and Technical Park became certified at the end of April – a month into lockdown caused by the global pandemic.

As many of us come out of lockdown, it seems a time to reflect on the international standard which is truly at the core of our business.  Because, of course, the ISO 9001 journey is never finished.

International Organization for Standardization, based in Switzerland, states:

“ISO 9001 sets out the criteria for a quality management system and is the only standard in the family that a company can be certified to.  It can be used by any organization, large or small, regardless of its field of activity. In fact, there are over one million companies and organizations in over 170 countries certified to ISO 9001.

This standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement.”

For a highly regulated and process driven business such as Cryoniss the principles of ISO 9001 are the bread and butter of the way we work.  Customers are truly at the heart of our business.  Being agile and responsive to our customers' needs is fundamental to what we do. Ensuring the highest sample integrity of biological samples stored in all our facilities is of prime importance to us, just as it is to our customers.

We were delighted by the comments made in the executive summary of the audit report.  They highlighted:

“Excellent approach and commitment to the establishment of a quality management system that complies with the requirements of the standard and supports the aims and values of the business. Owners have the expertise and technical knowledge that supports the strategic direction of Cryosphere Services Ltd. [before we rebranded to Cryoniss in July].

Management system is well organised and supporting documentation, information and records were readily available. Discussions and reviews of operational process were professionally presented.”

Continual improvement is the cornerstone of how we operate and having plans and processes in place, including a robust business continuity management system, have ensured we have successfully continued to operate, despite the world throwing us the occasional curve ball.

We look forward to continuing to help all our customers, listening to them and improving how we serve them.