Without a doubt, every business aims for success, and even though ‘success’ can mean a range of different things depending on you, your business and the industry you are in. It is almost always linked to a good service or product, delivered safely, ethically, and positively. Therefore it makes sense that you should aim for the best standards of quality and compliance. But what do those things actually mean? How can we make sure those important boxes stay ticked?
How do we take steps to add quality to our services and ensure they operate the way they are legally required to? Well, I’m here to offer help and support to understand (and achieve) both, so let’s take a closer look.
Quality is defined as products and services that deliver intended performance, while compliance is looks at meeting regulatory requirements.
Good products and great service
There is simply no denying it; an amazing product is completely wasted when combined with poor service. Even the most excellent customer service is useless when the product itself isn’t up to scratch.
Those two pillars of every business are a crucial marriage. They go hand in hand. Quality in one area is always going to cause problems. It needs to run throughout, and it can. Here’s how:
Building relationships and seeking feedback
Be bold, be brave and reach out to your customers. If the feedback is good, you already have a firm foundation to blow away the competition. It is a great start to make those areas even better. If there is room for improvement in places, then feedback has made you aware of the issue. You can take steps to improve, and thanks to your feedback, you know exactly where…
Inevitably, things can go wrong. That happens to every business. However, what the best ones do is communicate. If the feedback isn’t ideal (it will sometimes happen, even to the best), then it is a vital early chance to put things right. I can’t stress that enough; communication is key in the quest for quality.
Developing a compliant, ethical business
Compliance, like quality, will mean something slightly different for every company. The one thing they all share in common is that both compliance and quality are important.
Lack of compliance can all too often lead to data breaches, health and safety risks and damage to your business and brand. On the other hand, a compliant, well-run business can mean happy teams working for a first-rate organisation. This combined means great services and a reputation to match.
To start you off on the road to compliance and real quality, here are the initial things to focus upon:
- Identify what quality is within your business sector.
- Identify the compliance requirements for your business. Some may be unique to you. Others, such as Health & Safety, GDPR etc., are vital to everyone.
- Develop in-house policies and procedures around quality and legal responsibility
- Undertake audits, adopt a culture of positivity towards self-assessment and personal development
- Invest in your business and your people through certification and accreditation. Both are amazing selling points that will enrich your staff, improve your business and earn revenue.
- Seek to build lasting relationships and react positively to every kind of feedback
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, don’t be afraid to reach out to a specialist with experience in common compliance issues such as GDPR. With my background in a busy Quality Department, I can help you develop the policies and procedures to make your business better in every way. Let’s work together to add ensure quality and compliance in your organisation.