Why use ISO management systems consultant services

Hire a management consultant to add value, save time and money

Do you understand the benefits of hiring a management systems consultant and can you justify not using internal resource?  “Why should I hire you?” is also a question we have to answer on a regular basis. As such I thought it would be useful to document what I see as the major benefits of using a management systems consultant.

A consultant can be used for many reasons, but a few of the key benefits that a consultant can bring are:

• Additional resource.
  Customers may be well versed in the standards and able to write their own management system, but time poor and using a consultant is an easy way to provide additional and flexible resource.
• Experience.
  A consultant benefits from a broad experience of companies, industries, management systems, management system processes and the tools used to manage these.
• Knowledge of standards.
  A consultant has an in depth knowledge of what is needed, and more importantly what isn’t needed to meet the requirements of the standards.  Your certification auditor is unlikely to advise what isn’t needed as the rules prevent them from providing guidance while auditing (as that is called consulting).
• Writing skills.
  A good consultant will understand what needs to be in a policy or procedure, write well, use appropriate language, write logically and write to minimise the need for maintenance.
• Training.
  Imprinting of training is best achieved in your workplace, when it is directly related to what you do and is conducted over a period of time.  A consultant who is on site can provide this training and coaching.
• Fresh perspective.
  People who are close to the work often overlook the obvious.  A consultant has a fresh perspective and can often suggest significant improvements.
• Right write first time.
  If you were going to build a system from scratch how long would it take and how good a job would you make of it?  We have been to companies where it takes longer to get their existing in-house system up to scratch than it would to replace it with a bespoke new system (we always suggest this option if it is the best solution for the customer).  A consultant can provide a best practice bespoke management system as a starting point and do so much quicker than most people can write their own.

All these things can be provided by a good consultant.  A poor consultant may bring none of the above.  A poor consultant is unlikely to be in business very long, unless this isn’t a full-time occupation.  This is important.  We have unfortunately come across a few “consultants” who consult part-time when they are not working as lawyers or other such profession.  I wonder how good they are at being lawyers if they have to supplement their income with management system consulting?

Of course I’m a consultant, so I’m biased.

Contact us today to show you what we can offer