Demonstrating professionalism and quality of service
Oxfordshire-based MC Fire Protection supplies and maintains fire-safety equipment and provides fire-safety assessments and consultancy services. Mike Chilman, the managing director, explains how standards:
- promote competitive advantage
- increase customer confidence
- improve internal organization.
With which standards does MC Fire Protection comply?
As well as complying with several standards specific to the fire protection industry, MC Fire Protection is ISO 9001-registered.
- Mike Chilman says:
“We bought BS 5839, which relates to fire alarms, BS 5306, which relates to fire extinguishers, and BS 5588, a standard that concerns building regulations. In 2004, we decided that we could also benefit from compliance with ISO 9001.”
How does compliance with standards affect the services MC Fire Protection may offer?
Compliance with certain standards allows businesses to offer consultancy services as a trusted source of information.
- Mike Chilman says:
“The standards we use enable us to give our clients the right advice when we assess them or when they buy products from us. For example, by referring to our copy of BS 5306, we can tell which fire extinguishers a customer needs, how many they need, where they should be placed and how often they should be serviced and maintained.”
Read more about compliance certification.
What primary benefits has the implementation of standards brought to MC Fire Protection?
Businesses often choose to trade only with companies that comply with recognised standards, particularly in industries that deal with life-saving devices.
- Mike Chilman says:
“Many of our competitors were starting to publicize the fact that they complied. Now that we can do the same, we are attracting lots of business from larger companies who want that reassurance. On a practical level, ISO 9001 has improved the way our workshop and storage areas are organized and has systemized the way we keep records.”
Was implementation of standards difficult?
Many SMEs are concerned about the expertise needed, and the costs involved, in standards implementation.
- Mike Chilman says:
“One thing that can be beneficial, especially to small firms, is bringing in outside expertise to help with the implementation of a standard. That is what we did, and it wasn’t as expensive as we’d thought. I would recommend standards to other businesses operating in the fire-protection industry - in fact, it’s becoming more and more of a necessity.”
