25/10/2025
We’re now approaching one year since going for an ISO9001 certification and wanted to share our experiences with other small engineering firms considering the same journey.
We once believed we were already “ISO compliant” before going for certification. We couldn’t have been more wrong. The process revealed countless areas needing improvement, restructuring—or in some cases, a complete overhaul.
From rethinking workflow on the shop floor to redesigning how we process and deliver orders in the office, the impact has been significant.
Here are the key areas we tackled in the early months before going for the ISO:
🛑 Stock Control – We reviewed and scrapped 80% of stock due to missing certs, tags, or traceability. This cleared valuable space and let us reorganize remaining stock by customer and material.
🛑 Material Handling – All new stock was logged with certs and POs, retagged through our internal traceability system, and in some cases hard-stamped. This changed how material is handled throughout production.
🛑 Job & Material Routing – After trial and error, we created a route card capturing all job details: material, tooling, customer requirements, inspections, job timings, and even labels for storage and packing.
🛑 Documentation – Think you have enough? Think again. Even now, we still find processes needing new or updated documents. Toolbox talks, risk and opportunity logs, supplier reviews—it all matters. One weak supplier was dropped after review, avoiding bigger risks down the line.
👍 Progress – Every change, no matter how small, counts. What first felt daunting has since improved output, quality, and traceability, while eliminating recurring issues that once slipped through the cracks.
Overall, ISO9001 has been a challenge, but also a real driver of progress. The work never stops—but that’s exactly the point! 😁
AC Precision Engineering – North East Engineering specialists based in Bedlington, Northumberland. CNC Machining, EDM, Welding & Fabrication, Design & Repair for renewables, subsea, and oil & gas. Trusted UK‑wide since 1995.
