SMEs
As an SME, you want to move forward: work more efficiently, convince customers, reach new markets and stand out from the competition. Standards help you do that. They are guidelines for manufacturing a product, providing a service or managing a process. From standard dimensions for screws and bolts to agreements on a 5G network or fire safety in buildings: standards form a common language that clarifies what quality, safety and reliability mean.
You may have heard of ISO 9001, the standard for quality management. This is a management standard that helps SMEs streamline their daily operations and implement their strategy in a targeted manner.
Benefits of standards for SMEs
Standards provide guidance and help you make better decisions. They strengthen not only your internal operations but also your position in the market.
Standards bring consistency to your working methods and results. They help you maintain a certain level of quality in your products and services, which strengthens customer satisfaction and trust. ISO 9001 is the best-known example of this: a quality standard that streamlines processes and guarantees uniform quality at every step.
Standards help you stay compliant with legislation and industry requirements. You don't have to prove compliance yourself, because the standard shows that you work in accordance with recognised standards. What's more, the use of standards is mandatory in certain cases. Think of products that must have a CE marking or organisations that work for government institutions, where compliance with ISO/IEC 27001 for information security is often required.
Standards make you more reliable in the eyes of customers, partners and governments. They show that you work professionally, safely and in a controlled manner. For example, an SME in the food industry with ISO 22000 certification demonstrates that its products comply with safety standards.
Recognised standards give you a stronger position in relation to competitors and make it easier to export or participate in larger projects.
By following standards, you reduce operational risks. This allows SMEs to innovate and work in compliance with confidence.
Discover all the benefits in the article Why do SMEs use standards?
What SMEs say
What does NBN offer your SME?
Access to standards
The NBN standards platform ensures you always have the right standards at your fingertips. Purchase individual standards via the webshop or opt for a package that gives everyone in your SME access to up-to-date standards.
Participation in standard development
You too can contribute ideas about tomorrow's standards. As an SME, you know the issues inside out. Take part in standards development and you will:
- bring your expertise and experience directly to bear;
- gain faster insight into developments in your sector;
- build a valuable network.
Want to read more? Check out the article Why SMEs need to make their voices heard in standards development.
As an SME, receive a 30% discount on your participation in NBN committees.
Want to learn more about standard development? Register for the free webinar Standardisation: The Basics.
ISO management standards training courses
Would you like to learn more about how ISO 14001 can help you do business sustainably and improve your environmental performance? Or would you like to learn how other ISO standards can improve your quality, safety or information security?
Discover how management standards can strengthen your SME thanks to our training courses: the ideal preparation for certification!
The Flemish government subsidises up to 30% of your training with the SME portfolio.
Download the white paper for SMEs
Take your SME to the next level! Request our white paper Standards as an Essential Tool for Your SME.
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