Everything You Need to Know About ISO and Skills Management

Read about how some ISO standards and skills management are tightly connected.

Our world is increasingly globalized and interconnected. In order to maintain a level of quality and consistency, many organizations rely on the standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

ISO is an independent, international organization that develops and publishes standards for a wide range of products and services. Established in 1947, ISO currently has over 16,500 standards that are used in 159 countries.

One of the most important aspects of ISO standards is skills management. To ensure products and services are of the highest quality, it is essential to have a properly trained workforce knowledgeable about the relevant ISO standards. ISO-certified organizations are required to have skills management systems that meet the needs of their employees and customers. They must also ensure their systems are up-to-date and compliant with ISO standards. In today’s evolving workplace, many companies are turning to a skills management platform to simplify how they track and enhance employee competencies in line with ISO requirements.

In order to ensure your workforce has the necessary skills, you need to have a robust skills management system in place. A good skills management system will help identify the skills your employees need, bring clarity to skills gaps, and tie training to those gaps (or develop necessary training programs internally, or with vendors) so employees are properly equipped to meet the requirements of ISO standards.

There are a few different ISO standards pertaining to skills management, including ISO 9001, ISO 10018, ISO 14001 and ISO 17024.

ISO 9001 is a a set of standards to help organizations ensure they are providing products and services meeting customer requirements. To become ISO certified, organizations must go through a rigorous auditing process. Part of this process includes demonstrating they have adequate skills management systems in place, especially clause 7.2.

ISO 10018 provides guidance on engaging people in an organization's quality management system, and on enhancing their involvement and competence within it. Any organization, regardless of size, type, or activity benefits from following its guidelines.

ISO 14001 helps organizations improve environmental performance through efficient resource use, waste reduction and sustainability.

ISO 17024 is an international standard providing guidelines for the certification of individuals. Organizations which offer certification programs must meet the requirements of ISO 17024 in order to be accredited. This standard covers a wide range of topics, including the development of certification programs, the assessment of candidates, and the issuance of certificates.

When it comes to skills management, ISO 9001, 10018,14001 and 17024 are the most important standards to be aware of. By understanding these standards and how they relate to skills management, you can ensure that your organization is providing employees with the training and development opportunities they need to be successful.

Many businesses now adopt training and development platforms that align employee growth with ISO-compliant frameworks.

There are several key elements to consider during the planning of your skills management system. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind:

1. Identify the required employee skills

The first step in developing a skills management system is to identify the required employee skills. You will need to consider the specific ISO standards relevant to your business, and identify those skills your employees will need to comply with these standards.

2. Identify the skills available

Next, you will uncover the skills available amongst employees in your organization. This can be done with employee interviews, questionnaires, or by employees and/or managers during this skills assessment phase.

3. Determine the skills gaps

After you identify the required skills and the available employee skills, the next critical step is to identify the gaps present between the two. The outcome of this process determines the best growth path and, in the case ISO compliance, meeting the standards.

4. Establish training to close skills gaps

Closing skills gaps occurs by directing employees to training materials and tracking their progress. If you don’t have the necessary training programs available, you will need to develop them (or work with a vendor). Tracking employee training progress is critical for ISO compliance. The type of training you provide depends on the specific skills needed.

5. Implement, evaluate and update the skills management system

After you have rolled out training programs, it is time to implement a skills management system. This involves creating procedures and processes for tracking employee skills, managing the skills gaps, and ensuring employees are properly trained. There is a great deal of complexity to deal with here, and it is an iterative process.Ultimately, this is an important component to meet the requirements of ISO standards. An effective employee skills platform allows organizations to continuously monitor and improve workforce capability, staying ahead of ISO compliance requirements.

Conclusion

A skills management system is an essential part of any organization needing to ensure compliance with ISO standards. By understanding the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 10018 and ISO 17024, you can develop a system to help train your employees to meet these standards.

There are many benefits to becoming ISO-certified, including improved customer satisfaction, increased efficiency, and reduced costs. ISO-certified organizations are also more likely to win new customers and contracts.

If you want to learn more about skills management, or if you are interested in ISO certification as it relates to skills management, contact us today. SkillsDB is a hub for employee success,  delivering skills management platform to help ensure compliance with ISO standards. Be sure to visit our website, where you can learn more about our SaaS platform and get started on the path to ISO certification.

FAQ

How do ISO standards relate to skills management?

ISO-certified organizations are required to have skills management systems that ensure their workforce is properly trained and knowledgeable about relevant standards. Standards like ISO 9001 specifically require demonstrating adequate skills management systems during the auditing process.

What is ISO 9001 and why does it matter?

ISO 9001 is a set of standards ensuring organizations provide products and services that meet customer requirements. Its clause 7.2 specifically requires organizations to demonstrate adequate skills management systems during the rigorous certification audit process.

What ISO standards apply to skills management?

The most relevant standards are ISO 9001 (quality management and customer requirements), ISO 10018 (people engagement and competence in quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental performance and resource efficiency), and ISO 17024 (certification of individuals). Each has specific implications for how organizations track and develop employee skills.

What is ISO 17024 used for?

ISO 17024 provides guidelines for certifying individuals. Organizations offering certification programs must meet its requirements for accreditation, covering the development of certification programs, candidate assessment, and certificate issuance.

How do you build a skills management system for ISO?

Start by identifying required skills based on relevant ISO standards, then assess what skills your workforce currently has. Determine the gaps between required and available skills, establish training to close those gaps, and implement a system to continuously track and update skills data.

What are the five steps to ISO skills compliance?

The five steps are: identify required employee skills based on ISO standards, assess available skills in your workforce, determine the gaps between required and current skills, establish training programs to close those gaps, and implement a skills management system to track ongoing compliance.

Why is skills gap analysis critical for ISO compliance?

Skills gap analysis reveals the difference between what your workforce can do and what ISO standards require. This gap determines the best growth path for employees and, in the case of ISO compliance, directly maps to meeting the standards during audits.

What are the benefits of ISO certification?

Benefits include improved customer satisfaction, increased operational efficiency, reduced costs, and a stronger competitive position. ISO-certified organizations are also more likely to win new customers and contracts because the certification signals quality and reliability.

How does ISO 10018 relate to workforce competence?

ISO 10018 provides guidance on engaging people in an organization's quality management system and enhancing their involvement and competence. It applies to any organization regardless of size, type, or activity, making it a broadly applicable standard for workforce development.

Can a skills platform help maintain ISO compliance?

Yes. A skills management platform simplifies tracking employee competencies against ISO requirements, managing skills gaps, directing employees to training, and maintaining auditable records. This ongoing monitoring is essential because ISO compliance is not a one-time event but an iterative, continuous process.

How does training tracking support ISO audits?

Tracking employee training progress creates the documented evidence auditors need to verify compliance. A robust skills management system provides auditable records of skills assessments, training completion, gap analysis, and ongoing development aligned to specific ISO standard requirements.

What does ISO 14001 cover for skills management?

ISO 14001 helps organizations improve environmental performance through efficient resource use, waste reduction, and sustainability. It requires organizations to ensure their workforce has the competencies needed to meet environmental management standards and objectives.