Organisations that Use Standards Report an Increase in Turnover

• New study reveals the number of Irish organisations using standards has increased by almost 20 percent over the past three years.
• Almost half of all organisations who use standards report a 20 percent increase in turnover
• It comes as 24 organisations gathered at NSAI offices in Dublin today for a special ceremony marking their achievement in becoming certified to world class standards.

Tuesday, May 17^th 2016:

Irish organisations that use standards have reported an average 20 per cent increase in turnover according to a new Behaviour and Attitudes study carried out on behalf of the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). The research found that almost 50 per cent of the 250 firms surveyed have reported an increase in turnover as a result of using standards.

The research also found that 88 per cent of Irish firms are now using standards within their organisation. This compares with 69 per cent of firms that said they used standards when a similar study was conducted in 2012.

87 per cent of those certified said they believe independently certified standards offer businesses a competitive edge, while 93 per cent of certified firms said they believe their company has benefitted from the use of standards.

The research comes as 24 organisations from the private, public and SME sectors gathered at NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) offices in Dublin today for a special ceremony marking their achievement in becoming certified to world class standards.

All of the organisations who achieved certification were independently audited by NSAI auditors in order to ensure they complied with the standards.

They join an elite group of over 3,000 organisations who are currently NSAI certified in a variety of areas such as Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Management Systems, Quality Management Systems and the Human Resource framework, Excellence Through People.

One company, who has really benefitted from certification, is the contract manufacturing firm Sigma Aldrich in Co. Wicklow.

It has saved over €30,000 in energy costs since achieving certification to the Energy Management standard, ISO 50001.

The savings have been incredible,” said Eugene Mulholland, Engineering and Technology Processing Manager with Sigma Aldrich.

“In just 12 months we estimate our company has saved more than €30,000 in energy costs and we hope to build on this figure going forward,” he added.

“Our energy costs are about €900,000 annually so since we’ve started using the Energy Management standard, we’ve saved up to 5 per cent.”

Sigma Aldrich employs over 100 people in Arklow, manufacturing active pharmaceutical products for firms such as Pfizer and AMGen.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Dublin this morning, NSAI CEO Maurice Buckley highlighted the real business value of investing in standards. “The challenges faced by Irish businesses today are very different from a few decades ago. Technology is driving increased expectations from customers and businesses. More and more tender requirements seek certification to internationally recognised standards, such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. Certification to these standards can also be a deal breaker when it comes to securing export opportunities,” Mr. Buckley said.

NSAI invites members of the business community and the general public to get involved in the development of standards by visiting our website NSAI.ie. All standards are also available on our website.

For further information, visit NSAI.ie or follow us on Twitter @NSAI_Standards