The Case for Getting ISO Certified
In competitive markets, manufacturers with a formal quality program stand out.
Manufacturers understand that customers are asking more of suppliers than ever, particularly when it comes to processes: more documentation, more consistency, and more proof that quality is built into how the work gets done. ISO 9001 certification remains one of the clearest ways to provide that proof, and yet only 18% of Minnesota manufacturers have earned it.
That gap matters. Roughly half of manufacturers say a formal quality program is what they look for when choosing a supplier, according to last year’s State of Manufacturing® survey. ISO certification offers a credible, independently verified answer when a buyer asks how quality is managed. In a market where buyers increasingly compare suppliers on process as well as price, that distinction can open doors.
The value, however, extends well beyond winning business. Every manufacturer already operates a management system, whether or not it is written down, as Enterprise Minnesota ISO certification and audit expert Keith Gadacz points out in an article he’s written for the next issue of Enterprise Minnesota magazine. What makes that system durable is when it’s documented, standardized, and strong enough to function when any one leader is out of the room.
Companies that pursue ISO certification commonly see gains beyond opening doors to new customers. They often report that the process of certification boosts employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and overall performance. That’s because the discipline reaches across the whole organization.
Keith points out that the standard itself is also changing. ISO 9001 has been revised for the first time since 2015, with the new version released in September 2026. Certified manufacturers will have roughly three years to transition. Two additions stand out. The first is an explicit expectation around quality culture: leadership teams will need to demonstrate, not simply state, how their culture supports the quality system. The second is business ethics: organizations will need to show that they did what they documented and documented what they did. Companies with mature systems should find the transition manageable, and those still weighing certification have good reason to begin with the new standard in view.
Manufacturers have two avenues to learn more about ISO, and the steps they need to take to earn certification:
Attend our upcoming virtual workshop. Enterprise Minnesota is hosting an ISO workshop on Wednesday, October 14 from 9:30-11:30 via Zoom. Keith will share a practical framework for building or strengthening a quality management system, discuss examples of Minnesota manufacturers that have earned certification, and answer participant questions. It offers a practical opportunity for leadership teams to assess where their system stands. Register here.
Read the article. Keith’s feature on getting ISO right will appear in the Winter issue of Enterprise Minnesota magazine, released at our State of Manufacturing kickoff event on November 11. It explores the ISO framework in greater depth and the steps leaders can take to formalize their existing management systems.
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