Sometimes it seems as if there are too many three-letter abbreviations (TLA) in the world. With the advent of social media in particular, there seem to be ever more of them. It can feel as if we’re drowning in a soup of letters: TBA, TBH, BTW, ETA, OMG. But in the case of the abbreviation ‘ISO’, there’s real meaning behind those three letters. Here at CAS, we’re proud of what they mean for us – and more importantly, for our clients. CAS ISOs, two great TLAs.
What is an ‘ISO’?
ISO stands for the International Organisation for Standardization. The ISO is responsible for setting international standards to ensure products and services are safe, reliable and of good quality.
To achieve an ‘ISO’ standard, an organisation must pass an initial series of thorough inspections. It’ll need to prove that its management systems and quality control are fit for purpose. This includes demonstrating that all processes comply with international and national laws and regulations. And the organisation will also be subject to regular spot checks. So any organisation holding ISOs must show that it is committed to continually improving its processes for its customers.
What the CAS ISOs mean for you
At CAS, we’re very proud of the level of ISO certification we have achieved. It means that all of our clients will know that they are in the safest of hands when it comes to entrusting us with their important records and files.
We have broken down our ISO standards into plain English, so that you can understand what they mean to you as one of our valued clients and how this impacts on the services we provide for you:
ISO 9001, Quality Management
This ISO means that as a company, we do things properly. We consistently strive to understand and assess the requirements of our customers and we build upon our management systems for the services we provide.
An example of our commitment to improving management systems is the introduction of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in our warehouses. This is an electronic system which provides enhanced levels of accuracy and efficiency far beyond standard barcode management. This means 99.9% accuracy of locating your documents and providing you with accurate audit reports.
We are also a member of the Archives and Records Association.
ISO 14001, Environmental Management
As a responsible company, we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment. ISO 14001 shows that we have consistently met management processes that reduce our impact on the environment and contribute to sustainability on both a regional and national level.
There are several examples of our responsible management processes. We recycle 100% of our shredding waste. We ensure our vehicles are run on low-emission gas. And we help and advise our clients on their management systems to reduce their own impact on the environment.
ISO 15489, Information and Documentation – Records Management
We are the only document storage company in the industry to hold this ISO – and we are very proud of it. This ISO demonstrates that we are meeting all the requirements for the records management industry. In particular, it shows we give appropriate attention and protection to processing and managing documents, and to file storage.
ISO 27001, Information Technology, Security Techniques and Information Security Management
This ISO reassures you that when you entrust us with your sensitive and confidential records, you are making a wise choice. We are compliant with every International regulation on surveillance, security and staff confidentiality.
All of our staff have signed confidentiality agreements. We use the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to check the background of all staff handling documents. And our fire-proof premises have state-of-the-art security and surveillance systems.
International standards are an important part of our commitment to you. They show you that we’re serious and committed to providing you with the best services possible. What’s more, we’re continuously striving to build upon and improve our management systems.
If you would like to find out more about CAS ISOs and what mean for our range of services, please call us on 0845 50 50 003.
