So unless you want to have a small business mismanaging a big one (pun intended), this business repositioning needs to be done on a well-grounded basis. New customer needs, concerns and desires need to be understood, processes rethought and the links between them rethought, so that the organisation can better calibrate itself to the market and move forward to succeed,<\/strong> despite the difficult context. How? The answer will almost certainly be disappointing, because there is nothing miraculous, spectacular or disruptive-innovative about it: ISO, especially ISO 9001 – quality management<\/strong>, but not at the “coloured paper on the wall hanging” level.<\/p>\n “The entrepreneur comes with a vision, and in this respect, if we look at European Union statistics, Romania is doing quite well – the rate of company creation is slightly above the European average, so there are people with optimism and a desire to do something,” said Claudiu Aiftimiei, CEO of Systema SRL.<\/strong><\/p>\n Image source: https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/eurostat\/statistics-explained\/images\/b\/ba\/Enterprise_birth_rates%2C_business_economy%2C_2016_-_2017_%28%25%29_.png<\/a><\/p>\n “But vision is the heart, let’s say, for an organism. For it to live, you need a whole system, down to the capillaries, to deliver what you need and when you need it to each cell. If ISO 9001 is implemented in a serious way, with the involvement of the contractor and the key people in the company, then this circulatory system is mapped correctly, is efficient, detects malfunctions and demands corrective action.”<\/p>\n Implementing a management standard is no guarantee of<\/strong> business success<\/strong>. It is, however, a necessity<\/strong>, especially for SME entrepreneurs who, unlike corporations, cannot mobilise human, financial and know-how resources to develop effective management systems from scratch. Depending on the profile and size of the organisation, other types of certification can be selected – ISO 14001:2015 – environmental management, ISO 45001:2018 – occupational safety management, ISO 22000 \/ HACCP 2018 – food safety, OHSAS 18001:2007 – occupational health and safety, ISO 27001:2013 – information security, ISO 13485:2016 – medical device quality management, etc.<\/p>\n We know that not all areas of business were equally affected by the pandemic or the first wave of the crisis. An additional tool in support of the HoReCa industry<\/strong> and its customers is the TRUSTMARK<\/strong> certification, offered by Systema, by which organisations certify their compliance with the legal rules in force and best practices related to combating the risk of infection of customers and employees.<\/strong><\/p>\n “COVID-19 brought a health crisis, an economic crisis and a crisis of confidence. Health protection measures that earn the trust of customers and employees are essential for good business. This is the rationale that led us to develop TRUSTMARK certification. In Romania it is so far the only domestic initiative<\/strong>, but internationally, large hotel chains, for example, are trying to standardise how to manage the necessary precautions in a pandemic. It was a pleasant surprise for us that companies in tourism-related fields, such as cleaning services, also applied for TRUSTMARK certification. It’s a confirmation that we understood the need well,” says Claudiu.<\/p>\n Ca s\u0103 verific\u0103m \u00eenc\u0103l\u021b\u0103mintea cizmarului, l-am \u00eentrebat pe Claudiu Aiftimiei cum a reac\u021bionat Systema la tot ce a adus pandemia.<\/p>\n \u201eA fost o situa\u021bie nea\u0219teptat\u0103, o schimbare foarte brusc\u0103. Serviciile de certificare impun auditul la fa\u021ba locului, dar mai to\u021bi clien\u021bii \u00ee\u0219i suspendaser\u0103 activitatea sau se mutaser\u0103 \u00een online. Cursuri de calificare nu puteam \u021bine, nici m\u0103car partea teoretic\u0103, deoarce nu au fost de acord autorit\u0103\u021bile competente. Nu \u0219tiam nici c\u00e2t va dura, a\u0219a \u00eenc\u00e2t prima reac\u021bie a fost de a limita cheltuielile neproductive<\/em>;<\/strong> am implementat telemunca<\/strong> acolo unde a fost posibil, am \u00eenfiin\u021bat o Celul\u0103 intern\u0103 de criz\u0103<\/em>,<\/strong> activ\u0103 zilnic, prin intermediul c\u0103reia luam rapid deciziile importante \u2013 operativitate vital\u0103 \u00een contextul \u00een care situa\u021bia se schimba rapid (vineri plecam \u00eencrez\u0103tori de la birou, iar luni reveneam \u00een cu totul alt context, mai negativ). Comunicarea a fost esen\u021bial\u0103<\/strong> – s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2nal Directorul general transmitea un email c\u0103tre tot personalul firmei, cu prezentarea situa\u021biei financiare, tehnice \u0219i a unor detalii legate de s\u0103n\u0103tatea colegilor. Apoi, pe m\u0103sur\u0103 ce au \u00eenceput s\u0103 se limpezeasc\u0103 apele, am mutat mare parte din servicii \u00een mediul online \u0219i am dezvoltat chiar acest produs nou, certificarea TRUSTMARK .<\/strong><\/p>\n It was very important to know our internal levers and to have a coherent organisation so that we could resize the budget without affecting the viability of the business, and for that I thank my auditors and my demanding colleagues.”<\/p>\n Any advice for entrepreneurs<\/strong> from your experience as a general manager and ISO specialist?<\/p>\n “Optimism and a positive attitude towards change must be maintained, but it must be coupled with education and rigour.<\/strong> The Romanian is resourceful, and that can be his curse.<\/strong> Why be a handful when you can get it right by doing things methodically, step by step<\/strong>?”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/eurostat\/statistics-explained\/images\/b\/ba\/Enterprise_birth_rates%2C_business_economy%2C_2016_-_2017_%28%25%29_.png\")
<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n