In this episode of The Quality Hub, Xavier Francis speaks with CORE consultant Brian Smith in Celebration of World Health and Safety day, about ISO 45001 and what it really takes to build a lasting safety culture. Brian explains that while quality systems are often driven from the top, safety culture must be built from the ground up, with frontline employees empowered to identify hazards, report near misses, and even stop work when something feels unsafe. The conversation emphasizes that leadership’s role is not to control safety directly, but to provide resources, encouragement, and proof through action that safety matters more than productivity or profit. They also discuss the importance of proactive hazard reviews, psychological safety, fatigue, stress, and avoiding incentives that accidentally discourage honest reporting. Overall, the episode argues that lasting safety culture depends on trust, employee ownership, and leaders consistently backing safety concerns with real support.

Helpful Resources:

ISO 45001:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-45001

For All Things ISO 9001:2015: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-9001-2015

Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at [email protected]

ISO 9001 Standards: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-90012015-standard-1

Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources

ISO 9001 Consulting: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-consulting

In this episode of Quality Hub: Chatting with ISO Experts, Xavier Francis and Core Business Solutions President Scott Dawson unpack how ISO 9001 certification can affect a company’s bottom line, explaining that while certification comes with real costs like audits, consulting, and staff time, the bigger payoff comes when organizations use ISO as a framework for meaningful improvement rather than treating it as a box-checking exercise. They discuss how a strong quality management system can reduce waste, improve efficiency, strengthen employee engagement, and more, all while elevating a company’s credibility in competitive markets where certification is often expected. The episode emphasizes that the real financial return from ISO comes through what ISO 9001 can provide, that turns certification into a driver of long-term growth and measurable savings.

Helpful Resources:

How is ISO 9001 Implemented?:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/how-is-iso-9001-implemented

For All Things ISO 9001:2015: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-9001-2015

Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at [email protected]

A Plethora of Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources

ISO 9001 Consulting: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-consulting

In this episode of Quality Hub, Xavier Francis sits down with Core Business Solutions VP of Consulting and Development, Suzanne Strausser, to unpack the real purpose of ISO 9001 and why it remains such a valuable framework for organizations of all sizes. Together, they explore how ISO 9001 helps businesses create consistent, repeatable processes, and others, and build a quality management system that supports continual improvement rather than just compliance. Suzanne also breaks down key concepts like PDCA, risk-based thinking, common misconceptions about certification, and the measurable benefits companies can expect when ISO 9001 is implemented effectively, making this a practical and approachable conversation for anyone new to the standard or considering certification.

Helpful Resources:

How is ISO 9001 Implemented?:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/how-is-iso-9001-implemented

For All Things ISO 9001:2015: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-9001-2015

Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at [email protected]

A Plethora of Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources

ISO 9001 Consulting: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-consulting

On this episode of the Quality Hub, Chatting with ISO Experts it’s In Part 2 in the series on the human side of quality! Host Xavier Francis continues his conversation with Kaitlin Wierzbach, Consultant at Core Business Solutions,  exploring how people-centered quality systems drive real performance. This episode examines common mistakes that unintentionally disengage employees and explains what aspects can lead to involvement, improved consistency, customer satisfaction, and organizational resilience. Kaitlin emphasizes that when leadership makes quality safe, ISO 9001 becomes a living system that strengthens both culture and results.

Helpful Resources:

How is ISO 9001 Implemented?:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/how-is-iso-9001-implemented

For All Things ISO 9001:2015: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-9001-2015

Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at [email protected]

A Plethora of Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources

ISO 9001 Consulting: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-consulting

In this episode of The Quality Hub: Chatting with ISO Experts, host Xavier Francis is joined by Kaitlin Wierzbach, Consultant at Core Business Solutions, for Part 1 of a deep dive into the human side of quality—where purpose and performance truly intersect. The conversation explores the cultural warning signs of a quality management system, why compliance-driven systems often fail in practice, and what changes when organizations shift from checking boxes for audits to using quality as a tool for real improvement. Kaitlin shares practical insights on leadership involvement, employee engagement, documentation that reflects reality, and how embedding quality into everyday work transforms ISO 9001 from an obligation into a living system that drives trust, accountability, and customer satisfaction.

Helpful Resources:

How is ISO 9001 Implemented?:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/how-is-iso-9001-implemented

For All Things ISO 9001:2015: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-9001-2015

Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at [email protected]

A Plethora of Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources

ISO 9001 Consulting: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-consulting

In this episode of The Quality Hub, host Xavier Francis sits down with Core Business Solutions consultant Joe Hill to explore how organizations can integrate multiple ISO audits into a single, streamlined assessment. They discuss the difference between combined and integrated audits, how modern ISO standards share a harmonized structure that makes integration easier, and why bringing multiple systems together can reduce redundancy and improve efficiency. Joe shares insights from his years in certification auditing, explaining how integrated systems provide a more holistic view of organizational performance, improve communication across departments, and can even reduce audit time and cost. The conversation also covers common challenges, best practices for designing an integrated assessment, and practical advice for organizations looking to add new standards without creating siloed processes.

Helpful Resources:

Auditing Services:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-auditing-services

How is ISO 9001 Implemented?:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/how-is-iso-9001-implemented

For All Things ISO 9001:2015: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-9001-2015

Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at [email protected]

A Plethora of Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources

ISO 9001 Consulting: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-consulting

In this episode of The Quality Hub: Chatting with ISO Experts, host Xavier Francis sits down with consultant Bree Bailey to demystify the ISO 9001 certification audit and take the fear out of the word “audit.” From what a certification audit actually is, to how Stage 1 and Stage 2 work, what auditors are really looking for, and how findings are handled, Bree walks listeners through the entire process in a clear, practical, and reassuring way. Whether you’re new to ISO 9001, preparing for your first certification audit, or heading into recertification, this conversation breaks down the structure, expectations, and purpose of the audit so you know exactly what to expect—and how to be successful.

Helpful Resources:

How is ISO 9001 Implemented?:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/how-is-iso-9001-implemented

For All Things ISO 9001:2015: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-9001-2015

Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at [email protected]

A Plethora of Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources

ISO 9001 Consulting: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-consulting

In this episode of The Quality Hub, Chatting with ISO Experts, host Xavier Francis is joined by Core Business Solutions consultant Yarelis Rios to explore the ISO 9001 internal audit process and its real purpose within a quality management system. Drawing on over two decades of experience in engineering and quality leadership, Yarelis explains how internal audits should go beyond simple compliance checks to evaluate process effectiveness, identify risks, and uncover opportunities for continual improvement. The discussion covers how auditors can shift from a “policing” mindset to a collaborative, value-adding approach, how leadership and risk-based thinking are evaluated, and the differences between nonconformities, opportunities for improvement, and observations. Listeners will gain practical insights on using internal audit results to strengthen decision-making, support management review, and drive long-term organizational performance.

Helpful Resources:

How is ISO 9001 Implemented?:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/how-is-iso-9001-implemented

For All Things ISO 9001:2015: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-9001-2015

Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at [email protected]

A Plethora of Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources

ISO 9001 Consulting: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-consulting

In this episode of The Quality Hub: Chatting with ISO Experts, Xavier Francis interviews Beau Butaud of Render Compliance to break down what SOC 2 is, who it’s for, and whether it’s worth pursuing. They discuss how SOC 2 serves as a third-party audit that builds trust between B2B companies handling sensitive data, explain the five Trust Services Criteria with a focus on security, and clarify the differences between SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 reports. The conversation also compares SOC 2 to ISO 27001, outlines typical costs and annual renewal expectations, and offers practical advice for organizations considering certification, emphasizing the importance of planning, proper scoping, and working with experienced professionals.

Helpful Resources:

Beau Butaud - Email: [email protected], Website: rendercompliance.com,

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beaubutaud/

SOC 2 Compliance:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/soc-2-compliance

For All Things ISO 9001:2015: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-9001-2015

Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at [email protected]

A Plethora of Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources

ISO 9001 Consulting: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-consulting

In this episode of the Quality Hub, Chatting with ISO Experts, Xavier Francis and CMMC consultant Ty Elliott discuss the current state of CMMC following the November 10, 2025 implementation of the final rule integrating CMMC 2.0 into federal contracting requirements. They explain what’s required now—Level 2 self-assessments for companies handling CUI—and what’s coming next, including mandatory third-party certification beginning November 10, 2026. The episode emphasizes that compliance is no longer optional, self-attestations carry legal risk, and organizations must begin preparing immediately to remain eligible for defense contracts.

Helpful Resources:

What is CMMC?:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/nist-cmmc-3

CMMC Webinars: https://www.thecoresolution.com/cybersecurity-webinars

The Core Vault Solution: https://www.thecoresolution.com/core-vault

Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at [email protected]

A Plethora of Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources