What is ISO 9001:2000?
ISO 9001:2000 Quality management systems - Requirements is intended for use in any organization which designs, develops, manufactures, installs and/or services any product or provides any form of service. It provides a number of requirements which an organization needs to fulfill if it is to achieve customer satisfaction through consistent products and services which meet customer expectations. This is the only implementation for which third-party auditors may grant certifications.
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· Equal Footing: each country is on an equal footing to influence the direction of ISO's work at the strategic level, as well as the technical content of its individual standards.
· Voluntary and Market Driven: ISO standards are voluntary. ISO is a non-governmental organization and has no legal authority to enforce their implementation. However, it may be market-driven.
· Consensus: although voluntary, these standards are developed in response to market demand and based on consensus among the interested parties, ensuring the widespread applicability of the standards
· Worldwide: ISO standards are technical agreements which provide the framework for technology that is compatible worldwide.
- · Customer focus - organizations depend on their customers, and therefore need to shape activities around the fulfillment of customer and market need.
· Leadership - is needed to provide unity of purpose and direction within the organization.
· Involvement of people - creates an environment where people become fully involved in achieving the organization’s objectives.
· Process approach - to achieve organizational objectives, resources and activities need to be managed as processes, with an understanding of how the outputs of one process affect the inputs to another.
· System approach to management - the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization depends upon a systemized approach to work activities.
· Continual improvement - adopting this as a part of everyday culture is a key objective for an organization. One can never stand still.
· Fact based decision-making - effective decisions are based on the logical and intuitive analysis of data and factual information.
· Mutually beneficial supplier relationships - such relationships will enhance the ability to create value.
· ISO standards contribute to the development, manufacturing and supply of products and services more efficient, safer and cleaner.
· ISO Certification gives a standardized dimension to the company.
· The process approach of the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System emphasizes the importance of:
- Understanding and meeting requirements
- Need to consider processes in terms of added value
- Obtaining results of process performance and effectiveness, and
- Continual improvement of processes based bjective measurement.
· Advantage of being ISO certified
· Being ISO Certified is more or less as a benchmark and hence raises the organizations' capability to export and compete on global markets.
· ISO helps the organization to move from compliance to achieving results.
· ISO 9001 is an international reference for quality requirements in business to business dealings.
· Improvement in management, customer service and efficiency through reduced customer complaints and reduced cycle times.
