Foreword

What is ISO 9001:2000?

ISO 9001:2000 is the latest version of a quality management standard which has been in existence for many years and which has been applied by more than 300,000 organisations world-wide. It specifies minimum requirements for a quality management system where an organisation needs to:

Demonstrate its ability to provide consistently a product that meets customer and applicable regulatory requirements and to:
Address customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, developing processes for continual improvement and the prevention of errors and mistakes.

ISO 9001:2000 and the SME

A successful SME needs to:

Identify and meet the needs and expectations of its customers and other interested parties, i.e. employees, suppliers, owners, society, to achieve competitive advantage and to do this in an effective and efficient manner.
Achieve, maintain and improve overall performance and capabilities.

The application of the ISO 9001:2000 standard can help you achieve these objectives. SMEs wishing to implement the standard may wish to seek the services of a consultant [see Part 5 - Implementing the Quality Management System].

Certification

If you are thinking about implementing the ISO 9001:2000 standard in your organisation, third party certification is an option available to you. Part 6 provides advice on the selection of a suitable certification body.

There are both advantages and disadvantages in implementing ISO 9001:2000 and achieving certification. In summary, these are:

Perceived benefits/advantages of ISO 9001:2000 certification

Improvement in "bottom line" profit through:
- Better efficiency
- Continual improvement
- Less waste
Consistent control of key processes
Possible reduction in insurance premiums
Promotion and standardisation of good working practices
Greater marketing appeal and improved public relations
Meeting the requirements for inclusion on some tender lists.
Provision of a vehicle for training new employees
The effective management of risk
Provision of a vehicle for introducing a culture for opportunity
Increasing the potential for world-wide recognition

Perceived disadvantages of ISO 9000:2000 certification

Costly to obtain and maintain
Lengthy time-scale to obtain certification
Time-consuming development
Difficult to implement
Organisational resistance to change
Staff resistance to change
Hard to maintain enthusiasm for the system
More documentation

Accreditation

Most certification bodies have been accredited by their national accreditation body. In the UK, this is the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, [UKAS], [see Part 6]. Accreditation is part of a hierarchy of assurance. It is granted to a certification body as recognition that it meets and continues to meet internationally accepted criteria. These criteria cover integrity and technical competence, and the capability of staff to assess companies to the ISO 9000:1994 series of standards and to ISO 9001:2000 in specific business areas to a consistent level of quality. The accrediting authority ensures that the certification body conforms to these criteria, which include the qualification and experience of auditors, the time spent on auditing and surveillance and the need for impartiality.

A most important aspect of impartiality is the requirement that certification bodies should not have provided consultancy to their clients. Where the same organisation has both advised an organisation on the development and implementation of its quality system and then assessed it as satisfactory, the objectivity of the certification is seriously impaired.

Next: Part One

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