Universal Standards of Quality

ISO 9000

Introduction

During the 1980s international trade has been increased. It created a great potential for the implementation of universal standards of quality. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published its first set of standards for quality management called ISO 9000 in 1987 and the universal standards were seen as necessary in order for companies to be able to objectively document their quality practices around the world. The objective of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is to establish agreement on international quality standards. It currently has members from 91 countries. Main objective of the ISO is, to develop and promote international quality standards. ISO 9000 consists of a set of standards and a certification process for Organizations. Organization can demonstrate that they have met the specified standards by receiving ISO 9000 certification from international organization for standardization. The standards have gained global acceptance and are applicable to all types of companies. ISO certification has become a major requirement for doing business in many industries. Also, European Community have been adopted ISO 9000 standards as a benchmark for companies doing business in Europe. The first major changes to ISO 9000 were made in December 2000, by introducing the following new standards

 Quality Management Systems Fundamentals and Standards (ISO 9000:2000): It is the starting point for understanding the system of standards and it provides the terminology and definitions used in the standards.

 Quality Management Systems Requirements (ISO 9001:2000): This is the standard used for the certification of an organization’s quality management system as well as to demonstrate the c...

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...ip, people and customers. It may also inhibit exactly those things by being, to a degree, bureaucratic and top-down in nature.

Reference

Websites

• ASQ (American Society for Quality). “ISO 9000.” 9/24/01 http://www.asq.org/stand/types/iso9000.html

• Emporia State University. “ISO 9000.” 9/24/01 http://www.emporia.edu/ibed/jour/jour14om/iso9000.htm

• International Standards Organization. “The Magical Demystifying Tour of ISO 9000 and ISO 14000.” 9/24/01 http://www.iso.org/iso/home/standards/management-standards/iso_9000.htm

• Praxiom Research Group Limited. “"WHAT" Questions about ISO 9000.” 9/24/01 http://praxiom.com/faq2.htm

Books

• Quality Management, Graeme Knowles, Ventus publishing Aps (2011)

• Total Quality Management, P N Mukherjee, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. (2006)

• Total Quality Management, Subburaj Ramasamy, Tata McGraw-hill Education Pvt. Ltd (2005)