What Does ISO 9000 Indicate For The Buyer?

ISO 9000 is a set of accepted international standards. It is a world wide quality standard. It is the abbreviated form of International Organization for Standardization and is European in origin. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is a certification process which requires the fulfilment of certain quality standards. It is applicable to the design and manufacture products. Only companies that conform to the stringent standards of ISO 9000 would get its approval and certification.

An ISO 9000 certification indicates that the certified company follows well defined procedures to ensure good quality products. It is managed by the British Standards Institution's BS 5750. It is similar to ISO 14000 and is more concerned with the production part than the designing of the products. Thus it is more general in nature. It ensures that the companies employ the most efficient and effective manner of production.

ISO 9000 is part of the family of the International Standard Organisation for Standardization. It is a system that maintains standards for management and quality of products to benefit consumers. It is built with the intention of ensuring that each and every product produced is done so in the most systematic and effective manner possible. BS 5270 which is a part of the British Standards Institution developed the ISO 9000. Initially the standards were applied solely to manufacturing but recently they have been extended to include a many other kinds of organisations.

ISO 9000 resembles ISO14000. They are more concerned with the production of a commodity and uninterested in how it is designed. This is in direct contrast to ISO 216 which is very particular regarding both product and design and is even prescribes the exact size of paper.