The internationally recognised ISO 9001 standard is generic. It is not a product standard, but applicable to any manufacturing or service industry. Created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), its objective is to set international requirements for Quality Management Systems.
Upgraded version
ISO 9001:2000 is the latest version of the standard, issued December 15, 2000. The new edition has combined 1994 editions of ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003.
What is different?
The new standard places more emphasis on continual improvement and customer satisfaction than the 1994 versions. It applies to the processes of an organisation that influence quality.
The major clauses in the new standard are:
- Quality Management System
- Management Responsibility
- Resource Management
- Product Realisation
- Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement
Where do I go from here?
For third party certification, you need to implement an effective Quality Management System complying with the requirements of the standard. The first step is to get on the road to certification.
