KC 3.4.3 - ISO 9001:2000

The term ISO 9000 refers to a set of quality management standards. ISO 9000 includes three quality standards: ISO 9000:2000, ISO 9001:2000, and ISO 9004:2000. ISO 9001:2000 presents requirements, while ISO 9000:2000 and ISO 9004:2000 present guidelines. All of these are process standards (not product standards).

ISO first published its quality standards in 1987, revised them in 1994, and then republished an updated version in 2000. These new standards are referred to as the "ISO 9000 2000 Standards".

ISO Implementation

When the Organization’s mission is formalized to control or improve the quality of your products and services, to reduce the costs associated with poor quality, or to become more competitive, it needs to develop a quality management system that meets the requirements specified by ISO 9001:2000. ISO 9004:2000 guidelines help guide the organization to achieve the requirements specified by ISO 9000:2000.

Once the QMS has been fully developed and implemented, internal Audit needs to be carried out to evaluate the compliance with the ISO 9000:2000 requirements and when it is fully compliant, an ISO Auditor has to be invited to do the Audit and based on the Audit performance, the certification will be awarded by the Certification body. Go to reference [1] for further info on the principles & guidelines.

ISO Resources – very good ones:
1. ISO 9001 2000
2. ISO 14001 2004
3. ISO 13485 2003ISO 17799 2000