ISO standards are the worldwide benchmark for quality, recognized in more than 90 countries. The requirements are divided into these and other areas:

• Establish a Quality System that includes identifying the processes that make up a quality system and implementing a quality management system.
• Document a Quality System by developing quality system documents, a quality system manual, control quality system documents and maintain quality system records.
• Support Quality by promoting the importance of quality, developing a quality management system and implementing the system.
• Promote Customer Satisfaction by identifying and meeting customer requirements, and then enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Establish a Quality Policy through defining a quality policy and ensuring that it facilitates the development of quality objectives.
• Carry Out Quality Planning by formulating quality objectives that are set for functional areas, facilitate product realization, support the quality policy and are measureable.
• Promote Quality Control by defining responsibilities and authorities to oversee and support the improvement of the quality management system.
• Perform Management Reviews, including the examination of opportunities to improve, feedback from customers, process performance information, corrective actions and the generation of actions to improve products and resources.
• Provide Quality Resources needed to support the quality system and to improved customer satisfaction.
• Provide quality personnel, ensuring that employees have the right experience, education, training and skills. Also identify and deliver training and awareness program needs.
• Provide Quality Infrastructure Needs, from buildings, workspaces, hardware, software, utilities and support services.

For a more complete look at ISO 9001 2000, visit www.praxiom.com/iso-9001.htm