Iso 9000: Meeting the New International Standards

American firms that plan to do business in Europe will need ISO 9000 product certification, the comprehensive quality system standards that have already been adopted by most European nations. This book is a comprehensive guide to ISO 9000 standards and certification, written for the vast majority of American executives and managers who have little or no knowledge of these international standards. Written by one of America's foremost quality and productivity improvement consultants, this book shows how ISO 9000 certification can give US firms a real competitive advantage. The book describes the three basic parts of the ISO 9000 standards - design, manufacturing, and final inspection and test procedures. It targets the 20 most important sections of the standards, including contract review, purchasing, process control, and training, each of which covers a specific aspect of a firm's production system and specifies the required standards. With the addition of case studies describing successful certification efforts, this guide outlines the most cost-effective approach to certification, providing proven techniques that are largely unknown in the United States. It shows why ISO 9000 will eventually take a firm hold in the United States and how adoption of the standards by US businesses will help support global unified quality standards. Already a de facto requirement for doing business in the European Community, ISO 9000 certification will have a profound impact on the way American firms do business overseas now and in the future.