Recommendations for Implementing Iso 9000 Standards

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Subject: Recommendations for Implementing ISO 9000 Standards

We recently had a meeting in which the subject of ISO 9000 certification was raised. During the meeting there were some opinions of why we should implement ISO 9000 standards and some opinions of why this wouldn't be a good choice for the company.

I have read the minutes of the meeting and done some additional research into the benefits and drawbacks of implementing the ISO 9000 standards and I've come up with the following suggestions. First, top management needs to develop a quality policy that reflects the organization's attitude to quality. Second, the quality policy needs to be communicated throughout the organization making sure that management is backing the idea of a new quality policy. And thirdly, a management representative needs to be appointed to monitor the Quality System and conduct regular reviews to ensure the health of the system.

There are many benefits associated with the implementation of the ISO 9000 standards. One of these benefits is directly related to having an appointed manager monitoring the Quality System and conducting regular reviews to ensure its health. A healthy system allows for processes to be monitored, documented, and streamlined to eliminate any variations which might cause problems. Eliminating variations doesn't just reduce problems but it also helps create better products and services, improves customer satisfaction, improves profit levels, and improves communication and fosters the idea of quality both internally and externally. Improved communication also comes from communicating the quality policy throughout the organization. This shows employees and customers, both internally and externally, that the firm is serious about the implementation of these standards and that they expect employees to adhere to them as well.

I recommend that ISO 9000 standards are implemented right away starting with the development of a quality policy by top management. The quality policy needs to reflect the organization's commitment and attitude to achieving quality and working for continuous improvement. Once the quality policy is developed it is imperative that it is communicated throughout the organization. This will solidify to employees that management is serious about the management of quality. An important point in implementing ISO 9000 standards is to select a management representative to monitor the Quality System and to conduct reviews to insure its health. The implementation of ISO 9000 standards creates a company that is proactive instead of reactive. We need to prevent a problem before