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Subject:Re: ISO9000 (continued) From:"Ella M. Beale Peacock" <epeacock -at- DFW -dot- NET> Date:Wed, 3 Dec 1997 12:41:08 -0600
Hi All... Continuing on the ISO9000
thread.. I may have overlooked it in my
scanning, but I don't remember seeing
anyone mention one of the primary
reasons for seeking ISO9000 registry...
Global marketing...
More and more, global buyers use ISO9000
registry as a means for qualifying
vendors. If your quality system is
ISO9000 registered, selling certain
products in the global market is a lot
easier.
While it's true that ISO9000 specifies
the _minimum_ requirements and gives
latitude in how to conform, ISO9000 also
requires that your processes and
procedures be continually:
- documented and updated (good for us)
- implemented
- audited (both internally and
externally)
In other words, record what you are
doing, do what you have recorded, and
ensure your records and procedures
reflect what is actually occurring.
ISO9000 registry is not just a one shot
process. It requires commitment both in
time and money; however over the long
haul, it can also save money.
Got my indoctrination into ISO9000 while
working for a medical device
manufacturer. They were developing a new
device (heart perfusion pump) that would
be marketed in Germany, France, and
Italy. Without ISO9000 registry, the
device would have had to be tested and
certifed by each country's authority
(approximately USD300,000). Since all
three countries recognize ISO, the
device only required testing for
conformity to the more stringent
specifications not covered by ISO9000
(approximately USD100,000).
Cost savings - USD200,000.
TTYL
Ella
-------------------------------
Ella M. Beale Peacock
Tech Writer/Web Developer/Information
Architect/etc.
formerly a.k.a. Certified ISO9000
Internal Auditor
email: epeacock -at- dfw -dot- net
