1. Identify the goals you want to achieve. Typical goals may be:

• Be more efficient and profitable
• Produce products and services that consistently meet customer requirements
• Achieve customer satisfaction
• Increase market share
• Maintain market share
• Improve communications and morale in the organization
• Reduce costs and liabilities
• Increase confidence in the production system

• Customers and end users
• Employees
• Suppliers
• Shareholders
• Society

• The general information can be found on this website.
• For detailed information see the following standards: ISO 9000:2000, ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 9004:2000 (they are protected by copyright and can be ordered online here )
• For supporting information in English language refer to the official website of the International Organization for Standardization ISO
• Some interesting information on the certification development worldwide

• The ISO 9000:2000 standard as the basis for certification
• The ISO 9000:2000 standard in combination with other standards' requirements

• ISO 10006 Quality management - Guidelines for project management
• ISO 10007 Quality management - Guidelines for configuration management
• ISO 10012 Requirements for assurance of quality of measurement systems
• ISO 10013 Guidelines for preparation of quality documentation
• ISO/TR 10014 Guidelines for managing the economics of quality
• ISO 10015 Quality management - Guidelines for training
• ISO 19011 Guidelines for auditing (so far not issued as a CSN standard as well)

        6. Establish your current status, determine the gaps between your quality management system and the requirements of ISO 9001:2000. You may use one or more of the following

• Self assessment
• Assessment by an external consultancy company

        7. Determine the processes that are needed to supply products to your customers. Review the requirements of the ISO 9001:2000 section on Product Realization to determine how they apply or do not apply to your quality management system including:

• Customer related processes
• Design and/or development
• Purchasing
• Production and service operations
• Control of measuring and monitoring devices

        8. Develop a plan to close the gaps in step 6 and to develop the processes in step 7 Identify actions needed to close the gaps, allocate resources to perform these actions, assign responsibilities and establish a schedule to complete the needed actions. ISO 9001:2000 Paragraphs 4.1 and 7.1 provide the information you will need to consider when developing the plan.

        9. Carry out your plan. Proceed to implement the identified actions and track progress to your schedule

     10. Undergo periodic internal assessment. Use ISO 19011 for guidance in auditing, auditor qualification and managing audit programmes

     11. Do you need to demonstrate conformance? If yes, go to step 12. If no, go to step 13. You may need or wish to show conformance for various purposes, for example:

• Contractual requirements
• Market reasons or customer preference
• Regulatory requirements
• Risk management
• To set a clear goal for your internal quality development (motivation)

     12. Undergo independent audit. Engage an accredited certification company to perform an audit and certify that your quality management system complies with the requirements of ISO 9001:2000.

     13. Continue to improve your business. Review the effectiveness and suitability of your quality management system. ISO 9004:2000 provides a methodology for improvement.