There is more to quality than ISO 9000

Significant controversy has surrounded ISO9000/BS5750 and its implementation in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The majority of the controversy is a consequence of the differing interpretations of the standard by consultants and assessors. This situation is understandable when one reflects on the content and the wording of the standards which imply that the intention of the standards is not to impose uniformity but for organisations to interpret the requirements to best suit their operation. There is a strong school of thought coming forward which suggests that ISO 9000 Registration is not the right tool for looking at management systems in the vast majority of small businesses. The author discusses the controversy and compares the UK situation with other countries