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ISO 9000: Getting Over the So-Called Disadvantages of Quality Management Systems

by Ahmad Rajab
http://www.ahmadrajab.com

The benefits of being certified to an ISO 9000 assurance system is a topic of debate amongst those who run businesses. Many companies view such systems as a necessity only because customers require it, and not because it actually helps in keeping the business running smoothly. Certain types of businesses for example, such as companies in the aircraft manufacturing industry, are required by law to have an IS0 quality management system. But if it were up to the industry, it's fairly safe to say that some of them may not bother with the ISO 9000 family of standards. Indeed, ISO 9000 quality management systems are mostly seen as a means to sell to customers.

Money and time are often cited as the main disadvantages of ISO 9000. There's no denying the fact that implementing and running an ISO 9000 compliant system is expensive. The task of preparing company information and writing a company manual, as well as company standard operating procedures can be expensive, largely because you have to bring in consultants from outside firms and organizations to handle part of the work for you. Not only does this cost money, it can also take up a lot of your time and other resources. It's generally understood that the larger your business, the more money and time you will have to spend in order to get an ISO 9000 certification.

All this doesn't even include the costs of the annual audit, which can easily run up to thousands of dollars. The services of registrars and auditors don't come cheap after all, and you may have to spend for their expenses, such as travel and lodging during the auditing process.

Despite the seemingly overwhelming disadvantages, an effective ISO 9000 quality system still presents some major benefits that cannot be ignored. Believe it or not, an effective quality management system can easily pay off for the costs of putting it up over the long run. If you start early for example, you could maximize your operations, increase productivity, and end up raking in more profits than you would have without a quality management system.

Of course, the tricky part here is getting over the concept of spending now, in order to save more in the future. This is an idea that is not too captivating for people who like to live in the now. Still ISO quality systems can yield tremendous results, and the costs could easily be mitigated if you choose to do things on your own.

CG Business Consulting Ltd specialise in implementing & delivering ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001 Environmental systems. Visit us at http://www.cgbusinessconsulting.com

Article submitted Saturday, October 15, 2011 & read 28 times.

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