From an internal perspective, there are many benefits to ISO 9000 standard compliance. Such programs enable a manufacturer to institute, monitor, and improve quality assurance systems and help reduce operating costs. They also encourage nonmanufacturing groups to get more involved in quality matters, including quality improvement programs. Achieving compliance with and certification to an ISO standard depends on a number of steps. Initially, a representative of the manufacturer should investigate the benefits, basic cost, and process of achieving ISO 9000 certification.
Information is available from many books, journals, and trade and professional associations.
An ISO 9000 steering committee with a defined and documented role should then be formed. Each committee member should be thoroughly familiar with the ISO 9000 standards. Information is available through associations such as the American National Standards Institute and the American Society for Quality Control. The committee should determine the ISO 9000 standard with which the company plans to comply. For a site where products are developed and modified a company would normally pick ISO 9001, which includes design control requirements.