Belsito confirms that their path to registration had its share of problems, but he adds that Precision Printers' culture helped the process along. Our greatest challenge was knowing our customers and recognizing that their quality systems have become more sophisticated and require greater control of supplied products. It became obvious that we needed a documented quality system. Overcoming obstacles to registration Small businesses may meet a variety of both internal and external obstacles on their road to registration. Knowing that these obstacles exist will greatly simplify the path to ISO 9000 registration.
Help is there for the companies that search for it.
State and local funding for ISO 9000 training is available in many states, particularly those that recognize the importance of ISO 9000 in boosting the economy by allowing small businesses to expand into other lucrative markets. Some of the more progressive states are even beginning to see the value in offering funding for the registration process itself. The federal government, through the Small Business Administration, offers low-cost business loans to companies for a variety of uses, from training to large equipment purchases. These loans could be used to supplement a small company's ISO 9000 initiative from training and implementation through to registration. A recent development in the ISO 9000 world primarily directed toward small companies is the creation of small business consortiums that are cropping up around the country.