First published in 1987, the standards were revised in 1994. They provide a foundation for organizations to develop or improve their quality assurance systems. What Every Executive Should Know about ISO 9000, describes the background and philosophy of the ISO system. Background A quality assurance system may be defined as the organizational structure, responsibilities, procedures, processes, and resources for implementing quality management. These systems cover a wide variety of activities encompassing a product's entire life cycle including planning, controlling, measuring, testing and reporting, and improving quality levels throughout the development and manufacturing process.
Quality assurance is a management function consisting of auditing and reporting activities.
These quality assurance functions help management determine the effectiveness of the quality system. ISO 9000 describes quality assurance elements in generic terms that can be applied to any business regardless of the products or services offered. The standards have been adopted by over 60 countries including all members of the European Community, Canada, Mexico, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Rim. Countries in Latin and South America have recently shown interest in the standards. Telecommunications equipment and medical devices are examples of product categories that must be supplied by ISO registered companies.