The International Standards Organization (ISO) has defined the elements of an effective Quality Management System (QMS) and calls it the ISO 9000 Family of Standards. The standards issued in 1994 were revised in December 2000....and are known as the ISO 9000:2000 set of standards.

There is a "Family of ISO 9000 Documents", but as of December 2000, the ONLY document to which Certification is granted is ISO 9001:2000.

What are the benefits of implementing a 9001 QMS?
ISO 9001:2000 is a World Class Quality Management System for companies who have a Business Objective to improve their customer satisfaction. Its adoption should be a strategic decision by the top management of an organization. The application of quality management principles not only provides direct benefits but also makes an important contribution to managing costs and risks. Benefit, cost and risk management considerations are important for the organization, its customers and other interested parties. These considerations on overall performance of the organization may impact:

	customer loyalty
	repeat business and referral
	operational results such as revenue and market share
	flexible and fast responses to market opportunities
	costs and cycle times through effective and efficient use of resources
	alignment of processes which will best achieve desired results,
	competitive advantage through improved organizational capabilities
	understanding and motivation of people towards the organization's goals and objectives, as well as participation in continual improvement
	confidence of interested parties in the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization, as demonstrated by the financial and social benefits from the organization's performance, product life cycle, and reputation
	ability to create value for both the organization and its suppliers by optimization of costs and resources as well as flexibility and speed of joint responses to changing markets.