By mid-1996, over 10,000 companies in the United States had achieved ISO registration-a staggering jump from the 100 registered at the end of 1991. Why the explosive growth? For many, ISO registration acts as proof that the company has an outstanding and continuously improving quality process. As registration continues to grow at a rate of more than 400 companies a month, it's clear that the ISO/QS phenomenon shows no sign of slowing down.
To become ISO/QS-9000 registered, a company needs an effective plan. Because the average process can take 12 to 18 months, it's important to know exactly what steps need to be taken - from start to finish. And that's where this book comes in. Passing Your ISO 9000/QS-9000 Audit is a clearly written, step-by-step guide to passing the external audit and getting your company ISO/QS-9000 registered.
Passing Your ISO 9000/QS-9000 Audit is ideal for "ISO champions" and "management representatives"-those individuals within a company charged with implementing the ISO/QS-9000 process-as well as corporate executives interested in knowing more about the program. Using this book as a guide, any ISO champion should be able to effectively prepare his or her company for successful ISO registration.