ISO 9000 Translated into Plain English

SITE MAP

TABLE OF
CONTENTS

ALPHABETICAL
SITE INDEX

ISO 9000

ISO 9001

ISO 9002

ISO 9003

ISO 9004

ISO 10011

ISO 10013

Introduction

Definitions

Requirements

Guidelines

Theory

Audit Standard

Service Standard

Software Standard

Our Quality System Development Plan

Our Internal Audit Programs

Our ISO 9001
Internal Audit
Program

Our ISO 9002
Internal Audit
Program

Our ISO 9003
Internal Audit
Program

Our Programs and Publications

Our Quality
Guarantee

Our Quality
Awards

Our Link
Partners

How to set up a
Link to our Website

How to Order
our Programs
and Publications

How to
Contact Us

Other ISO 9000 Resources

Other Useful
Websites

ISO 9000 is rapidly becoming the most
popular quality standard in the world.
Thousands of organizations have already
adopted this important standard, and many
more are in the process of doing so.

ISO 9000 applies to all types of organizations. It doesn't matter what size they are or what they do. It can help both product and service oriented organizations achieve standards of quality that are recognized and respected throughout the world.

Here's how it works. You decide that you need to develop a quality system that meets the ISO 9000 standards. You choose to follow this path because you feel the need to control the quality of your products and services, to reduce the costs associated with poor quality, or to become more competitive. Or, you choose this path simply because your customers expect you to do so or because a regulatory body has made it mandatory.

You then develop a quality system that
meets the quality requirements specified
by one of the following three standards:
ISO 9001, ISO 9002, or ISO 9003. In the
course of doing so, you also consider ISO's
many guidelines. These guidelines include
ISO 9000, ISO 9004, ISO 10011, and ISO 10013.

Once your quality system has been
developed and implemented, you carry
out an internal audit to make sure your
system is working properly.

Then you invite an accredited
external auditor (registrar) to evaluate the effectiveness of your quality system. If your auditors like what they see, they will certify that your quality system has met all of ISO's requirements. They will then issue an official certificate to you and they will record your achievement in their registry. You can then announce to the world that the quality of your products and services is managed, controlled, and assured by a registered ISO 9000 quality system.

This website discusses the ISO 9000 quality standards. It discusses both requirements and guidelines.

ISO's requirements include ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003. And ISO's guidelines include ISO 9000, ISO 9004, ISO 10011, and ISO 10013. For the benefit of those who appreciate clarity, we have "translated" these requirements and guidelines into plain English.

Since ISO wants you to meet their
requirements and to follow their guidelines
by developing a quality system, we have
created a Quality System Development Plan.
If you need to implement ISO 9000, this plan will help you do it.

Once you've implemented ISO 9000, you
can't stop there. You also have to audit
your quality system. To help you out,
we've developed the following three
Internal Quality Audit Programs: ISO 9001 Internal Audit Program ISO 9002 Internal Audit Program ISO 9003 Internal Audit Program

Finally, if you're serious about ISO 9000, you'll also need to understand the big picture.
In order to help you out, we've defined ISO's concepts using ordinary English, and we've developed a simple theoretical framework that explains what ISO 9000 is all about.

As you can see, our ISO 9000 website covers a lot of ground. So please have a look around. We believe you'll like what you find.

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The publisher and authors have used their best efforts in designing and developing these publications. We make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of these publications and specifically disclaim any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.