What is an ISO 9000 ?
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a global organization that develops and publishes standards to ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of products, services, and systems. It brings together representatives from various national standards organizations and is a non-governmental body focused on creating guidelines for a wide range of industries.
ISO 9000 is a set of quality management standards developed by ISO to help organizations document the necessary elements for maintaining an effective quality system. These standards are applicable across different industries and are not limited to any specific sector or company size. ISO 9000, first introduced in 1987, provides best practices, guidelines, and a standardized vocabulary for quality management.
ISO 9000 series of Standards
The ISO 9000 family contains these standards:
ISO 9001:2015: Quality Management Systems—Requirements
ISO 9000:2015: Quality Management Systems: Fundamentals and Vocabulary (definitions)
ISO 9004:2018: Quality Management—Quality of an Organization—Guidance to Achieve Sustained Success (continuous improvement)
ISO 19011:2018: Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems