ISO 9000 and Total Quality

If is important fir quality practitioners and researchers to understand -what the ISO 9000 series of standards is and what it is not, This article emphasizes that the standards did not invent quality systems or even standards for quality systems. Nor were the standards invented by the Japanese, Nor is the ISO 9000 series intended to he a standard for total quality. The ISO 9000 series is, however, a uniform, consistent set of procedures, elements, and requirements for quality assurance that can he applied universally to any total quality system. Its widespread adoption by companies and nations has brought about harmonization on an international scale, and has supported the growing impact of quality as a strategic factor in international trade. It is important to remember, however, that the national and international communities of quality professionals have a serious responsibility to see that the ISO 9000 series is properly used and promoted to create the correct and beneficial awareness and improvement in quality in its broadest sense.