(ISO: Geneva) -- ISO recently published on its web site a new electronic edition of its advice for managers, “Selection and use of the ISO 9000 family of standards.”

The ISO 9000 family consists of 17 international quality management standards and guidelines (plus a corrigendum), and has earned a reputation as a basis for establishing effective and efficient quality management systems.

The best known standard is ISO 9001, which specifies the basic requirements for a quality management system (QMS) that an organization must fulfill to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products (which include services) that enhance customer satisfaction and meet applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. The standard can be used for certification/registration and contractual purposes by organizations seeking recognition of their quality management system. It is estimated that a million ISO 9001 certificates have been issued in 170 countries.

ISO technical committee ISO/TC 176—“Quality management and quality assurance,” which is responsible for developing and maintaining the ISO 9000 family, and which has updated the e-brochure, states: “You will obtain the greatest value by using the entire family of standards in an integrated manner.”

The e-brochure provides a general perspective on the ISO 9000 family of standards.

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