(ASQ: Milwaukee) -- As time runs out for businesses currently registered to ISO 9001:2000 to make the transition and become registered to the ISO 9001:2008 quality management system, the American Society for Quality (ASQ) is offering a free webinar to help make the transition easier. “ISO 9001:2008 Explained” will be offered, live, at 1 p.m. CDT, Wednesday, April 21. Participants can register at www.asq.org/webinars/iso-9001-2008-explained.html.

ISO 9001 is used to increase confidence in products and services offered by certified organizations and provide the framework for organizations to evaluate their quality management systems. This standard applies to any size organization—small, medium, or large—and all types of organizations—private or public sector. The 2008 version replaces the year 2000 version currently implemented in 170 countries worldwide. All businesses registered to the ISO 9001:2000 standard must recertify to the ISO 9001:2008 version by Nov. 14, 2010. Existing certifications to ISO 9001:2000 will be invalid after Nov. 14, 2010.

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