Randall's Practical Guide to ISO 9000 offers well-organized and easy-to-use coverage of how to understand, register for, and implement the new ISO 9000 Standard for certification. 0201633795B04062001 Richard C. Randall is the Southeast Regional Director for National Quality Assurance, U.S.A. (NQA), one of the largest and most successful ISO 9000 registrars in the world. He also served as the National Quality Manager for GE Electronic Services, and is a Registered Lead Assessor with expertise in electronics, test houses, process industries, and service industries. 0201633795AB04062001 About this Guide This guide is intended for those who have experience in the quality industry as well as those who are new to it. This guide is not intended to explore the total spectrum of developing a Total Quality Management (TQM) System - that would be well beyond its scope. The reader should realize and appreciate that virtually every individual section of ISO 9000 could easily have a complete book written on its topic. This guide is geared primarily toward discussing the practical quality concepts and principles necessary to develop and implement an ISO 9000-compliant quality system. This is accomplished through the use of "real world" examples presented in what I hope you will find an uncomplicated approach. This book should not be considered a substitute for a consultant. No advice or recommendations are given. Only examples and suggested possible approaches toward the general application of ISO 9000 are discussed. In order to meet U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration (OSHA), and other regulatory requirements, many companies have established inefficient dual or multiple programs. Quite often these requirements can be more easily addressed through integrating them into a company's quality program. This guide will explore several of these possibilities, as well as some specific industry and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) considerations. I continue to use the word "guide" for good reason. Your quality system should be tailored to fit your business. Many consultants today are marketing "canned" quality manuals and procedures that they claim meet the requirements of ISO 9000. While these manuals and procedures can be a good starting point, they should not be used "as is." Your business is unique and should be approached as such. I know it can be a big job to go through the processes of flow charting, developing, and documenting your own quality system. But the rewards are well worth the effort. Don't do it just to achieve ISO 9000 certification/registration; do it to improve the quality of your organization's product/service. I have yet to see any two companies use the same approach toward meeting the requirements of ISO 9000. Notes from the Author The Title I've given this book my name with good reason. There is no one "correct" interpretation of the ISO 9000 series. ISO 9000 is not a prescriptive standard, it does not detail the how, but rather the what. This allows each individual company to define how it intends to comply with the standard in a way that best suits that company's method of operation. This book reflects my experience, along with input from respected individuals and groups I consider authorities on quality and ISO 9000. Interpretation always depends on how and where you are applying the standard. This book is a practical guide. It should not be viewed as telling you "how to" implement ISO 9000. Rather, it should serve as a source of practical ideas, insight, and guidance as you develop your own approach toward the standard. ISO 9000 Whenever I use the generic term "ISO 9000," you should assume that I am speaking about the ISO series standard that most suits your application (ISO 9001, ISO 9002, or ISO 9003). ISO 9000 Registered/Certified Throughout this guide I will use the phrases "ISO 9000 registered" and "ISO 9000 certified" interchangeably. In reality a company can only be registered/certified to the ISO 9001, 9002, or 9003 standard. There has also been some controversy over whether it is more proper to use the word "registered" than "certified." This controversy began because in the European Union (EU), when people speak of "certification" they usually mean "product certification," not "quality system certification." The word "registered" is generally preferred because once a registrar certifies an organization as complying with a standard, the registrar "registers" that company's name and the scope statement in that registrar's public register of certified companies. It really makes no difference which word you use, provided that it is clear to which type of certification you are referring. To further clarify terminology: It is the supplier who is "Registered" or "Certified," while the registering bodies themselves should be "Accredited." (An exception to this term is made when referring to calibra