What Is ISO 9000?

ISO 9000 is a series of international quality standards, intended to ensure customer satisfaction through a self-managed, continuous improvement approach to product and service quality assurance. ISO 9000 ties together good business practices and provides a management system that assures that those practices are performed consistently and in the spirit of continuous-improvement.

The New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. (NJMEP) offers an accelerated, cost effective ISO 9000 certification program specifically designed for New Jersey’s small to mid-sized manufacturers. NJMEP has developed partnerships with key organizations to assist our small and mid-sized manufacturers with the ISO 9000 training, support and registration process. Among the organizations are the County Colleges, who deliver training between three to six companies at a time. Two additional resources include leading international ISO 9000 firms and experts who present onsite, company specific training and the Department of Labor, who provides qualified companies with access to financial assistance.

The ISO 900 is customized for each organization specific to their way of doing business and allows each company to pursue registration at their own pace. The registration is not only a commitment to excellence, but lends credibility to a business.

Benefits of becoming ISO registered:

• Increased sales — Registration gives your company a competitive advantage in the marketplace and opens new business opportunities.
• Increased Productivity and Quality — ISO 9000 Registration focuses on making your internal process visible, efficient, measurable and repeatable.
• Expansion into International Markets — ISO 9000 Registration allows you to compete in foreign markets.
• Increased Customer Satisfaction — ISO 9000 focuses on satisfying your clients by ensuring that your company delivers the highest quality products — on time and continuously.

An evaluation of the results of ISO 9000 Registration on the Return of Investment, from McGraw-Hill, reveals significant annual cost savings and internal and external benefits associated with companies implementing ISO 9000.

Cost Savings

• Average: $117,000
• Range: $25,000 - $500,000
• One-time savings in addition annual savings
• Average: $77,000

Percent of respondents citing the following internal benefits:

• 88% - Better documentation
• 83% - Greater quality awareness by employees
• 53% - Enhanced internal communication
• 40% - Increased operating efficiency

Percent of respondents citing the following external benefits

• 83% - Higher perceived quality
• 70% - Competitive advantage
• 56% - Reduced customer audits
• 29% - Improved customer demand

NJMEP and its training providers offer two ISO 9000 Programs:
Accelerated ISO Registration & ISO Consortia Programs How the Programs Work:

Consortia Program

This approach to ISO 9000 registration delivers training and support to groups of three to six companies. Each company sends three representatives to training sessions, which take place early on in the Consortia Program. The balance of the program is delivered individually to each company, on-site, with a broader workforce involvement. Approximately six months into the program, the group reconvenes for a two-day training workshop on Internal Auditing (as required by ISO 9000). The Consortia Program is specifically designed to allow each company to implement ISO 9000 at its own pace within a 12 –14 month time frame. Companies pursuing ISO 9000 Registration through this approach are eligible for financial assistance from New Jersey Department of Labor’s Customized Job Training Grants, if justified and approved. This approach minimizes cash outlay to achieve registration.

Accelerated ISO 9000 Program

The Accelerated ISO 9000 Registration is a fast, individualized and customized approach. With this method, the company sets its own agenda and moves at a pace to suit their needs. The training method is one-on-one and conducted on-site. Accelerat4ed ISO 9000 is delivered in as little as six months with an established completion date. There is guaranteed documentation compliance in pursuing registration by this direction; however, it can be more costly. This option is generally for the manufacturer who may be facing a customer-imposed deadline for ISO registration or the manufacturer pursuing new business that requires ISO registration from the suppliers. Three unique certifications – ISO 9000, QS 9000 and AS 9000What are the differences?ISO 9000 is the basic quality management systems standard, applicable to all industries.QS 9000 is the ISO 9000 version as developed by the big 3 automotive industry leaders.AS 9000 is the aerospace industry’s version of ISO 9000.

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