ISO 9000 is a complex of international management standards that includes terms, principles, and demands that allow for good quality management. It helps to ensure that the process of designing, creating, and delivering products meets international standards. ISO 9000 is only one of many quality management systems but is arguably the most popular one. However, it has some disadvantages that may cause managers to implement it only as a part of their company’s management system.
There are several reasons why Adam’s colleagues may be tempted to adopt ISO 9000 as the only policy. First of all, this system is known and commonly used; therefore, the implementation of ISO 9000 proves to clients and partners the credibility of the company. For the same reason, the company becomes more attractive to investors since they know what to expect. Second, the amount of documentation required by ISO 9000 allows for better management control. Third, in the process of registration for ISO 9000, companies often find weak places in the operational areas, which allows them to improve.
To convince his colleagues that ISO 9000 should only be a part of the company’s quality management system, he may bring their attention to its disadvantages. First of all, ISO 9000 is a complex set of rules, and some managers do not fully understand all of them, which considerably complicates the certification process. Second, the big amounts of documentation mentioned above may cause problems, not just make the system easier to control. Namely, when employees have many documents to deal with, it slows down the working process. Finally, the registration for ISO 9000 is a long and complicated process that does not always work out, which is one of the reasons a company should have another system as a backup.