Date : 2004-09-04 22:03

The ISO has published new figures on the numbers of companies using ISO 9000 since the new version of the quality system standard was issued in 2000. The figures are based on December 2003, after the deadline at which the previous standard ceased to be valid. The total for the new standard is now close to previous levels but there are wide differences in certain countries. China now has then largest number of certificates, 96,715 up from 57,783 in 2001. The UK has declined to 45,465 from 66,760.

ISO 9000 has a mixed reputation the UK, where I live. Although it is essential for some industries, many people think of it as hopelessly conformance minded and requiring endless paper trails. The new version was intended to help companies actually get some benefit from using the standard. In my opinion there is a problem in having guidance notes that advocate some subjective factors such as collaboration and learning while the main standard still insists on objective evidence. The model of Plan-Do-Study-Act is actually in the main standard but how do you prove this is happening?

Some of the ideas go back to Deming and his work in Japan in the 50s. My guess is that there is something in Asian values that connects with Deming ideas. I am not sure they were actually tried in the US or UK, even in the 80s /90s.

(please add to the quibbles... ) The approach using 'Plan-Do-Study-Act' assumes that management will work with system review and consider their organisation as a set of processes. In some cases management has seen this as just another requirement for which evidence will be required. Some have decided to drop ISO 9000 rather than follow this up.

Not much is known on how the standard is actually used in different countries. There is not a clear pattern that the new standard has been accepted in Asia. In Korea there has been a decline from 17,676 to 12,846. In Japan there has been some growth, from 27,385 to 38,751. In Europe there has been decline in Germany and France, but growth in Italy. It may be that different alternatives have been considered in different places.

Any ideas why? Maybe quality theory relates to manufacturing trends. Maybe there is something about quality ideas

that is difficult for management as taught in western business schools or as actual business as usual.

I have more on this at http://www.learn9.net

The ISO press release is here.

The free version of the survey is available for download as a PDF

See notes after the other text on quality-

ISO 9000 attacked in IQA Journal

to other drafts

ISO 9000
attacked in
IQA Journal