An ISO 9001:2000-based framework for realizing quality in small businesses

The purpose of ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System (QMS) is to provide businesses with a model to grow systematically while assuring the quality of their products. The validity of ISO 9001:2000 QMS stems, largely, from the fact that the best minds worldwide have contributed to its development and maintenance, and the fact that many companies have reported real business gains because of its implementation. Unfortunately, many small businesses fail to survive due to the absence or lack of adequate system for managing quality. An obvious recommendation would be to implement ISO 9001:2000 QMS. Nevertheless, small businesses often cite lack of resources and time as the main reasons for not implementing ISO 9001:2000 QMS. This article proposes a framework for an effective and economical implementation of the ISO 9001:2000 QMS in small businesses. Unlike the traditional one-shot approach to ISO 9001:2000 implementation, the proposed framework is built on four premises, utilizing an incremental approach that considers the specific characteristics of small businesses. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.