Revised standard is a new challenge

The ISO9001:2000 Quality Standard is posing problems for many SMEs across the UK, who face losing their hard-earned registration if they do not meet the deadline of 16 December 2003 for transition to the new standard.

ISO9001:2000 incorporates amendments made to the 1994 standard, making it more flexible, less bureaucratic and more focused on the needs of the business. But although many companies are finding the new standard more manageable, says the Quality Manual Company, many still have a great deal of work to do to attain 2000 status.

One solution is to use a pre-written ISO9001:2000 manual, such as that available from the Quality Manual Company, which is said to be the first of its type to be widely available. The basic manual is already written, but it still needs to be tailored to meet individual requirements.

'It will give individual managers a sense of achievement and an overall feel for the standard, without having to go through all the bureaucracy and the tiresome jargon,' the company says.