The National ISO 9000 Support Group in Michigan, recently published a report which indicated that 50% of companies seeking ISO 9000 registration in the USA fail to be immediately recommended for registration. Of these, half require more than six months of costly corrective action and reassessment before they are registered.  According to the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) the experience is very much the same.

The overall quality approach recommended by the International  Standards Organisation (ISO) is defined in the advisory document SABS ISO 9004 and this outlines a framework within which the audit demands can be reached cost effectively.

Quality Management (QM) provides such a framework - and more.  QM establishes a prevention oriented culture that gives continuous improvement in the quality of the organisation's products and services while also reducing its costs.   Although implementation of the guidelines through QM is not an audit  requirement - it does make financial and business sense.

Specific modules and workshops have been developed to help the organisation achieve ISO certification, which not only speeds  up the process but makes the process sustainable over time.  (integration time scales)

Achieving certification within the framework makes the process cost effective and the organisation dedicated to continuous improvement.