As a business owner, you know how important quality standards are to staying competitive in your industry. Implementing and complying with complicated ISO 9000 standards, however, can be confusing and time-consuming. Managing a quality control manual can be a daunting task, specifically if you have facilities worldwide, each with their own individualized processes and production schedules. You need quality control resources that help you manage standards of quality while you concentrate on getting the job done.

Before implementing a quality manual into your business, it's a good idea to know the various standards that are out there. ISO has created over 17,000 International Standards on a variety of subjects, and 1,100 new ISO standards are published every year. Environmental quality standards, quality assurance standards, health protection quality standards, electronic quality standards, NSTA quality standards and IEEE quality standards are just a few of the many other standards against which businesses and industries are measured. To make the best use of standards compliance resources, look for:

1. Software and online resources for quality manual production.

2. Online templates and software resources to help manage quality standard document control and record-keeping.

3. Resources that assist businesses and industries in completing ISO audits or other quality standards reviews.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain software and templates to produce your own ISO quality manual and quality assurance forms

The first step in simplifying the process of implementing quality standards is to locate software and templates that will help you create the most thorough and audit-proof ISO quality manual and quality assurance forms.

I recommend: 9000 World.com offers an ISO 9000 Quality Manual Template that makes establishing a complete, audi-proof ISO9001:2000 quality control manual quick and easy. You'll find insert highlight areas, detailed instructions and section-by-section self-audit checklists. Quality-Rite Software offers the Document Templates Package, which includes all required ISO 9001 2000 documents.

Find software and services that will help manage the complex quality standards documentation process

Documentation is the most time-consuming part of implementing and complying with standards of quality. To keep your staff from becoming full-time record keepers, choose the best software and services to manage all documentation simply and efficiently.

I recommend: AQA Company's XISOX software manages the process of document control in an easy-to-use and reasonable fashion, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. In addition to offering quality control software, InfinityQS provides consulting services that give your company a comprehensive road map for managing your quality control system in real time.

Contact consultants who assist companies in completing audits of standards of quality

It is essential for your business to be prepared for an ISO audit or other benchmark review. You can get expert advice and counsel from quality standard audit consultants and auditing services, many of whom specialize in particular industries or business sectors and offer a range of quality standards audits.

I recommend: Aarcher Inc. provides environmental auditing services for a wide variety of public and private sector clients. They are experienced in helping companies audit their EMS (environmental management systems) according to ISO standards. Accurate FDA Consultants is recognized as an expert third-party auditor. They provide a perspective that's compliant and balanced, and their audits are performed both by industry experts and former FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) investigators. They can provide cGMP (current good manufacturing processes), QSR (quality system regulation) and ISO third-party audits.

Provide quality standard training for your employees

Arrange quality standards training employees can take online or attend in person to gain an understanding of quality standards their application.

I recommend: JER Group, Inc. offers a variety of online courses and vocational training programs in quality control management. Find a list of training courses and a training calendar at Bizmanualz, which provides process improvement training and workshops aimed at providing you with the skills to develop and design effective processes, audit your internal processes and learn in-depth about quality standards.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Periodically have your employees take a quality standards test based specifically on your company's standards.