An exploratory study evaluating commitment and benefits of implementing ISO 9000 in engineering manufacturing organisations in Durban, South Africa.
Date
2001
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Abstract
The increase in trade between nations and relative decrease in international trade barriers has
resulted in wider alternatives for customers all over the world. The resulting increase in
global competition has caused organisations to use customer focused and internal strategies to
remain competitive. One strategy that applies to both external and internal aspects of the
organisation is the implementation and use of ISO 9000 quality systems. ISO 9000 is a set of
quality guidelines to which an organisation must modify its own quality systems , in order to
achieve ISO 9000 accreditation. ISO 9000 is a marketing tool, but there are additional
benefits to using an ISO 9000 quality system. There is an opinion that ISO 9000 is not as
beneficial as it should be. This exploratory survey of engineering manufacturing
organisations in Durban, South Africa, is to prove that commitment and correct
implementation of ISO 9000 will result in expected benefits to an organisation. Additional
factors such as size of organisation, duration of ISO 9000 accreditation, degree of
internationalisation, method of operation and perceived problems are also related to expected
benefits of ISO 9000 accreditation. The results of the survey prove that there is a positive
correlation between attitudes of commitment, implementation and degree of
internationalisation with expected benefits from using ISO 9000 quality systems. It is further
recommended that management commitment and training of all employees is required for
ISO 9000 to be successful in an organisation.
Description
Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.
Keywords
ISO 9000 series standards., Quality control--South Africa., Manufacturing industries--Quality control., Theses--Business administration.