Experiences from implementing ISO 9000 in small enterprises: a study of Swedish organizations

‘Experiences from implementing ISO 9000 in small enterprises: a study of Swedish organizations’ (Gustafsson, R., Klefsjo, B., Berggren, E., Granfors-Wellemts, U., 2001), aims to gather information about experiences gained in implementing and getting certified to ISO 9000. The base data for the research was small companies (<51 employees) certified to ISO 9000 in Sweden. These companies’ opinions were then gathered by questionnaires sent to CEOs, with 403 answering.

The research aimed to get below the surface of certification and suggest ways more can be gained from the process through engagement within the company being certified. ‘Results show that the more the CEO and employees have been involved in the implementation process, the more the system is used, that the CEO is more satisfied with the results; and quality improvements have continued after certification’.

The key business benefits delivered by certification were:

• 71% of CEOs stated the company had less claims after implementation of quality system
• 67% stated better delivery times to customers after implementation
• 80% felt production process has changed for the better after implementation

The statistics were then backed up with more in-depth analysis and the development of case studies of eight of the companies.

Reference

• Gustafsson, R., Klefsjö, B., Berggren, E. and Granfors-Wellemts, U., (2001), ‘Experiences from implementing ISO 9000 in small enterprises: a study of Swedish organizations’, The TQM Magazine, Vol 13, No.4, pp 232-246.

Division of Quality Technology, Lulea University of Technology (Gustafsson, Klefsjö), The Swedish Institute of Production Engineering Research (Berggren, Granfors-Wellemets)