ISO 9000IntroductionDuring the 1980s international trade increased. It has created great potential for the implementation of universal quality standards. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published its first set of quality management standards called ISO 9000 in 1987, and universal standards were considered necessary for companies to objectively document their quality practices around the world . The goal of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is to establish an agreement on international quality standards. It currently has members from 91 countries. The main objective of ISO is to develop and promote international quality standards. ISO 9000 consists of a set of standards and a certification process for organizations. The organization can demonstrate that it has met the specified standards by receiving ISO 9000 certification from an international standardization organization. The standards have achieved global consensus and are applicable to all types of businesses. ISO certification has become a fundamental requirement for operating in many sectors. Furthermore, the European Community has adopted the ISO 9000 standards as a point of reference for companies operating in Europe. The first major changes to ISO 9000 were made in December 2000, introducing the following new standards Fundamentals and standards of quality management systems (ISO 9000:2000): is the starting point for understanding the standards system and provides the terminology and definitions used in standards. Quality Management Systems Requirements (ISO 9001:2000): This is the standard used to certify an organization's quality management system and to demonstrate c..... .half of the card.. ....ip, people and customers. It might also inhibit exactly these things by being, to some extent, bureaucratic and top-down in nature. Reference websites • ASQ (American Society for Quality). "ISO 9000." 9/24/01 http://www.asq.org/stand/types/iso9000.html• Emporia State University. "ISO 9000." 9/24/01 http://www.emporia.edu/ibed/jour/jour14om/iso9000.htm• International Organization for Standardization. “The Magical Demystifying Tour of ISO 9000 and ISO 14000.” 9/24/01 http://www.iso.org/iso/home/standards/management-standards/iso_9000.htm• Praxiom Research Group Limited. ""WHAT" Questions about ISO 9000." 24/9/01 http://praxiom.com/faq2.htmBooks• Quality Management, Graeme Knowles, Ventus publishing Aps (2011)• Total Quality Management, PN Mukherjee, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. (2006) • Management of Total Quality, Subburaj Ramasamy, Tata McGraw-hill Education Pvt. Ltd (2005)