- Global Trade
ISO 9001:2000 is now firmly established as the globally accepted standard for providing assurance about the quality of goods and services in supplier-customer relations. Up to the end of December 2005, at least 776 608 ISO 9001:2000 certificates had been issued in 161 countries and economies, an increase of 18 % over 2004, when the total was 660 132 in 154 countries and economies.
- Sustainable business
Similarly, ISO 14001 confirms its global relevance for organizations wishing to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. Up to the end of December 2005, at least 111 162 ISO 14001 certificates (1996 and 2004 versions consolidated) had been issued in 138 countries and economies, an increase of 24 % over 2004, when the total was 89 937 in 127 countries and economies.
- Unifying base and supply chains
The status of ISO 9001:2000 as a unifying base for the quality requirements of specific sectors and its use to qualify suppliers in global supply chains is illustrated by the growth of ISO/TS 16949:2002 certification in the automotive sector. Up to the end of December 2005, at least 17 047 ISO/TS 16949:2002 certificates had been issued in 80 countries and economies, an increase of 70 % over 2004 when the total was 10 019 certificates in 62 countries and economies.
- Technical support for regulation
The use of ISO 9001:2000 as a technical support in the regulated area is illustrated by the growth of certification to ISO 13485:2003, for which it provides the core, in the medical device industry. Up to the end of December 2005, at least 5 065 ISO 13485:2003 certificates had been issued in 67 countries and economies, an increase of 111 % over 2004 when the total was 2 403 in 55 countries and economies.
- Tools for new major players
The strong performance of China, which is again in the top 10 countries for growth in both ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001 certification, and of India, which is again in the top 10 for ISO 9001:2000 growth and enters the top 10 for ISO 14001 growth, is no doubt partly linked to their increasing participation in global supply chains, in export trade and in business process outsourcing.
- Rise of services
The rising importance of services in the global economy is borne out by the survey – nearly 33 % of ISO 9001:2000 certificates and 31 % of ISO 14001 certificates in 2005 went to organizations in the service sectors. The latter statistic also illustrates that good environmental management is not just for “smoke stack” industry – and that service providers are accepting their social responsibilities in this area.
The principal findings of the survey, which is now in its 13th year, are provided free of charge on ISO’s Web site, including world, regional and country breakdowns.
The ISO Survey of Certifications - 2005 (ISBN 92-67-10419-9) is available as a combined 44-page colour brochure and CD-ROM from ISO’s national member institutes (see full list with contact details) and ISO Central Secretariat (see below) at a cost of 48 Swiss francs. In addition to the categories of data listed above, the report includes world totals by industrial sector, while the CD-ROM also provides country-by-country breakdowns by industrial sector.
Note to Editors
Certification of conformity is not a requirement of the ISO standards themselves, which can be implemented without certification for the benefits that they help user organizations to achieve for themselves and for their customers. Nevertheless, many thousands of organizations have chosen certification because of the perception that an independent confirmation of conformity adds value.
ISO itself does not perform certification to its standards, does not issue certificates and does not control certification performed independently of ISO by other organizations. However, it frequently receives requests for information on the number of certificates and this led the organization to undertake The ISO Survey. ISO provides the basic results free-of-charge as a public information service