It is obvious that there are many advantages to ISO certification. Certification should not be undertaken lightly, however, as it is extremely time consuming and costly. By rough estimate, it can take anywhere from six to 18 months to document your business operations, with another one to three months to verify against actual operations.
Fees for consultants to help guide your business through the process of documentation and certification are around the $10,000 to $20,000 magnitude. Make sure you hire the right consultant for the job. Don't forget about the time spent by employees during documentation and away from production -- these can add up also.
Next Page > What's the Future of ISO? ISO 9000:2000
Page 1 > What is ISO 9000, 9001, 9002, ISO 9000:2000?
Page 2 > The Benefits of ISO Certification
Page 3 > How to Pursue ISO Certification