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Milwaukee, WI, November 19, 2008 — The American Society for Quality (ASQ) is now offering the latest version of the world's most widely used standard for quality management systems (QMS), ISO 9001:2008. ASQ is the primary resource for the U.S. adopted version of this standard.

The new edition will replace the year 2000 version currently implemented in 170 countries worldwide. ISO 9001 provides a set of standardized requirements for a quality management system. It is appropriate for all types of industries, including healthcare. The standard has even more relevance for healthcare with the recent announcement that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded Houston-based DNV (Det Norske Veritas) Healthcare, Inc. hospital accrediting authority. DNV's accreditation program incorporates an ISO 9001 platform and accreditation will require that hospitals comply with ISO 9001.

"Healthcare organizations who choose to become accredited by DNV will find this new ISO 9001 standard an important tool to developing consistent processes, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement," says Dr. James M. Levett, M.D., a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon who chairs the ASQ Healthcare Division.

ASQ managed the experts — Technical Advisory Group (TAG) — that provided the U.S. position within the international development of the standard. Key factors about the new standard:

• ISO 9001: 2008 is an amendment with no new or deleted requirements.
  
  
• Changes to the standard relate to one of the following categories: clarifications, improve compatibility with ISO 14001, consistency within the ISO 9000 family, or improved translation.
  
  
• Compliance to ISO 9001: 2008 will be verified on a surveillance or recertification audit.

Accessing the New Standard
As the primary resource in the United States that makes available for purchase the U.S. adoption of the ISO 9001: 2008, ASQ will be offering the new standard at the cost effective rate of $95 for non-members and $76 for members. The new standard can be purchased via the ASQ Web site http://www.asq.org/standards/index.html or by calling 800-248-1946.

"Quality management systems add great value to an organization as they remove processes that aren't customer or ISO requirements, thus increasing efficiency." says ASQ President Roberto Saco.

With the publication of the new version, companies will have 24 months to issue any existing certification to ISO 9001: 2000 before it is no longer valid. This transition period provides an opportunity for organizations to review their quality management systems and identify key requirements. While the ISO 9001:2008 is considered a refined version of the 2000 standard, companies can find value in reviewing the 2008 version.

About the American Society for Quality
The American Society for Quality, www.asq.org, has been the world's leading authority on quality for more than 60 years. With more than 90,000 individual and organizational members, the professional association advances learning, quality improvement and knowledge exchange to improve business results, and to create better workplaces and communities worldwide. As a champion of the quality movement, ASQ offers technologies, concepts, tools and training to quality professionals, quality practitioners and everyday consumers, encouraging all to Make Good Great®. ASQ has been the sole administrator of the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award since 1991. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., ASQ is a founding partner of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), a prominent quarterly economic indicator, and also produces the Quarterly Quality Report.