posted 01 August 2001 02:11 AM               

From: Daniel Dresner

> From: "Shashidhar N. Pathikonda"
>
> We are a software company planning to start from beginning
> to implement a Quality Management System and then go for ISO
> certification. I would appreciate if anyone of you can send me
> some reference materials to include website address, manuals
> on the web, etc.
>
> We are a small company and would like to have this done in-house.
>

Hi Shashidhar,

Towards Software Excellence (TSE - **DEAD LINK REMOVED *** is a FREE(!) industry initiative which is designed to help improve and maintain the quality of software development processes and business procedures and thereby ensure that software companies remain competitive.

TSE is not a formal certification scheme - which many small companies find onerous - rather it is a fast-track route to best practice advice. Software suppliers can use TSE to demonstrate commitment to quality to the customers and investors. Similarly, customers and investors can request TSE evaluations of where they hold a stake to ensure that risk is being managed according to contemporary best practice.

It is based on ISO 15504 (Software Process Assessment) and would put you on the well on the road to ISO 9001. Also get the TickIT Guide from the British Standards Institution http://www.tickit.org

Best wishes,

Danny Dresner

*************************

From: Nancy Jennejohn
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 09:54:38 -0500
Subject: Re: QMS Roadmap /Pathikonda/Holtz

From: "john holtz"

Three suggestions: (1) When you order copies of ISO 9001:2000, also get a copy of ISO 9004:2000, which interprets the 9001 standard for quality management use; (2) Get a copy of Robert Peach's very good Handbook for ISO 9000, Third Edition, which interprets the 9000:2000 standard; (3) if you can find one, also try Robert Peach's Second Edition, which interprets the 1994 standard. Why BOTH Second and Third? IMHO the Second is a better interpretive guide for QMS thinking than the Third, and almost everything that applies to 1994 still/also applies to 2000. All are available from ASQ either on their website (ASQ.org) or call them at 800-248-1946.

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Cheers...and have a great day!