posted 29 September 1999 01:36 AM               

From: Dennis Arter
Subject: RE: Q: ISO Cost Effectiveness /Weiler/Arter

Paul Weiler asked:

>Has anyone done any research or analysis that shows the cost
>benefits of being ISO registered? A common challenge to engaging
>in the ISO registration process is "what will I get for my
>investment?". How can we show that it is cost effective and
>efficient to pursue the ISO discipline?

The Juran Center for Quality Leadership at the Carlson School of Management (University of Minnesota) has a US$275K grant to explore:

a. Conditions under which ISO 9001 is likely to have a positive effect on organizational performance,

b. If combining rules and atonomy is more likely to result in successful ISO 9001 implementation, and

c. The effect of national culture on implementation.

Although registration (certification by some) is not mentioned in the three statements above, it is woven into the study plans. Since the efforts have just begun, I suspect it will be some time before the results are known and published.

John Anderson is the professor at the University leading the effort.