The Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) has organized a Consultant Development Programme to meet the needs of those organizations looking forward for the installation of Quality Management Systems conforming to requirements stipulated in the new International Standards ISO 9001: 2000.

The advantages of installing a Quality Management System as per ISO 9001 standard in an organization are numerous. Published financial performance data of ISO 9000 certified companies in three US business sectors over a 10-year period against that of control groups of non-certified firms in the same sectors has revealed that firms that failed to seek certification experienced substantial deterioration on ROA, productivity and sales.

All organizations having their Quality Management Systems certified as per ISO 9000:1994 system have to transform their documentation to suit the new standard by 15 December 2003. The rush for re-certification has just started and it is felt that there would be a heavy demand for re-certification in the near future. A key advance in the 2000 version is that the implied requirement for a totally documented system is no longer present. The emphasis on performance improvement and the adoption of the process approach make the business realize that the new model will add value to the organization enhancing its competitive edge while improving efficiency and effectiveness. With the ISO 9001: 2000, the focus has shifted from conformance to performance. Achieving customer satisfaction and continual improvement are explicit requirements. Therefore, it will be necessary for all organizations give their staff a comprehensive knowledge on the new requirements of the ISO 9001 standard and action that has to be taken for the transition of the Quality Management Systems from the 1994 version to the 2000 version. Many organizations have found it relatively easy for their officials to follow this Consultant Development Programme and thereafter proceed in preparing the required documentation.

SLSI expects all those who have participated in the ISO 9000 Consultant Development Programmes in respect of the ISO 9000: 1994 series to follow this new Programme and equip themselves with the knowledge necessary to undertake future assignments in developing and installing ISO 9000 Quality Management Systems in their organizations or for their clients.

The ISO 9001 Consultant Development Programme, scheduled for 16 Sundays commencing Sunday, 29 June 2003, will be conducted at the SLSI Auditorium.